Empowering All Learners with Empowering All Learners with Accessible Technology-based Accessible Technology-based

Instructional ProductsInstructional ProductsMaryland RegulationsMaryland Regulations

Sponsored by:

The Maryland State Department of EducationIn partnership with:

The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Technology in Education

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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:

• 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

• NotebookParticipant AgendaHandoutsCD-ROMVideo

• 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 Programs13A.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, on-line 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 burdenProvide 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:TelecommunicationsVideo 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