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The US Dept. of Justice, Office of Civil Rights and the US Dept. of Education Office of Civil Rights Issue Joint Letter Regarding Use of Electronic Book Readers Back to news
Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The US Department of Justice, Office of Civil Rights and the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights have issued a joint letter regarding the use of electronic book readers.  The letter outlines the issues related to emerging technologies and ensuring equal access to individuals with disabilities. The letter specifically states "Requiring use of an emerging technology in a classroom environment when the technology is inaccessible to an entire population of individuals with disabilities–individuals with visual disabilities–is discrimination prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) unless those individuals are provided accommodations or modifications that permit them to receive all the educational benefits provided by the technology in an equally effective and equally integrated manner."   A copy of the full letter can be obtained on-line at: http://www.ada.gov/kindle_ltr_eddoj.htm.