Ann,

         Please forward my comments to John Michael ...

         Not only are students and adults with learning or cognitive
disabilities without the ability to use text, but so are primary school
students. I have been building websites for my K-2nd grade (age 5-8)
students in a computer lab, and they will ignore most text that is more
than a single, simple word.... I am not planning to write a paper on what
I'm doing, but you can see where I'm at now by checking out all the pages
with my name at the bottom on the links from
http://www.geocities.com/apembert45 ... I am also experimenting with some
pages to combine an e-mail project with the web as a source of materials,
etc. It is used with first graders (6-7 year olds) ...
http://www.enabling.org/zman

         As the developer, I can tell you that graphics are important to
non-readers. If the text is describing an action, animation can be an
important way to convey that action. But all media is equally important to
non-readers of any age - a combination of text, sound, stills and animation
and/or video combining all, is a winning combination in education and
entertainment. But, of course, it must be done so that people who cannot
use any of the media, get the same message from their preferred media.

         For another site built by and for learning disabled adults, check
out http://www.peepo.com made by Jonathan Chetwynd ... He's in UK, I think
London area, but not sure ...

         Reply to [log in to unmask] if you want more information or
explanations on what I'm doing.

                                                 Anne Pemberton
                                                 Southside Elementary School
                                                 Dinwiddie, Virginia, USA

PS: My youngest son is John Michael  ...




>Resent-Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 13:27:51 -0500
>Resent-To: Anne Pemberton <[log in to unmask]>
>Delivered-To: [log in to unmask]
>X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise 5.5.2
>Reply-To: "* EASI: Equal Access to Software & Information"
>               <[log in to unmask]>
>From: John Michael Hodgson <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject:      Animation for Access
>Date:         Fri, 11 Jan 2002 15:55:43 +0000
>Resent-From: Ann Parsons <[log in to unmask]>
>
>Hi All
>I am interested to discover any research which deals with the use of
>animation to help overcome the type of disabilities which limit  access to
>text-based learning resources.
>I suppose I am considering those people who have personal circumstances
>which might affect their  mastery of written language. For example, those
>people who have been deaf from birth and possibly, some students with
>specific learning disabilities. Current discussion seems to focus around
>text reading as the only key to accessibility; which is not surprising given
>the traditional emphasis on the written word in education. I am interested
>to find research  which helps establish whether or not there is any
>advantage in using animation as an additional  tool for accessibility.
>Can anyone help me out? Or at least point me in the right direction?
>Cheers
>
>John
>
>ps. apols for cross posting
>
>John Hodgson
>Specialist Senior Technician
>Specialised Learning Resource Unit (SLRU)
>LLRS
>University of Central Lancashire
>Preston, Lancashire.
>PR1 2HE
>United Kingdom
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]

Anne Pemberton
[log in to unmask]

http://www.erols.com/stevepem
http://www.geocities.com/apembert45