>Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 16:44:57 -0500
>From: Larry Goldberg <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: CD-ROM Access Guidelines now available!
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Reply-to: [log in to unmask]
>Organization: WGBH
>X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.73 (Macintosh; U; PPC)
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>Original-recipient: rfc822;[log in to unmask]
>
>Dear Colleagues,
>We are pleased to announce the publication of our new CD-ROM Access
>Guidelines! They are now available in print and on the web (see press
>release below). This publication has been long-awaited by policy
>makers, publishers, teachers, students, parents and disabled users of
>new media and technology. Many thanks to the National Science Foundation
>for their support of this important work.
>
>I welcome your reactions and thoughts when you have a chance to take a
>look at the publication.
>Feel free to forward this message.
>
>- Larry Goldberg, Director
>Media Access Group at WGBH
>
>----------
>
>Press release
>November 30, 2000
>
>Contact: Mary Watkins/WGBH
>617 300-3700
>617 300-2459 TTY
>[log in to unmask]
>access.wgbh.org
>
>
>WGBH's National Center for Accessible Media Publishes Guidelines for
>Making Software Accessible to Deaf or Blind Users
>
>Print and Online Versions Available Free of Charge (see ncam.wgbh.org/cdrom)
>
>Educational software publishers interested in making electronic
>textbooks and other instructional materials useful to as many students
>as possible will be aided by a new publication from the CPB/WGBH
>National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM). "Making Educational
>Software Accessible: Design Guidelines Including Math and Science
>Solutions" is the result of a three-year, National Science
>Foundation-funded effort by NCAM which offers a wealth of information
>for educational designers and developers.
>
>"This document is a truly invaluable resource which the Texas Education
>Agency will recommend to publishers as they plan development of new
>multimedia textbooks. This publication fills an immense gap in the body
>of technical information needed by publishers to produce accessible
>electronic textbooks for all students."
>Charles E. Mayo
>Assistant Director
>Textbook Administration
>Texas Education Agency
>
>The guidelines are also expected to aid efforts by publishers of
>Web-based media seeking to comply with existing and pending
>accessibility regulations on Federal and state levels.
>
>In this document, readers will find:
>- a review of current policies requiring the use of accessible
>educational software;
>- a basic understanding of the needs of users with different disabilities;
>- a summary of various approaches to serving users with different
disabilities;
>- specific solutions for designing more accessible software;
>- guidelines with specific checkpoints and detailed techniques for
implementation.
>
>Technical information covers common development environments and
>includes references to more detailed accessibility guidelines. In
>addition, specific guidelines on educational materials are included.
>
>"Adherence to these guidelines by curriculum developers and publishers
>will make multimedia instructional materials in science and mathematics
>better for all students, while ensuring that those with disabilities
>will enjoy a greatly improved learning environment."
>Lawrence A. Scadden, Ph.D.
>Senior Program Director
>Program for Persons with Disabilities
>National Science Foundation
>
>"Making Educational Software Accessible: Design Guidelines Including
>Math and Science Solutions" is available free of charge in print and on
>the World Wide Web.
>Request print copies (bulk orders accepted) through Mary Watkins at
>617 300-3700; [log in to unmask]
>or read the guidelines online at: ncam.wgbh.org/cdrom
>
>
>About the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM):
>NCAM and its fellow access departments at WGBH, The Caption Center and
>Descriptive Video ServiceŽ, make up the Media Access Group at WGBH. WGBH
>pioneered captioning and video description on television, the Web and in
>movie theaters. NCAM is a founding member of the Web Accessibility
>Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). As a research
>and development department, NCAM works with standards bodies, industry,
>consumer organizations and educators to develop and implement
>non-proprietary technical standards for multimedia, advanced television,
>and convergent media that ease implementation, foster growth and lay
>common groundwork for equal access to new technologies. For more
>information, visit access.wgbh.org.
>
>WGBH Boston
>WGBH Boston is the preeminent public broadcasting producer in America.
>More than one-third of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) prime-time
>lineup and companion Web content is produced by WGBH, along with
>programming for public radio stations, educational services and outreach
>activities. WGBH informs, inspires, and entertains audiences around the
>world. For more information visit main.wgbh.org.
>
>
>--
>Larry Goldberg, Director
>Media Access Group
>WGBH Educational Foundation
>125 Western Ave.
>Boston, MA 02134
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>Web site: access.wgbh.org
>
>617-300-3722 (direct voice/FAX)
>617-300-3400 (main NCAM)
>617-300-2489 (TTY)
>
>"WGBH Boston informs, inspires, and entertains millions through public
>broadcasting, the Web, educational multimedia, and access services for
>people with disabilities."
>
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