Disabilities and Computing Program

Please note that DCP and most other University offices will be closed, beginning Thursday, December 22. DCP will return on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Please have a happy and safe holiday season!

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights has issued a 15-question FAQ clarifying its stand on accessibility of electronic reading devices and electronic information in general. The document was announced in “Dear Colleague” letters, sent out to both K12 and post-secondary institutions.

This guidance document is an outgrowth of the 2010 Kindle case, in which the National Federation of the Blind sued several universities for providing students with the Kindle e-reader, which was deemed inaccessible to blind students.

The FAQ spells out conditions under which schools can sponsor electronic technology projects and steps they can take to ensure accessibility (either built into the device, or through a “substantively equivalent” process).

The document affirms that such dedicated reading devices, along with online courses and other web-based information fall under Section 504 of the Rehab Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As “programs and services” of the educational institution, these information sources must be made accessible, analogous to the requirements for physical access to the built environment.

Frequently Asked Questions About the June 29, 2010, Dear Colleague Letter

Jennifer Dillon and Heather Wozniak
Disabilities and Computing Program, UCLA Office of Information Technology
Originally presented to UCLA Campus Web Publishers on April 19, 2011

Presentation Slides in PDF

Choosing accessible colors for your website’s text is important.  The readability of your site affects all users, not just those with vision impairments. It’s a basic usability issue.  The only people for whom the color choices don’t matter are those using screen readers.

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The DCP Office and DCP Lab will be closed from Friday, December 17, 2010 through Sunday, January 2nd, 2011.  We will resume regular business hours on Monday, January 3rd, 2011.  Enjoy the winter break!

World Statistics Day is Wednesday, October 20.  The ATS Stats Group, along with Data Archives and members of the UCLA library system, will celebrate this event by hosting an open house in the DCP and Stats Consulting Lab from 12 noon until 2 p.m.  During this time, DCP students will not be able to use the lab space, but we can make alternative arrangements for them if they come to the DCP office (MS 4909).