I asked a couple people at the main campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis/Saint Paul, and the6y knew nothing about this.  One was blind.  I did find the following piece in the Educause daily technology news summary:



*****************************************************

LOGGING IN WITH...LINDA DENEEN
Linda Deneen is the director of information technology systems
and services at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. On her
campus, Deneen is overseeing a program that will require all
incoming freshmen, as of fall 2002, to buy a handheld computer,
including a wireless networking card, at a cost of $800. The
cost will be spread over four semesters. Deneen pointed out
that handhelds are less expensive and more mobile than laptops.
They let students access e-mail and the Internet, and she noted
that scientists and other researchers might be able to use
handhelds to record field observations. However, Deneen noted
that handhelds do not offer as much power or bandwidth as
laptops. At the very least, handheld users must have access to
PCs so that they can run more powerful applications.
(Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 5 July 2001)


The Duluth campus is not that big, not the main campus.  One wonders if a laptop would do.  There is another U of MN campus that requires laptops, in Crookston.  I will keep checking.

David Andrews


At 02:27 PM 7/7/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>Hello:
>I just read an article online that states that U. Min. will require all
>incoming Freshmen to purchase a handheld computer.
>
>If so, what accomodations are being made for students who are disabled,
>blind or very low vision or motor impaired and cannot use a handheld????
>
>Letting them avoid the requirement is probably not a good enough
>accomodation as I assume the device is to provide access to something and
>providing an equal access will be necessary.
>
>Any feedback is appreciated.
>
>Norman