This is from
http://alpha.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/ncam/currentprojects/cdromprojectoverview.h
tml
Sounds encouraging.

    CD-ROM Access Project Overview
    The National Science Foundation and the CPB/WGBH National Center for
    Accessible Media (NCAM) have joined forces to make educational multimedia
    accessible through an exciting three-year study, the CD-ROM Access
Project.
    Currently, the graphic-rich content of multimedia software prevents blind
    students from participating in the dynamic learning environment that
    technology has brought to the classroom. Although technology is
available to
    make computers accessible to blind people, no one piece of access
technology
    works with all software or hardware products and some products have
access
    barriers that cannot be overcome by any access technology. The obvious
    solution is to build access into CD-ROMs so that only a very few-and
    affordable-pieces of access technology are required to make the
information
    available.
    To provide blind students with greater access to science, engineering and
    mathematics CD-ROMs, NCAM will:

        Study the accessibility of current CD-ROMs

        Explore access solutions to technology barriers

        demonstrate accessibility through a model accessible CD-ROM

        Create design guidelines that recommend standards for accessibility

        Distribute project findings

    Based on our analysis of sixteen widely used science and math titles, the
    project has begun prototyping solutions that make these programs as
    enriching for blind students as for their sighted classmates. Our
prototype
    of a math game for elementary and middle school students, "How the West
Was
    One + Three x Four" by Sunburst Communications, demonstrates an audio
    interface with keyboard input. Preliminary testing suggests that this
    interface will allow blind students to fully participate in educational
    multimedia. Educators have commented that this interface may also benefit
    sighted students, though further testing is needed to confirm this.
    Advising the project are a distinguished group of educators and
    technologists, including:

        James M. Allen - Texas School for the Blind

        Brian Charlson - Carroll Center for the Blind

        Curtis Chong - National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science

        Dr. Richard M. Jackson - Boston College

        Amy Rubin - CAST

        Virginia W. Stern - American Association for the Advancement of
Science

        Dr. Gregg C. Vanderheiden - Trace Research and Development Center

        Doug Wakefield - U.S. Access Board
    In addition, major software publishers and distributors, including
    Microsoft, have agreed to assist in achieving the goals of the project.
    For more information, please follow the links available from the CD-ROM
    Access Project home page



    NCAM / WGBH Educational Foundation / www.wgbh.org

Scott D. Hendershot
Media, Pennsylvania
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