Re: Web based discussion forums for people with disabilities

Graham -

I'm glad you started this thread, because this is an area that needs
renewed attention.   Both collaborative and online learning environments
are strategic areas that have poor records with respect to accessibility.
Collaborative products fall into two categories, synchronous (real-time)
and asynchronous (anytime), and present issues due to the human-human
communication they enable that are distinct from the [individual]
human-computer interface that has dominated the attention of the assistive
technology community to date.   Online learning environments also pose
issues due to many of the most educationally (pedagogically) sound products
being based almost exclusively on visual reinforcement.  Fortunately, the
work on multiple-intelligences (Howard Gardner and others) and learning
preferences (such as the Auditory/Visual/Kinesthetic models of Dawna
Markova) will be a primary driver leading to multimodal learning
environments.

Within the next few weeks, I plan to update portions of my website related
to the accessibility of both collaborative and online learning, and will
post another response once these updates are complete.   In the meantime,
I've provided a link to the paper that Susan Turnbull and I presented at
CSUN 2000, and a link to a paper commissioned by the Knowledge Management
Working Group (which reports to the CIO Council within the U.S. federal
government).

Karl

PINNACLE Framework:  The Web as an Accessible Collaborative Learning
Environment
http://w3.gsa.gov/web/m/OLD_cita.nsf/RefLib/CSUN2000

Supporting Communities of Practice:  A Survey of Community-Oriented
Technologies
Entienne Wenger (a shareware report requesting $20 for individuals, $100
for institutions)
http://www.km.gov/documents/Technology_Survey.doc


_____

Karl Hebenstreit, Jr.
US General Services Administration
Office of Governmentwide Policy
Office of the Chief Information Officer
1800 F Street NW, Room G-12
Washington, DC  20405
E-mail:  Karl.Hebenstreit@gsa.gov
Websites: http://www.gsa.gov



                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                    "Graham Oliver"        To:     w3c-wai-ig@w3.org                          
                    <graham_oliver@        cc:     (bcc: Karl F. Hebenstreit                  
                    yahoo.com>             Jr./MJ/CO/GSA/GOV)                                 
                    Sent by:               Subject:     Web based discussion forums for       
                    w3c-wai-ig-requ        people with disabilities                           
                    est@w3.org                                                                
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                    06/26/01 06:31                                                            
                    PM                                                                        
                                                                                              
                                                                                              




I am looking for existing web based discussion forums
(not mailing lists such as this one) used by people
with disabilities.
Any ideas?

TIA
Graham Oliver

=====
'Making on-line information accessible'
Mobile Phone : +64 25 919 724 - New Zealand
Work Phone : +64 9 846 6995 - New Zealand
AIM ID : grahamolivernz

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Received on Wednesday, 27 June 2001 09:49:54 UTC