RESOLUTION 2022-1: ACCESSIBLE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY

WHEREAS, technology has revolutionized access to information, textbooks,
course materials, testing, software, interaction with college administrations,
and other facets of student life in postsecondary education; and


WHEREAS, Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibit
colleges and universities from discriminating against persons with disabilities
and mandates equal access to educational opportunities; and


WHEREAS, many postsecondary institutions are failing to comply with these
mandates as they apply in the digital world by routinely developing, procuring,
or deploying inaccessible technology, which makes it impossible for blind and
visually impaired students to compete on terms of equality with other students;
and


WHEREAS, examples of ADA compliant solutions include:
- Adding captions and audio description to post-production videos
- providing Accessible textbooks and related core materials including tests
used for teaching and learning
- ensuring websites and online documentation can be accessed using
assistive technology (e.g., screen readers, voice recognition, etc.)
- the ability to navigate a website or software application (e.g., learning
management system, institutional communication platforms, grade
portals) without using a mouse
- using sufficient color contrast
- the addition of alternative text for images, graphics, and charts
- other features that provide greater access to digital content sources; and


WHEREAS, solutions exist to make technology accessible to blind and visually
impaired students, but such solutions must be prioritized in the higher
education market: NOW THEREFORE


BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia, on this 30 th day of
October, 2022, that this organization demand that institutions of postsecondary
education in the State of Virginia be required to utilize technology such as
access to information, textbooks, course materials, testing, software,
interaction with college administrations, and other facets of student life that is
accessible to students who are blind or visually impaired; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of
Virginia request that the Virginia General Assembly pass legislation requiring
public institutions of postsecondary education be required to develop, procure,
or deploy textbooks and related material and other technology that is
accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.