KURZWEIL HIGHER ED GROUP ADVISES ON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY -
Kurzweil Educational Systems Inc., which makes systems for people with reading
and learning disabilities, said it formed an advisory board of prominent higher
education experts in the field of literacy to foster new research and guidance into
assistive technology. Among the board members are: Dr. Lynn S. Fuchs, professor in
the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University, specializing in
classroom-based assessment and reading instruction; Dr. Lynda Katz, president of
Landmark College and neuropsychologist focusing on learning disabilities; Dr.
Charles A. MacArthur, professor at the University of Delaware's School of
Education; and Dr. Richard K. Olson, professor of Psychology at the University
of Colorado. The collaboration will focus efforts on developing the effective reading,
writing, and testing technology for students with learning disabilities. (Syllabus News
Update 16 May 03)

GROUP ADVOCATES FOR BLIND-FRIENDLY WEB SITES - The National
Federation of the Blind has released a seal of approval for organizations that have
designed their Web sites to be accessible by people with visual impairments. Such
sites take steps to make the content available and navigable either through
magnification or the use of screen readers. Wells Fargo Bank, Hewlett-Packard,
and the Social Security Administration received the first certifications from the
federation. The accessibility of the Social Security site is due in part to a federal
law that mandates equal access for persons with disabilities. Javier Bustamonte of
the Social Security agency said the requirements of that law made it easy to qualify
for the federation's new seal of approval. The federation hopes that the seal will
encourage many businesses to design - or redesign - their sites to be available to
persons with visual impairments. For the full article go to:
http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/886118p-6174154c.html
(Nando Times, 12 May 03)