Information Tecnnology and Disabilities Vol VI 1999

This issue is a collection of papers delivered at the Technology and Disabilities Conference sponsored by the California State University Northridge in March 1999. EASI organizes a track of papers at this conference on a special theme. This year there were two themes: advocacy and distance learning.

This edition of the journal is partially supported by EASI's National Science Foundation grant to compile and disseminate information about K-12 science, math, engineering and technology access.

Abstract: The Americans with Disabilities Act and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1997) may say that students with disabilities have the right to accessibility and accommodations in the classroom, but that doesn't necessarily mean that students automatically get what they need. K-12 students with disabilities, their parents and service providers often have to lobby for the technology, support and services that are necessary to get what's promised to students by the law - a Free and Appropriate Education.

Individualized Education Plans: Parents' Rights and Responsibilities
Carmela Cunningham
EASI
Richard Banks
EASI

Abstract: The Americans with Disabilities Act and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1997) mandate that all students must be provided with a free and appropriate education. Further, the IDEA mandates that all K-12 students with disabilities should have an individualized education plan (IEP) that will spell out what accommodations will best suit the needs of each child.

Abstract: Educational institutions are governed by a variety of state and federal laws that impose the requirement that we provide "equal and equitable access" to our programs and services. The very nature of Distance Education makes this burden complex and often difficult to comply with, but this complexity does not relieve us of our obligations under the law. If an individual with a disability chooses to participate in a school's distance offerings we must provide, as much as possible, the same level and type of services that we would provide a student in one of our campus based offerings.

Abstract: Computer hardware, software and Internet connections - these are the new tools for education which are appearing in classrooms everywhere. At the same time, more and more students with special needs are taking part in the "regular" school activities as educators are asked to integrate these learners into their mainstream classrooms. As a result, teachers are under pressure, on the fly, to find technology-based solutions and provide adapted curriculum for use by exceptional students. Even if they are fortunate enough to have had some training in the area of special education, they inevitably face questions about identification of appropriate assistive technology, provision of adapted programming, and classroom strategies for accommodating special needs.

Abstract: In the typical university setting, a student is usually expected to spend two-to-three times as many hours outside the classroom doing reading, homework and library research as he or she may spend in class. This amount of outside work continues to grow in both volume and importance as a student progresses to higher level classes, finally reaching very critical proportions in graduate school. For students who participate in distance learning settings, however, the task of "going to the library" takes on new and very different dimensions. A rapidly growing number of universities have now begun to offer distance education classes, and we now have seen a variety of delivery techniques developed to service the needs of remote students. Indeed, there are a number of institutions of higher learning now existing primarily as "virtual universities." Although some experience may be gained by examining how various organizations have tackled this problem, of particular concern for this presentation is just how the textbook and library access needs of students with disabilities can be met without the possibility of physically "going to the library" or the campus special services office for assistance.

Abstract: The concept of the ‘Information Superhighway' or the World Wide Web (hereafter referred to as the Web) is well known and understood. The rapidly growing numbers of both users and electronic documents is testimony to the claim that the Web is becoming an everyday part of life for many people. The Web as a digital information environment offers new methods of learning and patterns of information use. So, what does the Web offer to partially sighted and blind people? Does it offer a means of filling the information gap traditionally experienced by visually impaired people? And will this new medium provide equal access to, and use of, public information that has previously been unavailable? The Web has been welcomed by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). The RNIB claims that ‘the Internet is one of the most significant developments since the invention of Braille ... [because] for the first time ever, many blind and partially sighted people have access to the same wealth of information as sighted people and on the same terms.

Call for Articles: The Digital Book: ITD Special Issue

Abstract: The next issue of Information Technology and Disabilities will examine the emergence of a new text form for readers with print-related disabilities: the digital talking book. Some major research and development leaders will be invited to submit articles on their, or their organizations' work in this exciting field.

News and Departments: Editorial and Call for News Items for Future issues

Abstract: After an absence of several volumes, the ITD "Departments" are back, albeit in a somewhat limited way. I'm pleased to be assuming the role of editor for the Libraries section, which was originally held by Ann Neville, recently retired from her position at the University of Texas. In this and in future issues of ITD, the editors will include news of importance on a national/international level. Educators, librarians, rehabilitation and information technology professionals, among others, should look here for the latest reviews, notices of new publications and online information resources, and other items of interest to their professions.

Employment and Technology News:

Libraries:

Online Information and Networking:

Higher Education:

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