EASI's online workshop on how to make a barrier-free information technology
campus starting February will include discussion about the new 508
regulations.  The workshop is expanded to also include a new instructor,
Joe Lazzaro, an adaptive technology specialist for the state of Mass.
Information is at http://www.rit.edu/~easi/workshop.htm

The workshop has been taken by thousands of people from more than three
dozen countries.  Here is the syllabus:


Workshop on Adapting Computers and information technology for Persons With
Disabilities

Workshop description:

This is a four-week online workshop providing an overview to the topic of
adaptive computing technology and is ideal for administrators, teachers,
librarians, computer support staff, ADA compliance officers and service
providers. The workshop is delivered using e-mail and multimedia materials on
the web. Multimedia presentations both enriches the content and makes it more
accessible to participants with different learning styes and different
disabilities. The workshop is designed to encourage and facilitate
interactions
between instructors and participants.
Computer and education technology is rapidly becoming integral to most
courses.
On one hand, this holds the promise of enhanced independence for students
with
disabilities. On the other hand, depending on the design of the particular
applications being used, it threatens to create needless barriers for such
students possibly even preventing them from succeeding in college.
Today's distributed computer environment means that providing support for the
technology needs of students with disabilities is an institution-wide
responsibility. It requires extensive planning and cooperation across several
departments. "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.
It is no longer the sole province of the computer. It cannot be religated
to the
disabled student office either. Seemless service requires campus-wide
cooperation. This course is designed to provide the broad knowledge of
technology, the law and of student technological and pedigogical needs to
facilitate such institutional planning.
The workshop will be delivered by an e-mail listserv. It will also require
the
use of materials on the web. Our goal is to help participants discover
internet
resources that will let them remain current with the rapidly changing
technologies.

Three continuing education units are available from the Rochester Institute
of
Technology on request.
instructors:
Richard Banks
EASI's electronic resource manager
Norman Coombs, Ph.D.
EASI chair
Joe Lazzaro, Adaptive Technology Specialist
Workshop lessons:
Lesson 1: Introductions and definitions
This will include: introductions by instructors and participants;
introduction
to the workshop; and basic definitions
Lesson 2: Four reasons to provide barrier-free educational technology
This will include: it's the right thing to do; it makes economic sense;
it's the
law; and participants should do it for themselves
Lesson 3: computer input problems and solutions
This will include: explanation of which disability groups have problems with
keyboard and/or mouse input systems; alternative keyboard systems;
alternative
mouse systems; voice recognition
Lesson 4: Computer output problems and solutions
This will include: text-to-speach synthesizers reading text on the monitor;
screen magnification systems; refreshable braille, braille embossers
Lesson 5: Compensatory Strategies
This will include: how users with disabilities use computer technology to
compensate for their disability; ; how to use the adapted computer as an
interface to scientific and math equipment;
Lesson 6: Access to physical facilities and staff training
This will include: designing a computer lab to accommodate users with
different
disabilities; the importance of both sensitivity and technical training for
staff
Lesson 7: Access to educational information
This will include: how to provide lab manuals and materials in alternative
formats; how to provide class materials in alternative formats; how to
prepare
institute materials in alternate formats;
Lesson 8: Planning for an Accessible Campus or Institution



EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) is a non-profit organization,
part of the Teaching, Learning and Technology Group and affiliated with the
American Association for Higher Education. Our mission is to help make
information technologies more accessible to users with disabilities.