Crunchy Technologies and The George Washington University
Crunchy Technologies, Inc., a provider of secure, accessible e-business and e-government software products and custom applications, announced they have partnered with GWSolutions, A George Washington University Enterprise, to integrate their eight accessibility courses into GW’s Center for Professional Development curriculum beginning this summer.
This move was prompted by a law passed by Congress in 1998, to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
Eight courses designed to prepare IT professionals and managers to create accessible information in compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 have been added to the GW curriculum. Upon successful completion of these courses students are awarded GW continuing education units (CEUs) and a certificate. Among the available courses are:
1. PageScreamerTM Suite of Products (4 Hours) [available online]
2. Web Accessibility for Tables (16 Hours)
Static HTML, ASP, JSP, Cold Fusion
3. Coding XML for Web Accessibility (30 Hours)
4. Dynamic Accessibility with DHTML (22 Hours)
5. Creating Accessible JAVA2 applications (38 Hours)
6. Managing Accessibility Projects and Setting up a Program Management Office (22 Hours)
7. Quality Assurance Planning for Accessibility Projects (22 Hours)
8. Step-by-Step Accessibility Self-Certification (30 Hours)
“Solving the problem of technology accessibility for individuals with disabilities must start with integration of accessible education into existing education throughout the world,” said Lou Hutchinson, Crunchy Technologies’ founder and CEO.
“We are very pleased to be able to work with Crunchy Technologies to deliver innovative and high quality training in the area of accessibility to the Washington community at GW’s convenient locations,” said Roger Whitaker, GWSolutions’ Chief Executive Officer. “The alliance with Crunchy Technologies adds substantially to our strength as an education provider in emerging technology fields.”
Leading advocates for the disabled applauded this announcement. According to Alan Reich, Executive Director, National Organization on Disabilities, Washington, DC, “Crunchy and GW have created a model for others to follow through comprehensive and integrated technology education.” This partnership allows Crunchy to provide a complete accessibility solution to organizations worldwide.
Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. §794d), agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION: For information on cost, certificates, availability and registration, please visit http://www.gwu.edu/cpd/crunchy or call 202-973-1150.
About Crunchy Technologies
Crunchy Technologies develops accessible packaged software products and custom applications for business and government clients. Crunchy manufactures the PageScreamer™ and WinScreamer™ product suites, the leading tools for making Web content and desktop software accessible to users with disabilities and compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Crunchy’s professional services team architects and builds secure, accessible e-business and e-government applications and systems. Crunchy’s expertise includes Internet, intranet, extranet and wireless application development, IT infrastructure design & implementation, security implementations and accessible web content, web application and product software development.
Crunchy Education Partners (CEP) Program
Crunchy Education Partners (CEPs) have training facilities that meet Crunchy standards. They also have instructors who have been trained to teach select courses from the Crunchy curriculum in public or private deliveries. CEPs are on-line and off-line organizations that syndicate Crunchy’s training curriculum for distance learning. Our partners in this area include accredited Universities that include the Crunchy training as part of the University offering towards a certificate program or college credit.
About The George Washington University
Located four blocks from the White House, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation’s capital. The University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, law, engineering, education, business/public management, and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of 20,000 undergraduates, graduate, and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 120 countries.
About GWSolutions
GWSolutions is the training and consulting arm of The George Washington University, bringing customized strategies to business, government and international clients. GWSolutions manages the Center for Professional Development with over 500 courses offered annually, of which 16 courses and two unique certificates are in accessibility and usability.
