Louisiana Tech to Change Policies Following ADA Settlement

July 2013 — Louisiana Tech University and the Department of Justice have reached a settlement regarding allegations that, in violation of the ADA, the University used an “online learning product” that was inaccessible to a blind student in addition to not providing the student with accessible course materials in a subsequent course.  The settlement will require the University to reimburse the student for $23,543 in damages, while ensuring that all instructors and administrators are trained on the requirements of the ADA.  In addition, the University will be required to develop new policies including policies to ensure all technology and instructional materials are accessible to people with vision disabilities and all web pages and online courses are compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0 AA). Of the settlement, Eve Hill, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, note, “emerging technologies, including internet-based learning platforms, are changing the way we learn, and we need to ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded or left behind.”