Week 3 - Are we missing something here? By Chris Lehmann

Yes, we really are missing the big picture of educating for the 21st century.  Our government needs to mandate minimum requirements for all publicly accessed computer equipment which would include libraries and schools forcing accessibility options/disability options to be installed standard on every machine as part of the standard operating system.  It could make reading tradition formats or text readers like being right or left handed.  Remember, there was a day when being left-handed was considered negative!

There are many available resources for accessing print media that can be life changing for many people. The article, The Unhappy Place: What libraries can do to welcome kids who struggle with print includes some great resources.   Consider promoting the many sites that provide electronic texts on-line at no costs to users,  beginning at the University of Virginia's Library.  Keep in mind that many of the great literary works where written before copyright laws and have been digitized for download.

Mandating all library computers to have alternative texts enabled would be a giant step toward reaching equal access for all citizens.  Increasing people’s use of alternative texts will help reduce the stigmata currently associated with print disabilities.  Moving alternative texts to a main stream item and not a disability option.  Let's consider the opportunities that would be available for English Language Learners and for parents who are unable to read to their children. 

Consider the preference of digital texts especially when traveling. I always travel with a portable computer and something to read.  Now, I can  bring a large number of books without bulk and weight by downloading them to my laptop.  Amazon Kindle for the PC or Mac is a free convenient way to read and offers many books free or at lower cost than the print versions. On July 27, 2010, Amazon Kindle announced the first author to sell a million books on Kindle.  Yes, Stieg Larsson who wrote, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, is the first member of the Kindle Million Club.