Hi, Audrey --

        We did indeed consider contacting EASI, but we applied for
(and received) the grant because we have an overall goal that goes
beyond just the training.  For example, part of the grant monies will
go towards purchasing a site license for pwWebSpeak and probably
multiple copies of Jaws so that our member libraries can test their
own pages, even after the grant project ends.
        In addition, we are involved in a number of very complex
projects right now so we have no one on staff who could coordinate the
CE training.  All of our members will be eligible to come to the
workshops (although when they're full they're full), but we'll do our
best to make all of the materials available to all 500 members plus
other libraries across the State.  That is the real focus for the
project director -- someone who can pull all of this together.
        I can't say this definitively since I'm not in charge of the
grant, but my guess is that we'd love to hear from EASI as well.
We're looking for someone to help us get up to speed, and then we'll
probably pursue a more traditional training program in this area  -- a
very focused effort now that we can build on later.  I have great
respect for EASI's work and I'd love to work with them to help educate
our members about these issues.

Jenny
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenny Levine                                    125 Tower Drive
Internet Development Specialist                 Burr Ridge, IL 60521
Suburban Library System                         +1 (630) 734 5141
http://www.sls.lib.il.us/                       [log in to unmask]
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Audrey Gorman wrote:
>
> Jenny,
>
> Has CPL thought about contracting with EASI or one of the other
> expert groups working intensively in this area, rather than hiring a
> short-term project director for such training?  I think it would be a
> cost-effective way to go and would ensure the quality of the final
> product.
>
> Audrey
>
> Audrey J. Gorman
> Director
> Roads To Learning, The Public Libraries' Learning Disabilities
> Initiative
> The American Library Association
> 50 East Huron Street
> Chicago, IL  60611
>
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Voice: 1-800-545-2433  ext. 4027
> Fax: 1-312-944-8085
>
> >>> Jenny Levine <[log in to unmask]> 06/08 9:13 AM >>>
> The Suburban Library System in suburban Chicago, is seeking a
> Project Director to develop a continuing education program as part
> of
> a grant project.
>
>         The goal of this grant project is to provide focused
> training
> that ensures library Web pages are universally accessible.  Through
> a
> series of workshops, participants explore how the Americans with
> Disabilities Act (and recent recommendations/guidelines) applies to
> Web sites, experience how sight-impaired people use the Web, and
> learn
> how to create Web pages that are universally accessible.
>
>         In addition, the presentations and supporting print
> information
> will be made available on the Web.  This increases access to the
> information for library staff and citizens, especially for libraries
> that are just now planning Web sites.
>
>         The grant is funded through October. Specific
> responsibilities
> for the Project Director will include:
>
> * planning and scheduling the series of workshops;
>
> * securing workshop presenters and obtaining the rights to tape the
> presentations and publish any print materials on the Web;
>
> * arranging for the taping and editing of the workshop
> presentations;
>
> * developing marketing materials for the grant project, which will
> include the workshop announcements and registration materials as
> well
> as a brochure or other piece summarizing the presentations;
>
> * developing marketing materials for the Web site that will be based
> on the workshop presentations.
>
>         SLS expects to engage someone from outside the library
> community but will consider all serious applicants.  Hopefully this
> person will have experience providing services to the disabled;
> alternatively they will be experienced with continuing education
> development.
>
>         If interested, please contact Pamela Brown at
> [log in to unmask]  Please feel free to forward this message to
> anyone you know who would be qualified to lead this project.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Jenny Levine                                    125 Tower Drive
> Internet Development Specialist                 Burr Ridge, IL 60521
> Suburban Library System                         +1 (630) 734 5141
> http://www.sls.lib.il.us/                       [log in to unmask]
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~