Colleges Focus on Making Web Sites Work for People With Disabilities 
The Chronicle of Higher Education - http://chronicle.com
Friday, January 26, 2001
By Andrea L. Foster

When Margo L. Bailey, an assistant professor of public administration at
American University, posted on the World Wide Web the syllabus and handouts
for her course on personnel administration, she gained a fan. 

Thomas McKeithan II, a blind student in her class, realized that he wouldn't
have to depend on others to read aloud notes and other written material.
Software that recognizes online text could do the job. 

"I just walked up to her and said, 'Did you know I was coming to the class?
You just made my life a hell of a lot easier,'" says Mr. McKeithan, an
undergraduate in his sixth year. Ms. Bailey was nonplused. "I told her, 'You
just don't understand. I don't have to carry around a lot of paper. I can
read this on my own.'" 

For disabled college students, professors' increased use of the Web for
instruction can create obstacles rather than clear them away. Many disabled
students find that new technology cuts them off from the learning process. 

To prevent that, colleges are -- among other things -- designing Web sites
and buying computer workstations that meet the needs of disabled students. 

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