Thread Subject: Re: Comparable Access

From: Laura Ruby
Date: Thu, Jun 07 2007 9:50 AM

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I don't understand how an agency would determine that whether someone "exerts a reasonably similar amount of effort". Can someone offer an explanation as to how an agency would determine this?

Laura Ruby
Director of Global Policy and Standards
Microsoft Accessible Technology Group
425-705-7098
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-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Barrett, Don
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 8:37 AM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; TEITAC Subpart A Subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-subparta] Comparable Access

This looks good.


Don Barrett
Section 508 Coordinator
U.S. Department of Education
(202)-205-8245
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-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Diane
Golden
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 11:37 AM
To: 'TEITAC Subpart A Subcommittee'
Subject: Re: [teitac-subparta] Comparable Access

It sounds like we may need to add a word like "reasonable" to account
for the fact that even with the best EIT access and the best AT
available, access for a person with a disability still may not be with
exactly the same
efficiency as that available to a non-disabled person. So perhaps
something like --
"Efficient access ensures that an individual with a disability exerts a
reasonably similar amount of effort in using electronic and information
technology to perform a task as compared to an individual without a
disability."

There may be better wording . . .

Diane


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]On Behalf Of Tom Brett
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 7:33 AM
To: 'TEITAC Subpart A Subcommittee'
Subject: Re: [teitac-subparta] Comparable Access




"- Timely access ensures that individuals with disabilities have
information and data available to them at the same time as individuals
without disabilities. "

"- Efficient access ensures that an individual with a disability exerts
the same amount of effort in using electronic and information technology
to perform a task as compared to an individual without a disability."

AT requires more effort to use than simply using a mouse. If I am
looking
for the general link for FAQ, as a person without disabilities I will
just use the mouse to click on that link. A person using a screen
reader will need to first determine where the link is either using a
link list or by tabbing to the link for the FAQ. Either way the user of
AT will be required to perform more keystrokes than a one who does not
use AT. Even if the particular link is at the top of the page the
screen reader user will need to determine that by executing the link
list or via a tab.

When comparing the user of AT to a user that does not use AT, what is
the basis for measuring timing and efficiency? A user of screen reader
technology will always be required to perform more keystrokes than a
non-screen reader user.

A user of screen reader technology uses a combination of 2 keys to go
back to a previous link and the space bar or enter key to execute the
link. A person who uses a different type of AT, such as a screen
magnifier, would not be required to use the key combination and could
use the mouse to execute the previous link. A person using no AT could
also use the mouse to execute the link.

Do we need to include a statement that in the definition that in order
to be timely and efficient the ratio between the user of AT and a
non-user of AT can be no greater than 2 to 1?




Tom Brett

-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Baker,
Robert C.
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 6:57 AM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: [teitac-subparta] Comparable Access


I propose the following modified wording for the comparable access
provision, which separately defines "accurate and complete" and provides
further clarity on what "efficient" means without using the term "speed"

Comparable access means that individuals with disabilities have access
to and use of information and data that is timely, accurate, complete
and efficient when compared to that available to individuals without
disabilities.
- Timely access ensures that individuals with disabilities have
information and data available to them at the same time as individuals
without disabilities.
- Accurate access ensures that the information and data reflects the
intended meaning especially when converted into another form or media.
- Complete access ensures that no information or data is missing when
accessed by assistive technology or converted into another form or media
- Efficient access ensures that an individual with a disability exerts
the same amount of effort in using electronic and information technology
to perform a task as compared to an individual without a disability.

Robert

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