National Center on Disability and Access to Education

Project Details

Project Context
The National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE) seeks to improve education for all by promoting accessibility in electronically-mediated education. Technology can be harnessed to improve educational access and practice. However when education is delivered electronically it is common that it is not accessible to people with disabilities. Also, educators often need assistance in identifying and using available tools to make electronic information accessible.

Project Focus
The NCDAE monitors and promotes electronically-mediated distance education policies and practices that enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

The NCDAE currently focuses on (1) creating tools to make distance education accessible; (2) policy research and analysis to further a national agenda to promote universal access in distance education; and (3) providing training and technical assistance to assist educators with electronic access.

Project products/services
The NCDAE works with over 600 affiliates; these include individuals and representatives of agencies, industry, and organizations.

NCDAE's activities include
1) participating in standards setting bodies (e.g., the refresh of Section 508)
2) hosting national meetings to educate affiliates and to address accessibility issues
3) presentating at national conferences
4) hosting webcasts through which national experts address both policy and practice
5) researching and developing tools and software to assess web accessibility.

The NCDAE website http://www.ncdae.org has updated information.