Hello List:

We search for recorded experience in making CD-ROM based information more
accessible.  

The CD-ROM's we are talking about are mainly popular indexes (indicies).
Titles include Canadian Research Index, CBCA, Global Books in Print, Lisa
Plus, Library Literature and some other French Canadian Indexes. The library
we are working with would like to offer these to patrons on accessible
workstations.

On first inspection it seems these titles often use similar interfaces or
search engines.  This may be a function of a common publisher.  These
include:
Winspirs v.2.1 of Silver Platter
Boker-Saur Reed Software v.1.0 and v.2.02
Wilsondisc v.2.4.0 (looks similar to Winspirs v.2.1)

We can load a program like JAWS and/or Zoomtext to help with access.  Most
of the CD Indexes seem to offer keystroke access.  Some of the on-screen
controls however may be problematic for the screen reading software.  Custom
scripts or frames may be required.

We respectfully ask others to communicate their "making CDROM Indexes
accessible" experience and any remedies developed.  Also I am particularly
interested in any US law or American Library Association acquisition policy
that may apply in demanding accessibility in these types of products.

Merci!

Mike Arnold
e-mail/courriel: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
Tel:    (819) 997-2903
Fax:    (819) 953-5995

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