EDUCATION & SCHOOLS

USU set to receive a federal grant to help more people with disabilities nationwide

Jun 19, 2024, 6:25 PM | Updated: 7:16 pm

LOGAN — Utah State University will be creating a new program to help more people affected by disabilities get the tools they need to learn.

The new program called the National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials and Instruction, or N-Academy, will be conducted at USU’s Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice. 

USU school officials said the N-Academy will do similar work to what they do now, but the new center will allow them to reach a more extensive range of people nationwide.

“Organizations come to us some higher ed, some nonprofits, some in the corporate world come to us and they’ll ask us, help us find the problems on our website so that we can improve,” said John Northup, the web accessibility specialist for the institute.

John Northup showing how their tools work on the KSL.com website.

John Northup showing how their tools work on the KSL.com website. (Mike Anderson, KSL TV)

Northup said these are the building blocks of what’s done at the institute. But bringing all of that info into an educational space takes work, and it can be challenging for researchers.

That’s why USU is getting a $7.2 million grant that will help take its findings to all age groups and different kinds of institutions nationwide.

“So all textbooks should be accessible to them digitally, whatever their needs are, making sure that all instruction and materials are in a format that they can use,” said Brenda Smith, associate director for the institute.

The accessibility tools being used on KSL.com

The accessibility tools being used on KSL.com (Mike Anderson, KSL TV)

Smith said she usually focuses on special education, but it’s important to make sure people with disabilities can learn alongside everyone else. Not just because of ethics, but because it’s the law.

“So when that doesn’t happen, it’s discrimination, and it’s a violation of the individual’s civil rights,” Cynthia Curry, the upcoming director of the N-Academy.

Curry said that if everyone has the opportunity to learn together, then society is positively affected.

“We need a variety of perspectives across all areas of society,” she said.

USU said N-Academy will open in early October. It will be working to help kids through all levels of school and adults in higher education. All ensure they have that access essentially pre-programmed into their materials.

KSL 5 TV Live

Education & Schools

Two mascots engage in front of crowds...

Brianna Chavez

BYU, University of Utah team up to encourage fans to ‘rival right’ ahead of big game

Ask any BYU or Utah fan, the rivalry between the two schools runs deep. But during a private event on Friday Utes fans and Cougar fans gathered together putting that rivalry aside.

2 days ago

The Utah Prison Education Project's first book club gathering on Oct. 31, 2024....

Shelby Lofton

‘Meeting real people changes everything’: State prison book club invites authors to meetings

An unlikely group of Utah men are members of a book club that meets in an unconventional place.

3 days ago

Hope Squad officers and their advisors from schools around the state were at Scenic View Academy in...

Tamara Vaifanua

Utah students receive Hope Squad training

Students struggling with mental health have a resource they can tap into where they feel safe and heard.

5 days ago

Utah's Teacher of the Year Carley Maloney (right) meeting with Wasatch Elementary's Matt Malmborg (...

Tamara Vaifanua

Looking Out for the Good: Utah Teacher of Year encourages other noteworthy educators

Utah’s Teacher of the Year, Carley Maloney, travels the state, surprising fellow teachers who are making a difference in their classrooms.

6 days ago

A suspect is seen from video footage after police say he intentionally set fire to a utility box ou...

Mary Culbertson

Midvale elementary school faces ‘extensive’ repairs after vandal set utility box on fire, school says

Midvalley Elementary School was closed on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, after a vandal "intentionally" set a utility box on fire, officials said.

6 days ago

FILE - A voter places her ballot into a secure ballot drop box at the Salt Lake County Government C...

Lindsay Aerts

Amendment B and C are the only amendments to be voted on, here’s what they will do

While Utahns won't have to worry about voting for Amendments A and D on this year's ballots, Amendments B and C are still on the table.

10 days ago

Sponsored Articles

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

family having fun at home...

Lighting Design

Discover the impact of lighting on your mood

From color temperature to lighting saturation, we tackle how different lighting design setups can impact your day-to-day mood.

Laptops in a modern technology store. Department of computers in the electronics store. Choosing a ...

PC Laptops

How to choose the best laptop for college students

Finding the right laptop for college students can be hard, but with this guide we break down what to look for so you can find the best one.

young male technician is repairing a printer at office...

Les Olson

Unraveling the dilemma between leasing and buying office technology

Carefully weigh these pros and cons to make an informed decision that best suits your business growth and day-to-day operation. 

A kitchen in a modern farmhouse....

Lighting Design

A room-by-room lighting guide for your home

Bookmark this room-by-room lighting guide whenever you decide to upgrade your lighting or style a new home.

Photo courtesy of Artists of Ballet West...

Ballet West

The rising demand for ballet tickets: why they’re harder to get

Ballet West’s box office is experiencing demand they’ve never seen before, leaving many interested patrons unable to secure tickets they want.

USU set to receive a federal grant to help more people with disabilities nationwide