Danger,danger! Evaluating the accessibility of Web-based emergency alert sign-ups in the northeastern United States

People with disabilities need access to emergency-related information at the same time that the general public receives that information. Many county and municipal-level governments suggest that citizens sign up on a Web page to receive emergency alert information. While the messages being sent out via e-mail or text message might be accessible, the sign-up processes are often inaccessible, preventing people with disabilities for signing up for these important information services. In this paper, all of the county-level emergency alert sign-ups in Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland, were evaluated for accessibility. A total of 156 evaluations took place (6 evaluations for each of the 26 counties evaluated). Of the 26 counties evaluated, 21 of them had accessibility violations. Legal, policy, and design-related implications are presented in the following discussion.     

A Study of Aural Learning with and without the Speaker Present

Two hundred Gulfport, Mississippi, first grade students received the benefit of extensive and intensive treatments designed to enhance educational effect. Approximately half of these students were from definitely deprived backgrounds and many demonstrated a very low degree of readiness for first grade activities. Comparison classes following the established first grade curriculum were also monitored to provide a basis for comparison. Results strongly suggest that the experimental treatments resulted in higher achievement. More important than the direction of the observed differences are their magnitudes. Enhancement of achievement due to the experimental treatments appeared greatest for low readiness students by a wide margin.     

The use of Peer Nominations as a Predictor of Academic Success in College

The peer nomination technique was investigated as a predictor of academic success among members of a college freshman class. The technique provided scores which were reliable and which were valid against a grade point ratio criterion. The peer nomination scores were shown to tap variance independent of SAT scores and, therefore, their applicability was suggested in academic counseling as a predictor which can be used to identify students who may face academic difficulties.     

COLLEGE AUTHORITY

A small sampling indicates that Catholic high schools do the job better than “out of school” instruction