Feds Require Accessibility of Ereaders in Schools
RSSLauren Barack
August 1, 2010
K–12 public schools must ensure that Kindles and electronic books are accessible to all students—including the vision impaired, according to a recent letter from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).
In a joint June 29 letter issued by the DOE and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to college presidents, the two organizations stated that for schools to remain compliant with the Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, they cannot require “the use of technology that is inaccessible to individuals with disabilities, unless the institutions provide accommodations or modifications that would permit an individual with a disability to use the technology in an equally effective manner.”
The federal agencies specifically cited the Kindle. While acknowledging the devices’ read-aloud feature, the letter states “they lack menus and controls that individuals who are blind or have low vision can navigate.”
While the letter addressed higher institutions, the implications for K–12 education are clear: they will be held to the same requirements, according to Russlynn Ali, assistant secretary for the DOE. “The principles are indeed the same… the principles apply to K through 12,” Ali said in a June 28 conference call.
While it remains unclear how the DOE will monitor or enforce the stipulation at the K–12 level, several colleges and universities, which have launched Kindle pilot projects, recently settled with the DOE and DOJ by promising not to purchase, require, or recommend use of devices such as the Kindle “unless reasonable [accessibility] accommodations are made.”
With the DOE’s Ali implying that K–12 schools would be held to the same level of compliance, elementary and secondary schools looking to add eReaders to their classrooms are now on alert.—
