Barrier-Free Information Technology
Starting June 4 and running for 4 weeks http://easi.cc/workshops/adaptit.htm

Course on Adapting Computers and information technology for students and
professionals With Disabilities

Instructors:
Joseph Lazzaro
Norman Coomb

Joe has authored several books on adaptive computing as well as a number of
science fiction stories.

Norm has been teaching online for both EASI and the Rochester Institute of
Technology for more than 15 years.


Computer and Information Technology is rapidly becoming integral to most
courses whether public school, college or business training. On one hand,
this holds the promise of enhanced independence for people with
disabilities. On the other hand, depending on the design of the particular
applications being used, it threatens to create needless barriers. Today's
distributed computer environment means that providing support for the
technology needs of people with disabilities is an institution-wide
responsibility. It requires extensive planning and cooperation across
several departments. This course is designed to provide the broad knowledge
of technology, the law and of technological and pedigogical needs to
facilitate such institutional planning.

The four-week-long course is delivered using distance learning courseware
consisting of web-based lectures, multimedia presentations, links to other
materials on the web and an online discussion board. We anticipate that you
will need 4 hours a week to complete the work. We find that multimedia
presentations both enriches the course content and makes the information
more accessible to participants with different learning styles and
different disabilities. The course is designed to encourage and facilitate
interactions between instructors and participants as well as among
participants.  Three continuing education units are available from the
Rochester Institute of Technology.  For registration information:
http://easi.cc/workshops/adaptit.htm

The course has been created to meet the needs of college and university
administrators, instructional technologist, information technologists,
computer staff, disabled student service staff, learning development staff,
librarians vocational rehabilitation counsellors and rehabilitation
engineers. The course has been created by and will be delivered by EASI
(Equal Access to Software and Information) which has been delivering
quality online training on providing information technology access for 8
years to thousands of people across the United States and in dozens of
other countries.

Course outline:

Lesson 1: Introductions and definitions:
Part 1: Making Your Personal Course Workbook
Part 2: Multimedia FAQ
Part 3: Introduction
Part 4: Definitions of disabilities and adaptive technology
 Part 5: Internet networking through e-mail and internet listservs
Assignment 1: Participant introductions and joining listserv discussions

Lesson 2: Reasons to Adapt Your Information and Computer Systems
Part 1: It's the right Thing to Do
Part 2: It Makes Economic Sense
Part 3: Do It for Yourself!
Part 4: It's the Law
Assignment 2: Sharing relevant stories

Lesson 3: Computer input problems and solutions
Part 1: Computer-related definitions:
Part 2: Alternative input systems for people with motor impairments
Part 3: Alternative input devices for other disability groups
Assignment 3: Experiment using Windows access features

Lesson 4: Computer output problems and solutions
Part 1: Output issues for users who are blind
Part 2: Output issues for users who have limited vision and users who have
visual or cognitive processing disabilities
Part 3: Output issues for other disability groups
Assignment 4: Revisiting previous assignments

Lesson 5: Compensatory Strategies and Disability Etiquette
Part 1: What is a compensatory strategy?
Part 2: Do I have to be politically correct?
Part 3: Etiquette tips for service providers
Assignment 5: Disability-related resources on the World Wide Web

Lesson 6: Access to print information
Part 1: Creating and adapting electronic texts
Part 2: Problems related to braille and tactile drawings
Part 3: Creating texts for the web
Assignment 6: Create 2 simple texts for use on the web

Lesson 7: Access to physical facilities and staff training
Part 1: Physical access to the computer itself
Part 2: Designing a model accessible work station
Part 3: Training the technology support staff
Assignment 7: What do you have to know?

Lesson 8: Planning for an Accessible Campus or Institution
Part 1: Implications of decentralized computing
Part 2: Who do you need on your team?
Part 3: Looking at One Example
Assignment 8: Developing a 12-18 month plan for your institution

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