AccessSTEM

As educational entities purchase information technology (IT) products, it is critical that they consider the accessibility of these products for their students and employees with disabilities. At present, only a small number of educational entities have begun to systematically address accessibility within their IT procurement processes. However, the federal government of the United States has worked diligently to address its IT accessibility since the passage of 1998 Amendments to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Vince Cerf, a computer scientist who is recognized as one of the founders of the internet, and other individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing have been very successful in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). However, as a group, individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields.

Assistive technology (AT) makes it possible for people with disabilities to benefit from mainstream technology when the standard modes of access are inaccessible to them. Many products are commercially available and some are free. The resources described below help individuals locate freely available AT.

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI™) is one of four domains of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C®). W3C was created in 1994 to develop common protocols that promote the evolution of the World Wide Web and ensure its interoperability. The HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) specifications are two of the most familiar outcomes of W3C's work. W3C has more than five hundred member organizations worldwide. Its domains are Architecture, User Interface, Technology and Society, and WAI, which works across the other three domains.

With sponsorship from AccessComputing, Georgia Computes, GVU Center, and the Institute for People and Technology, Georgia Tech hosted A Capacity-Building Workshop for Georgia Tech. The workshop aimed to increase the participation and success of people with disabilities in computing fields, particularly at Georgia Tech.

Although each situation is different and the student is the best source of information regarding useful accommodations, the following are some accommodations that should help to make the laboratory safer for students with mobility impairments and the other students in the class as well:

The term digital divide refers to the gap that exists between those who have and those who do not have access to technology. The term gained popularity in the late 1990s, fueled in part by a series of reports from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The first of these reports, Falling Through The Net: A Survey of the "Have Nots" in Rural and Urban America, was released in July 1995.

Students with mental health issues benefit from traditional job supports such as career assessments, job search training, and work-based learning opportunities. As referenced in the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability's workforce guide, youth with mental health needs may also benefit from employment programs that offer

Accessibility Demonstration Experiences (ADEs) are a set of on-line tutorials that include activities specifically designed to help software and user interface designers understand the needs and expectations of users with disabilities.