Information Information BARRIER-FREE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
A four-week online workshop, beginning Monday, Feb.  5.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Today's distributed computer environment means that providing support for
the technology needs of students with disabilities is an institution-wide
responsibility, requiring extensive planning and cooperation across many
departments.  It is no longer the sole province of the computer staff, nor
can it be relegated to the disabled student office. If "it takes a village
to raise a child," then, it takes the entire campus to support the adaptive
technology needs of students with disabilities.
BARRIER-FREE EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY will help participants master the
complex technological, legal, pedagogical issues in this area, resulting in
the creation of a customized barrier-free campus educational technology
plan.   Current adaptive technologies will be critiqued and their
appropriate application explored.  Specific and practical strategies such
as designing barrier-free computer labs, adapting course materials, and
effective staff training will be provided.

AUDIENCE
BARRIER-FREE EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY is designed for administrators,
faculty, librarians, computer support staff, ADA compliance officers,
service providers and disabled student support staff.

REQUIREMENTS
The workshop will be taught over the Internet using an e-mail listserv to
connect the workshop leaders and fellow participants.  Workshop material
will be delivered via the web and using multimedia. Participants will need
a recent browser (either Internet Explorer version 4.0 or higher, or
Netscape 4.5 or higher, with Java features enabled) and Internet access.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS
Three continuing education units from the Rochester Institute of Technology
are available on request. For more information, please contact Norman
Coombs at [log in to unmask]

LEADERS
Joseph J. Lazzaro is a vocational rehabilitation counsellor in Mass.  He is
also the author of several books on adaptive computing as well as being a
science fiction writer.
Richard Banks is Electronic Resource Manager for Project EASI, and Dick was
awarded an honorary Doctorate from Mahidol University in Thailand, where he
directed the efforts to establish an Internet presence for Ratchasuda
College.
Norman Coombs, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus at the Rochester Institute of
Technology. Coombs is the co-author of "Information Access and Adaptive
Technology" published in 1997 by Oryx Press. He was awarded the CASE
Teacher of the Year Award for New York State in 1990 for his work in
distance learning.

EASI is committed to the belief that students and professionals with
disabilities have the same right to access information as everyone else. To
achieve this goal, EASI runs on-site and on-line workshops, maintains three
listserv discussion groups, produces an electronic journal and sponsors a
substantial web site at http://www.rit.edu/~easi. EASI's work has been
supported by three dissemination grants from the National Science
Foundation.

FEES
$275 per individual registrant
$200 per person for teams of 2 or more.

To see a workshop syllabus or to register go to:
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/workshop.htm

In February, EASI also presents workshops on web design and on a new
workshop on making e-learning accessible to students with disabilities.

Norman Coombs, Ph.D.
[log in to unmask]