RE: Accessibility problems with Blackboard?

At 12:52 PM 2002-03-20 , Denise Wood wrote:

>Simon I'd be interested in your assessment of Blackboard and any other e-learning platforms. I am investigating the various commercial platforms currently available and have recently emailed WebCT for details about their accessibility initiatives and future plans. If anyone has any experience with any of these or other e-learning platforms I'd appreciate further information from you.
>

Denise, what process should we follow to get this information consolidated and shared?  There are lots of customers for any information that you and other can glean.

Al

PS:

> You could email Norm (nrcgsh@ritvax.isc.rit.edu) or Dick (dick@easi.cc) to arrange to listen to the WebCast with Reidy and/or ask for his contact details. 
>

If all one wants to do is to listen to the interview, go to

 http://easi.cc/media/reidy.htm

[kindness of Google, of course]

>>I haven't used the suite myself, but I know that they are currently implementing accessible elements into their courses, as documented on their website. It is apparent that they are working with WebAIM and Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI) to ensure that those with disabilities to use this product. Perhaps you could email these people to find out more - although I am sure that WebAIM are on this list(?) 
>
>Hi Simon and Jim
>
>EASI have a WebCast of an interview Norm Coombs and Dick Banks conducted with Reidy Brown who is the Senior Software Engineer and Accessibility Co-ordinator for Blackboard. In that interview Reidy states that there have been major improvements to the accessibility of Blackboard in its latest 5.5 release. However, he acknowledges that some sections of Blackboard are still not fully accessible (whiteboard and chat room) as they are licensed to third-party companies and Blackboard does not have the ability to change the source code. I gather they are still trying to address this problem. So I think the message is that Blackboard is committed to accessibility but their e-learning environment is not yet fully accessible. You could email Norm (nrcgsh@ritvax.isc.rit.edu) or Dick (dick@easi.cc) to arrange to listen to the WebCast with Reidy and/or ask for his contact details. 
>
>Simon I'd be interested in your assessment of Blackboard and any other e-learning platforms. I am investigating the various commercial platforms currently available and have recently emailed WebCT for details about their accessibility initiatives and future plans. If anyone has any experience with any of these or other e-learning platforms I'd appreciate further information from you.
>
>
>-- 
>
>
>Dr Denise L Wood
>
>Lecturer: Professional Development (online teaching and learning)
>and EASI online instructor 
>University of South Australia
>CE Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
>Ph:  (61 8) 8302 2167
>Fax: (61 8) 8302 2363 
>Mob: (0413 648 260)
>
>Email:Denise.Wood@unisa.edu.au or Denise@easi.cc 
>	
>WWW: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/homepage.asp?Name=Denise.Wood
>and at EASI: http://easi.cc/workshops/advwbsyl.htm
>
>
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Received on Wednesday, 20 March 2002 14:00:42 UTC