Information Technology and Disabilities Vol. IX No. 1 October, 2003 ---------------------- ** The contents of EASI's e-journal are below Remember 2 EASI month-long courses begin Monday November 3 (registrations will be accepted through Friday 7 Barrier-free E-learning http://easi.cc/workshops/bfel.htm Accessible Internet Multimedia http://easi.cc/workshops/mmedia.htm ---------------------- I ntroducing a special issue of Information Technology and Disabilities PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES: ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Guest Editor: Steve Noble Policy Analyst, Kentucky Assistive Technology Service Network [log in to unmask] It is a distinct pleasure to introduce the first installment of ITD's two-part special series on public policy issues. This collection of articles, and those that will follow in the upcoming issue, are part of our special theme to address the public policy aspects relating to the emerging civil right of access to information. In a world so dependent upon the flow of information and the operation of information technology, it is clearly a social imperative that all people are afforded equal access to this vital resource. In particular, those who help shape public policy must collectively safeguard this right and ensure that individuals with disabilities do not find themselves on the wrong side of the "digital divide." On behalf of EASI, Equal Access to Software and Information, I would like to say a special "thank you" to all the authors who contributed to this series. ISSN 1073-5127 To receive notification of new issues of Information Technology and Disabilities, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] with no subject and with the following line for text: subscribe ITD-JNL "Firstname Lastname" (CONTENTS) Special Theme Articles THE STATE OF THE LAW ON TECHNOLOGY AND THE BLIND: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE James Gashel ( [log in to unmask]) Director of Governmental Affairs, National Federation of the Blind FEDERAL REGULATION CREATES ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR COMPETITION, INNOVATION AMONG TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES Laura Ruby ( [log in to unmask]) Program Manager, Regulatory and Industry Affairs Accessible Technology Group, Microsoft Corporation STATE IT ACCESSIBILITY POLICY: THE LANDSCAPE OF TODAY Diane Cordry Golden ( [log in to unmask]) Director, Missouri Assistive Technology Deborah V. Buck ( [log in to unmask]) Director, State IT Accessibility Initiatives, ITTATC FROM POLICY TO PRACTICE: ACHIEVING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Patricia Hendricks ( [log in to unmask]) Technology Coordinator, Mid-Atlantic Regional Technology in Education Consortium, Lisa Wahl ( [log in to unmask]) Consultant, Alliance for Technology Access Judith Stull ( [log in to unmask]) Senior Research Associate, Temple University Center for Research in Human Development and Instruction Julie Duffield ( [log in to unmask]) Research Associate, WestEd- Regional Technology in Education Consortium Project SHOW ME THE MONEY: MAKING CURRENCY ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND Melanie Brunson ( [log in to unmask]) Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind THE CHAFEE AMENDMENT: IMPROVING ACCESS TO INFORMATION Alison Lingane ( [log in to unmask]) Senior Product Manager, Bookshare.Org, The Benetech Initiative Jim Fruchterman ( [log in to unmask]) President and CEO, The Benetech Initiative THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATELY MEASURING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE FEDERAL ELECTRONIC GOVERMENT: DEVELOPING THE RESEARCH AGENDA Paul T. Jaeger ( [log in to unmask]) Senior Research Associate and EBSCO Fellow, Information Use Management and Policy Institute Other Articles WHAT COLOR IS THAT COMMENT: THE MECHANICS OF ONLINE COLLABORATION FROM A BLIND STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE Stephanie Watts ( [log in to unmask]) Freelance Assistive Technology Consultant ------------------------------ EASI's November, month-long online courses: Barrier-free E-learning: http://easi.cc/workshops/bfel.htm Accessible Internet Multimedia: http://easi.cc/workshops/mmedia.htm (a package of five courses will earn the Certificate in Accessible Information Technology) http://easi.cc/workshop.htm Norman Coombs, Ph.D. CEO EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) 22196 Caminito Tasquillo Laguna Hills CA 92653 home: (949) 855-4852 Cell: (949) 922-5992 E-mail: [log in to unmask] http://www.rit.edu/~nrcgsh