More International Attention
A blog run by Australian librarian, Lynette Reville, notes:
"It’s thought-provoking to look at how many web standards are in place for users who have physical disabilities, and then to think about the lack of guidelines for users with other disabilities. Particularly with commercial learning management software, where end users don’t really have a lot of choice in the way the courses or the communication/assessment tools within them are accessed are constructed: you have to take what they give you, for better or worse."
Another blog, Avalúo y Tecnologías de Aprendizaje (Peru) states:
"Capella University ha sido demandada por uno de sus estudiantes por utilizar un sistema para manejar cursos en línea (WebCT) que no cumple supuestamente con los requisitos de accesibilidad para personas con problemas de aprendizaje. (Ley ADA) . Esta será la primera de muchas demandas a las que se enfrentarán no solo las universidades virtuales sino las compañías que manejan estos sistemas para manejar cursos en línea. "
A rough translation of this statement is:
"Capella University has demanded that one of its students use an online system (WebCT) that supposedly does not comply with the accessibility requirements of those with learning problems (Law ADA). This will be the first of many demands of virtual universities and the companies that make these systems for online courses."
Additional comments regarding the lawsuit against Capella will be posted as they are located. We salute those in the international educational community who are focusing on the real issues of the lawsuit - the lack of accessibility of WebCT to those with disabilities.