Transcript Document

Empowering All Learners with
Accessible Technology-based
Instructional Products
Maryland Regulations
Sponsored by:
The Maryland State Department of Education
In partnership with:
The Johns Hopkins University’s
Center for Technology in Education
Welcome
• New regulation in Code of Maryland
Regulations on accessibility of
technology-based instructional products
(COMAR 13A.05.02.13H)
• As a result of this training, you will have
the basic knowledge, skills, and
resources to guide your local school
system with implementing this regulation
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Participant Outcomes:
• Understand the requirement for accessible
technology-based instructional products
• Examine what it means and looks like for
technology-based instructional products to
offer “equivalent access”
• Evaluate technology-based instructional
products for “equivalent access”
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Participant Outcomes
(continued):
• Consider how to incorporate accessibility
standards into evaluation, selection, and
purchasing policies and procedures
• Develop an action plan to support your local
school system for implementing the
accessibility regulation
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Agenda
• Part 1: Regulations - Overview & Rationale
• Part 2: Examination of the Technical Standards
for Equivalent Access
• Part 3: Evaluation of Technology-based
Instructional Products and Resources
• Part 4: Planning Next Steps for Implementation
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Participant
Background Survey
Who’s involved in the evaluation and
selection or procurement of instructional
materials and equipment for:
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Library media programs?
Commercially available Web-based resources?
Instructional technology?
Special education and assistive technology?
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Let’s get started…
• Introduce yourself
• Share with your neighbor what you know
about accessibility and why it’s important
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What we know about
accessibility…
Share what you have learned from meeting
your neighbors
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Overview of Materials
• Notebook
 Participant Agenda
 Handouts
 CD-ROM
 Video
• Web site: Accessible
Computer-based Instructional
Technology
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Code of Maryland Regulations
(COMAR)
Find specific information about this
regulation in:
Subtitle 05 Special Instructional Programs
13A.05.02 Administration of Services for
Students with Disabilities
.13 Local Public Agency Administration
• COMAR Online
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13A.05.02.03 Definitions
• B (5) Technology-based instructional
products means instructional software, online resources, and computer-based
equipment.
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Administration of Services for
Students with Disabilities
.13 Local Public Agency Administration
• H (1) A public agency shall ensure that a request
for bid, request for proposal, and local public
agency guidelines for the selection and evaluation
of technology-based instructional products used
by students include the requirements governing
equivalent access consistent with Subpart B,
Technical Standards, Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
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.13 Local Public Agency
Administration (continued)
• H (2) A public agency shall ensure that
technology-based instructional products
provide students with disabilities equivalent
access unless doing so would:
(a) Fundamentally alter the nature of the
instructional activity;
(b) Result in undue financial and administrative
burdens on the public agency; or
(c) Not meet other specifications.
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.13 Local Public Agency
Administration (continued)
• H (3) If a technology-based instructional
product meets the criteria described in
§ H(2) of this regulation or is not available,
the public agency shall implement an
alternative method of instruction designed
to enable a student with a disability to
access the general curriculum and meet the
student’s IEP goals and objectives as
specified in COMAR 13A.05.01.09A.
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Important Terminology
Equivalent Access
Undue Burden
Alternative Method of Instruction
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Equivalent Access
The functional outcome of using a
technology-based instructional product
results in students with disabilities
being able to access the same
instructional content.
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Undue Burden
Significant difficulty or expense
If applicable, the agency must:
Give a justification for why the standards
impose an undue burden
Provide access to instruction for students with
disabilities through an alternative means
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Alternative Method
of Instruction
The instructor and school need to answer the following
questions:
 What is it about the product that is not accessible? What
additional equipment services, or resources are needed to
make it accessible?

Is another product accessible?
 What other mode of instructional delivery may be used
to provide the student with the disability the EQUIVALENT
access to the curricular content in order to complete the
instructional assignments and to learn and incorporate the
information into the student’s body of knowledge?
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What does this cover?
Technology-based instructional products used by students:
• Software applications and operating systems
• Commercial Web-based intranet and internet information and
applications used by students
• Computer-based equipment that provides the following
functions:
 Telecommunications
 Video and multimedia
• Self-contained, closed computer-based electronic products
• Desktop and portable computers
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Who & When?
• All public agencies that serve
students from Pre-Kindergarten
through grade 12
• Starts January 2002
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Sample Language
• For RFBs and RFPs
• For Selection and Evaluation Guidelines
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