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I thought that addressing Accessibility with Cloud Computing would be a good topic to address, since most technology is making its way tot the cloud. This video is 2 of 4 that are titled Will Accessibility Raid on Your Cloud Computing. All of the videos are great. This particular video discusses cloud computing and how it is addressing accessibility in a positive way. It discusses the growing impact of accessibility. One Project they talked about is called Lucy that is being piloted in Northern Italy. It provides a way for all people to access cloud features and applications for free. It is open source software. It will be able to help people through screen readers, text zoom, etc. Since this is open source, people express their needs to help enhance the system. Since this is cloud based they can login to their Lucy account and provides them with the tools they need from any location. It also talks about GPII andt technologies delivered to cloud services. That is working on a global system that addresses all users personal preferences when using technology. An example is text to speech that you use on your phone. This type of service was developed to meet accessibility needs, but is now a personal preference for all users. Thanks, Krystal

As I watched this video that Krystal posted, I realized how much I have personally benefitted from technology that was most likely originally designed for people with disabilities. I really hadn't thought of how the need for hands-free components in cars could be likened to having a visual disability. Clearly, people who fail to use such new technologies are not using their eyes, ears, and brain to focus on driving and are thus impaired. I sure am glad to have benefitted so much personally! The video also referred to translation apps and resources for times when we are "disabled" by not having language skills in a foreign region. While I haven't traveled to foreign countries where the masses don't speak English, I am reminded how little Spanish I know every time I have parent-teacher conferences with Spanish-speaking parents. Translation resources are more and more valuable the more that we are exposed to people who speak different languages. We surely have come a long way in this society from excluding people with disabilities from the routines of everyday life.

This is a good video that gives people an idea of why accessibility is so important and ways that it can be, and is, tested by others.

I think most educators want to provide the best possible environment, materials, and services for everyone and every need, but without complete awareness and leadership, we can either be oblivious to what we are lacking or overwhelmed at the gap that we need to fill. One of the speakers even said that her imagination can put herself in another person's shoes only so far because it is so hard to completely know what someone else's life experience is like.

This is a true problem. Our interpreter for our hearing impaired student is hearing impaired as well and she has challenges using the net. I work nexts to an older teacher who asks me quite often how to find things because he does not have a computer at home and does not use it often unless he is at school. Maybe if sites were more accessible and friendly he would be more proficient.

The reason why I pick this article is because it gave excellent ways to develop and share students works of all abilities. From LIS5313 Course Wiki By Cathy Felty The American Association of School Librarians' guide Standards for the 21st Century Learner states , "Learning is enhanced by opportunities to share and learn with others. Students need to develop skills in sharing knowledge and learning with others, both in face-to-face situations and through technology."

Mark, I like the concept of a "participatory culture" The web 2.0 tools you describe are creative and from what the article explains , accessible to students with special needs. I think it's great when ALL students, regardless of ability level, feel their contribution is equally important. In my full inclusion classroom, I notice some of my special needs students are very confident and comfortable with the computer but not in group discussions, this article offers suggestions for ways that EVERYONE can equally participate.

Thanks Laurie: I picked this article because it had different 2.0 tools like Animoto and Voice Thread. This article gave excellent ways to develop and to share knowledge of student's works using technology.

This article is about how Web 2.0 accessibility must be mainstreamed for people with disabilities. I chose this site because it talks about mainstreaming accessibility to ALL people with disabilities. This site is through in defining web accessibility, its barriers, and its solutions.

This informative article was written by a librarian in Florida. It contains information about different barriers faced by those with disabilities, examples of different types of assistive technologies, and gives guidelines for anyone considering becoming a web author. All of this relates to how Web 2.0 accessibility must be mainstreamed for those with disabilities.

Sad that as a special ed teacher, I never thought about web accessibility until one of our previous Lesley classes. I would just tell the students to go on the computer and I never thought about how their disability might be a barrier. In this article researchers at the City University in the UK surveyed 196 people with disabilities and asked them what they would like the Web sites to have. I found it interesting that some of the same things they wanted for the web, are things we already do with their worksheets such as less cluttered pages, fewer graphics, and larger print. Since we are using more technology in our classrooms, it's about time we have accommodations and modifications not only for their paper and pencil work, but also for technology.

I chose this article because it encompassed the importance of the growing consortium of groups to encourage web designers to embed assistive technologies within the site. To use a "universal design" theory for the development of websites for ease of use to everyone. I liked this quote: "Just enhancing the computer that older people and people with disabilities use through Assistive Technology products is not enough for tomorrow's fully interactive web content, we must make accessibility tools available everywhere, all the time. By making these available by default, it will become possible to provide more efficient, inclusive and cost-effective access, to allow productive participation and greater independence."