1. Visible and Hidden Barriers for Students and Faculty: Impact of Lack of Accessible ICTs for Students with Disabilities – An International Perspective Dr. Cyndi Rowland WebAIM; National Center on Disability and Access to Education, Utah State University, USA Enabling Access to Education through ICT27-29 Oct, 2010 New Delhi, India

2. Prologue Assumptions we all share Assumptions we all share Access to ICT is key to participation in society, including education and employment. Access to ICT is key to participation in society, including education and employment. Education exists to bring knowledge & skills to individuals and assists them to become productive, participatory members of society. Education exists to bring knowledge & skills to individuals and assists them to become productive, participatory members of society. Focus Focus For Conference: How can accessible ICT and AT for those with disabilities be best deployed in schools and universities? For Conference: How can accessible ICT and AT for those with disabilities be best deployed in schools and universities? For my brief time : Picture of complex (visible and hidden) problems using US examples (solutions to be shared on Friday) For my brief time : Picture of complex (visible and hidden) problems using US examples (solutions to be shared on Friday)

3. We want you to jump over our mistakes straight to solutions

4. Lack of AT in Schools Lack of AT in Schools Cost Cost Availability Availability Competing initiatives Competing initiatives The problem is complex

5. Lack of teachers trained in AT Lack of teachers trained in AT To teach student’s to use proficiently To teach student’s to use proficiently To troubleshoot To troubleshoot The problem is complex

6. Lack of system that supports AT Lack of system that supports AT In schools In schools In community In community In family In family The problem is complex

7. The problem is very complex (image of a complex set of gears with previous problems identified on each gear)

9. Web content is not developed to be accessible to assistive technology

10. Hidden Barrier: Including the needs of all Those with visual disabilities - Yes Those with visual disabilities - Yes Those with hearing disabilities – Yes Those with hearing disabilities – Yes Those with motor disabilities – Yes Those with motor disabilities – Yes Those with cognitive disabilities – Not yet Those with cognitive disabilities – Not yet Individual needs not well predicted (advantage some disadvantage others) Individual needs not well predicted (advantage some disadvantage others) Technologies do not evenly support users Technologies do not evenly support users

11. US Data in Education Primary & Secondary All US schools are connected to the internet for instruction All US schools are connected to the internet for instruction Mobile & handheld computing for school is rapidly increasing Mobile & handheld computing for school is rapidly increasing A national sample of accessible web content in K-12 US schools showed only 6% of pages in the sample would meet national standards for web accesssibility A national sample of accessible web content in K-12 US schools showed only 6% of pages in the sample would meet national standards for web accesssibility University By 2014 22 mill US students will be engaged in online higher education. Most campus courses include an online component By 2014 22 mill US students will be engaged in online higher education. Most campus courses include an online component 4 of every 5 faculty and staff are online to complete the work of their employer 4 of every 5 faculty and staff are online to complete the work of their employer The past decade has shown slow changes of accessibility of institutional web content; only 3% of a national sample would meet US federal standards The past decade has shown slow changes of accessibility of institutional web content; only 3% of a national sample would meet US federal standards

12. So what is creating these barriers?

13. Complexity of achieving accessible web in US education Administrative commitment & leadership Administrative commitment & leadership Policy and implementation plans Policy and implementation plans Procurement strategies Procurement strategies Training and support for ALL who produce web content – including teachers Training and support for ALL who produce web content – including teachers IT programs that do not require accessibility in curriculum. Next generation web developer perpetuates the problem IT programs that do not require accessibility in curriculum. Next generation web developer perpetuates the problem