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-----Original Message-----
From: Prof Norm Coombs [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 4:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: EASI Unveiles National Center for Accessible E-learning


EASI Unveils the National Center for Accessible E-learning
http://easi-elearn.org

E-learning is spreading across colleges and universities like wildfire
and
only now are institutions thinking about making these systems accessible
for students with disabilities.  EASI recognizes the urgent need to
provide
a resource of information and contacts to assist institutions provide an
inclussive distance learning program.

Education has made significant use of print materials since the
invention
of the printing press.  Students and teachers with so-called print
disabilities long had to exert themselves far beyond others to be able
to
compete in schools and universities.  Thousands have done this and
succeeded well.  Information technology coupled with the necessary
adaptive
computer technology means this is no longer necessary.  Many have
commented
that this is the most empowering technology to come along for centuries.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act
of
1990, as well as other legislation, mandates that education be made
equally
available to learners with disabilities.  Today's technology makes this
goal more realistic than ever before.

The National Center for Accessible E-learning, (NCAE easi-elearn.org),
is a
cooperative venture initiated by EASI (Equal Access to Software and
Information) to be a clearinghouse for a number of projects focusing on
making distance learning fully accessible to faculty and students with
disabilities.  These differing display modes assist users who are blind;
who have limited vision; who have cognitive and visual processing
problems;
who cannot hold books and turn pages; and people who are deaf or hearing
impaired.  It is also frequently appreciated by people who like to
modify
the appearance of information to suit their personal tastes or
individual
learning styles.

This web site http://easi-elearn.org will strive to be the center where
you
can learn what you need to know to make e-learning more accessible at
your
institution.  We also need supporters to help us collect and organize
this
growing resource.

Besides coordinating this clearing house, EASI provides an online course
on
making e-learning accessible for students with disabilities:
http://easi.cc/workshops/bfel.htm
This online month-long course starts November 4 as does the course,
Accessible Internet Multimedia http://easi.cc/workshops/mmedia.htm

A package of five EASI courses will earn the Certificate in Accessible
Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshop.htm