Desire2Learn Honored for Groundbreaking Work in Accessibility

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 8, 2013) -

Editors Note: There is a video associated with this press release.

Desire2Learn Incorporated ("Desire2Learn"), a leading provider of innovative learning solutions, announced today that the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has awarded the company with the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award for groundbreaking work in accessibility. Presented at the NFB 2013 Convention on July 6, the Bolotin Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward achieving the full integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality. Additionally, the Desire2Learn platform was awarded the Nonvisual Accessibility Gold Certification in recognition of the software meeting the highest standard of accessibility: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaAlf8uy6EE.

"Accessibility is an organization-wide mandate and a critical element in all of our research and development efforts," said John Baker, President and CEO of Desire2Learn. "We are committed to ensuring that we are the industry leader in this very important field."

Acknowledging that the real drivers of accessibility are Desire2Learn's clients, the organization has decided to invest further in the community with a new, 10-year Accessibility Award program designed to encourage a continued focus on developing accessible tools and solutions. Desire2Learn will be investing $40,000 in the program over that time to recognize individuals that are breaking down teaching and learning barriers - in unique and impactful ways - for individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said, "Desire2Learn has demonstrated a long-term, company-wide commitment to accessibility that should be an example to all learning management system manufacturers. Our relationship with this innovative and inclusive company goes back three years and we expect it to continue long into the future. We are pleased to present Desire2Learn with one of our prestigious Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards this year. The company has earned this award not only by its technical achievements in the area of accessibility, but also by its true commitment to serving all of its customers equally, including those who are blind."

For more information on the NFB-NVA Certification, please visit: https://nfb.org/certification-intro.

For more information about Desire2Learn and accessibility, please visit: http://www.desire2learn.com/products/accessibility/

About the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards

The Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards are made possible through the generosity of his late nephew and niece. Their bequest, the Alfred and Rosalind Perlman Trust, allows the National Federation of the Blind to provide direct financial support to people and organizations that are improving the lives of the blind throughout the United States.

Dr. Bolotin lived and practiced in Chicago in the early 20th century. As chronicled in his biography, "The Blind Doctor," by Rosalind Perlman, Bolotin fought ignorance and prejudice to gain entrance to medical school and the medical profession. He became one of the most respected physicians in Chicago during his career, which spanned from 1912 until his death in 1924. He was particularly known for his expertise in diseases of the heart and lungs.

Bolotin used his many public speaking engagements to advocate for the employment of the blind and their full integration into society. Interested in young people in general and blind youth in particular, Dr. Bolotin established the first Boy Scout troop consisting entirely of blind boys and served as its leader.

About Desire2Learn

Desire2Learn is helping to transform the way the world learns. Providing the next generation learning environment and solutions to engage and inspire lifelong learners, Desire2Learn helps clients break down barriers to access the highest quality learning experiences and is recognized for its leadership in accessibility. Desire2Learn is a global leader in cloud-based (SaaS) learning solutions and provides an open and extensible platform to over 750 clients and over 10 million learners in higher education, K-12, healthcare, government and the corporate sector, including the Fortune 1000. Desire2Learn has personnel in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil and Singapore. For more information, or to contact us, visit: http://www.Desire2Learn.com.

To view the video associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaAlf8uy6EE