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From: Karen Sorensen
Date: Tue, Aug 16 2011 8:15PM
Subject: Are "options" for accessibility sake, discrimination or Universal Design?
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Hi -
We are working to implement accessibility guidelines for online classes
winter 2012. We have a committee of faculty, instructional support,
disability services, web services, distance learning and others helping us
to figure out the best way to implement these guidelines. We ran into an
impasse today.

The Quality Matters rubric from Maryland Online that we use to evaluate
online classes says
"The instructor provides documentation stating the degree of accessibility
of any content, tools, and software used in the course. If any component of
the course is inaccessible, instructions are provided on how to obtain
accommodation."

The question and discussion that followed was whether an alternate
assignment would be considered a legal accommodation. There were some strong
opinions on both sides. One side felt like that was good Universal Design to
give the students a choice of assignments (some being accessible, others
not), the other side felt like if there was an accessible version why
wouldn't you just go with that.

Anyone tackled this issue before? Have an opinion on the legalities of it?

--
Karen M. Sorensen
Instructional Technology Specialist
Accessibility Advocate for Online Courses
Portland Community College
971-722-4720

From: Ryan E. Benson
Date: Wed, Aug 17 2011 7:00PM
Subject: Re: Are "options" for accessibility sake, discrimination or Universal Design?
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Karen,

I have heard this discussion before. Usually the discussion is the
student is supposed to watch something like a movie that is in an
inaccessible player or something similar. Usually the instructor or TA
sit down with the student and go through it. However your question is
the other way around, can the student show their learning through
other means than a 5 pg paper. My university laid down a rule saying
professors cannot do this, because they would only do this for
students with disabilities. Students without disabilities could
technically sue the school (and/or professor - sorry I forget which)
for giving preference. There is a school that allows this, I want to
say Arizona State. If your team want to pursue this (which I support),
you should talk to the teacher union for the school. They have to
understand to legally do this they must allow the choice to all
students. You should allow the instructor to pick what are good
alternatives are because they know the subject matter is.

Sorry I couldn't hit the nail on the head better, I haven't covered
this topic in about 2 years.

--
Ryan E. Benson



On Tue, Aug 16, 2011 at 10:17 PM, Karen Sorensen < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Hi -
> We are working to implement accessibility guidelines for online classes
> winter 2012. We have a committee of faculty, instructional support,
> disability services, web services, distance learning and others helping us
> to figure out the best way to implement these guidelines. We ran into an
> impasse today.
>
> The Quality Matters rubric from Maryland Online that we use to evaluate
> online classes says
> "The instructor provides documentation stating the degree of accessibility
> of any content, tools, and software used in the course. If any component of
> the course is inaccessible, instructions are provided on how to obtain
> accommodation."
>
> The question and discussion that followed was whether an alternate
> assignment would be considered a legal accommodation. There were some strong
> opinions on both sides. One side felt like that was good Universal Design to
> give the students a choice of assignments (some being accessible, others
> not), the other side felt like if there was an accessible version why
> wouldn't you just go with that.
>
> Anyone tackled this issue before? Have an opinion on the legalities of it?
>
> --
> Karen M. Sorensen
> Instructional Technology Specialist
> Accessibility Advocate for Online Courses
> Portland Community College
> 971-722-4720
>