Internet+Access+vs.+Internet+accessibility

Internet Access vs. Internet accessibility Margaret Aul

The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the term “Internet accessibility” is not being able to access the Internet from home. According to Wikipedia, internet access refers to the means by which users connect to the Internet (Wikipedia, 2004). Internet accessibility is so much more than just connecting to the Internet. Accessibility means providing flexibility to accommodate each user’s needs and preferences. In an Internet context, accessibility is making computer technology and Internet resources useful to more people than would otherwise be the case (Valdes, 1998). Thinking in those terms, Internet accessibility impacts more people than I first thought. Being able to access the Internet is just one small piece of the accessibility pie. As teachers, it is important to be aware of the problems some of our students and their families may be facing when assigning a project or activity. Before this class I only thought of the students who would not be able to access the Internet at home to work on a project or do research, but now that I am aware of how broad the category is for Internet accessibility, I have to refine my thinking. In order to ensure that we are providing true "access" within our general education classes, more attention will need to be given to assistive technologies and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) concepts.

//Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia//. (2004, July 22). FL: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved on October 10, 2010 from [] Valdes, Leo. Accessibility on the Internet, version 1.23" First posted 06.16.1998. Retrieved on October 10, 2010 from []

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