A few thoughts:

Dennis is correct, there is a big difference between "compliant" and
Universal Design. And I think it is essential that, as educators, we expect
Universal Design.

Universal Design really goes two ways in the field of education. The website
must embrace UD principles, and the computers we have in our schools must
embrace UD pribciples. If I enter a school, for example, and Firefox with
Click-Speak is not available on every computer, I know that accessibility is
not a priority - since these UD solutions are free. Or if Click-N-Type is
not available. Or if there are not headsets available. Likewise, if the
website does not offer at least some attempt at multiple representation,
there is a huge problem.
http://clickspeak.clcworld.net/ (makes Firefox speak)
http://www.wordtalk.org.uk/ (makes MS Word speak)
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/918 (translates anything in
Firefox)

My son, who is a web architect offered a quick view of web site
accessibility on his blog a few months ago.
http://coffeeonthekeyboard.com/what-is-universal-accessibility-part-one-in-a-trilogy-66/
http://coffeeonthekeyboard.com/assessing-accessibility-part-two-in-a-trilogy-67/
http://coffeeonthekeyboard.com/building-accessible-sites-part-three-in-a-trilogy-69/
In these post he explains terms in easy-to-read language and gives you
simple ways to look at how text accessibility works. He also leads you into
the CSS idea, building sites which allow accessibility software to make them
work properly.

I have a couple of lists on my blog:
http://speedchange.blogspot.com/2008/03/csun-2008free-universal-design.html
http://speedchange.blogspot.com/2008/04/planning-for-access.html
http://speedchange.blogspot.com/2008/04/hardware-every-school-should-have-on.html
http://speedchange.blogspot.com/2007/07/google-toolbox-for-your-student.html

There are then a few new important tools, including:
Odiogo
http://www.odiogo.com/sign_up.php
which turns any blog post into audio, free

Finally, there are "best practices" websites - ones which are just done
right.
http://www.royagcol.ac.uk/
http://www.woking.gov.uk/


Oh, one more thing to consider. The future lies in "mobile delivery" and
"mobile learning." So consider mirroring your site for mobile use. Remember,
there are over 3 billion mobiles globally but only a billion PCs - and your
students are far more likely - both now and in the future - to have mobiles
at home than computers. I'm playing with a site called ubik.com and learning
what it can do - http://ubik.com/  my first try, from your mobile's browser
- is speedchange.ubik.net

Ira David Socol
Michigan State University
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
irasocol -at- gmail -dot- com
socolira -at- msu -dot- edu
http://speedchange.blogspot.com/
http://riverfoylepress.com/



On 7/3/08, Mariann Fedele <MariannF at lacnyc.org> wrote:

>

> Hello Joan and all,

>

> We had a very comprehensive discussion on UDL on the Tech list about 18

> months ago. Our guest was Dr. Dave Edyburn from the University of

> Wisconsin.

> Following is an excerpt featuring UDL technologies. I would also

> encourage you to search the NIFL discussion list archives for more

> related information. The webpage to go to is:

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Technology

>

> Best,

> Mariann

>

> Message from January 30, 2006 on the tech list submitted by M. Fedele

> introducing discussion with Dr. Dave Edyburn:

>

> What is universal design?

> "Universal design or inclusive design is an approach to the design of

> products, services and environments to be as usable as possible by as

> many

> people as possible regardless of age, ability or situation. It links

> directly to the political concept of an inclusive society and its

> importance has been recognised by governments, business and industry."

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_design

>

> A great example of universal design is curb cuts...the recess in

> sidewalk

> curbs at intersections and on walkways. Designed for wheelchair users to

>

> better navigate curbs, curb cuts are a design that improve the situation

>

> for everyone (those of us pushing a stroller or grocery cart, pulling a

> suit case on wheels, walking a bicycle, etc...). This concept was

> applied

> to computer technology in the early 1990s with the inclusion of

> accessibility features as part of the computer's operating system (in

> Windows go to "Control Panel" and the to "Accessibility Options"). The

> term

> universal design is defined and enshrined in federal law through the

> Individual with Disabilites Education Act and the Assistive Technology

> Act.

>

> Applied to teaching and learning, universal design is reffered to as

> Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Per the Center for Applied Special

> Technologies (CAST) UDL calls for ...

> Multiple means of representation, to give learners various ways of

> acquiring information and knowledge,

> Multiple means of expression, to provide learners alternatives for

> demonstrating what they know,

> Multiple means of engagement, to tap into learners' interests, offer

> appropriate challenges, and increase motivation.

>

> To see UDL concepts at work Dr. Edyburn pointed to the following

> examples

> in assistive technology and instructional technology:

> ReadPlease

> http://www.readplease.com/

> This site offers free to download text-to-speech software

>

> Windows to the Universe

> http://www.windows.ucar.edu/

> The UDL features include tiered learning materials (beginner,

> intermediate

> and advanced level versions of the same content), and hard-coded

> translation of the web site into Spanish

>

> http://babelfish.altavist.com/

> Many of us are familiar with this text and web page translation site.

>

> Inspiration

> www.inspiration.com

> A graphic organizer software that is for sale but available to download

> as

> a free 30 day trial.

>

> Sparknotes

> www.sparknotes.com

> Free online study guides that are also available as podcasts (for a

> cost)

> and as mobile text messages delivered to your cell phone (at what ever

> pricing your cell phone provider has associated with text messaging).

>

> Cognitive Rescaling features in MS Word

> Dr. Edyburn has made available step-by-step directions at:

> http://www.uwm.edu/~edyburn/Cognitiverescaling.pdf

> A feature that allows for the summarizing of high level text to

> different

> reading levels. It works best with text books, newspapers and

> non-fiction.

>

> Mariann Fedele

> Director,

> NYC Regional Adult Education Network

> Literacy Assistance Center

> Moderator,

> NIFL Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> 32 Broadway 10th Floor

> New York, New York 10004

> 212-803-3325

> mariannf at lacnyc.org

> www.lacnyc.org

>

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov]

> On Behalf Of Denis Anson

> Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 10:18 AM

> To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [Technology 1664] Re: ADA "compliant" web sites

>

> Joan,

>

> ADA compliance (section 508 checklist) provides the absolute minimum

> accessibility and usability.  A well-designed Universal Design site

> will go well beyond the minimum standards.  The trick is to know which

> direction is an improvement, and which is worse.  (This is why so many

> designers follow the standard to the letter, rather than making things

> better.)

>

> The W3C and Section 508 guidelines are more about how you do things

> rather than what you do.  If done well, you can make your site look

> like anything you want and still be compliant.

>

>

> On Jul 2, 2008, at 11:11 PM, Joan Medlen wrote:

>

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I'm looking for information on two things:

> >

> > 1. the definition and tools that can be used to design a good

> > looking and

> > useful ADA Compliant website.

> >

> > 2. someone who will define the difference between ADA Compliance and

> > Universal Design for website use. Is there one?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Joan

> >

> >

> > ----------------------------------------------------

> > National Institute for Literacy

> > Technology and Literacy mailing list

> > Technology at nifl.gov

> > To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/technology

> > Email delivered to danson at misericordia.edu

>

>

>

> Denis Anson, MS, OTR

> Director of Research and Development

> Assistive Technology Research Institute

> Misericordia University

> voice: 570-674-6413

> fax: 570-674-8054

>

> danson at misericordia.edu

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

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>

> Email delivered to mariannf at lacnyc.org

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

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