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National Education Technology Plan leaves millions behind

for

From: Strange, Lainie
Date: Jan 11, 2005 10:01AM

I found this email on the ed.gov Website - this is probably who you
should email with comments.

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-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]

Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 9:13 PM
To: Strange, Lainie
Subject: WebAIM Discussion List Digest 08.01.2005.

WebAIM Discussion List Digest 08.01.2005.
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From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: National Education Technology Plan leaves millions behind
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 17:52:18 -0700


National Education Technology Plan leaves millions beh Please distribute
and act!




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"
(http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/plan/2004/index.html
).&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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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>;