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National Education Technology Plan leaves millions behind

for

From: Cyndi
Date: Jan 7, 2005 5:52PM


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-->National Education Technology Plan leaves millions
beh
Please distribute
and act!
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January 7, 2005
WebAIM's response to the National Education Technology Plan and
Call for Action

Today, the U.S. Department of Education released its National
Education Technology Plan 2004, "Toward a New Golden Age in
American Education:&nbsp; How the Internet, the law and today's
students are revolutionizing expectations"<font
face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000">
(<u
>http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/plan/2004/index.h<;span
>tml).<font face="Arial" size="-3"
color="#000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is the third such plan and was
developed over the past several years with input from thousands of
educators, students, administrators, and those in educational
organizations, as well as the technology industry.&nbsp; It
acknowledges the importance of technology in academic achievement as
well as the role of technology in the 21st century.&nbsp; The
blueprint frames the direction for educational technology in American
schools for years to come.&nbsp; The plan released today is impressive
in scope, visionary in action, and notable in detail.&nbsp; As these
plans become reality, the academic outcomes of students without
disabilities will benefit greatly.&nbsp; Moreover, we can anticipate
that both our society and economy will benefit in obvious ways.

WebAIM applauds the plan with the exception of one prominent
omission.&nbsp; The plan does not mention the critical need for
accessible technology for millions of students with disabilities.&nbsp;
Because this need is not identified, nor addressed, there are no
apparent plans to remedy this ever-increasing digital divide.&nbsp;
Perhaps there was a lack of input from the disability, or technology
access, community.&nbsp; It appears that these stakeholders were not
included in the work of the committee.

Technology holds the promise for individuals with disabilities.
However, even with assistive technologies, many students are barred
from participation in Internet- and electronic-based curricula.&nbsp;
This is because of the ways in which the technologies are designed.&nbsp;
A plan that includes recommendations for universally-designed
technologies removes the need for expensive, and often ineffective,
accommodations after the fact.&nbsp; Furthermore, accessible
technologies benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities.

The principles contained in No Child Left Behind would embrace the
practice of full accessibility to Internet-based curricula, digital
texts, and electronic assessments.&nbsp; Without planning, however,
this reality will remain a dream for millions.&nbsp; Currently,
federal agencies are mandated to create electronic information that
can be accessed by all.&nbsp; It seems appropriate then that our
nation's education technology plan should do no less.

Research indicates that technology can improve educational outcomes
for all students, both with and without disabilities.&nbsp; Moreover,
education and technology proficiency are related to employment
success.&nbsp; The 2000 U.S. Census data reports rates of unemployment
and underemployment that are unacceptably high.&nbsp; The
President's New Freedom Initiative reported unemployment rates as high
as 70% for those with severe disabilities.&nbsp; It is vital that our
education systems prepare citizens who can maximize their
independence, can fully participate in our increasingly technologic
society, and can secure meaningful employment.&nbsp; This will happen
only if technology is accessible to all students during their
educational journey.

WebAIM invites the U.S. Department of Education to respond to this
apparent omission within the National Education Technology Plan.&nbsp;
We would also ask other groups interested in technology access to
contact the U.S. Department of Education to express concerns that they
have on this important issue.

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< <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Cyndi Rowland, Ph.D.
Director, Web Accessibility In Mind (WebAIM)
Center for Persons with Disabilities (UCEDD)
Utah State University
Logan, Utah&nbsp;&nbsp; 84322-6800
(435) 797-3381
FAX (435) 797-2044
<http://www.webaim.org>;