Hi John and other listers. Thanks for the posts about Blackboard. I'm not
sure how this will all work out, but I am very hopeful that my friend will
get the assistance she needs from Blackboard to access the class.
I would like to comment that on the Blackboard web site (www.blackboard.com)
there is what appears to be a candid explanation of how the Blackboard
product does and does not comply with the requirements of the 508
regulations, and the offer of assistance to those who must use the chat
component with a screen reader. It's a very refreshing change from the lack
of information one often is faced with when checking a software company's
web site or even when corresponding with one of their representatives.
-----Original Message-----
From: John Gardner [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 6:09 PM
To: * EASI: Equal Access to Software & Information
Cc: Steuerwalt, Jon C.
Subject: Re: "Blackboard" software
I forwarded this question about access to Blackboard Chat to Reidy Brown of
Blackboard, Inc. Her reply:
Tutornet Virtual Classroom, which is a 3rd party licensed technology that
provides the Chat and Whiteboard functionality for Blackboard 5, is not
compatible with screen readers such as Jaws. We are aware of this issue, and
are including an accessible chat technology in the next version of the
Blackboard platform. In the meantime, we do provide access to a real-time
accessible chat transcript, which can be accessed from the Archives link in
the Virtual Classroom section.
We are working to accommodate users who need access to an accessible chat
tool. We are working with the Center for Persons with Disabilities at USU,
our partner in the WebAIM project, to beta test their new accessible chat
tool. If anyone is interested in evaluating this tool, please let me know,
and
I'll work with the USU project director to arrange it.
Reidy
-------------------------------------------
Reidy Brown
Accessibility Coordinator/
Sr. Software Engineer
Blackboard, Inc.
1899 L. St., NW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 463-4860 x236
http://products.blackboard.com/cp/bb5/access/index.cgi
-------------------------------------------
At 02:19 PM 8/22/01 -0400, you wrote:
>Hello, listers. A friend is enrolled in a course that will employ an
>internet application known a blackboard chat which supposedly is
>inaccessible for a screen reader (Jaws 3.7). Can anyone point me to
>information about this type of software and, more importantly, a
>functionally equivalent AND accessible alternative?
>
>Thanks - Jon
John Gardner
Professor and Director, Science Access Project
Department of Physics
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-6507
tel: (541) 737 3278
FAX: (541) 737 1683
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: http://dots.physics.orst.edu
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