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Accessibility Resources
(as prepared by Data Conversion Laboratory, Inc.)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Accessibility Articles from DCLNews and other sources
- XML Changes Lives of Print Disabled
DCLnews talks to leading accessibility commentator, George Kerscher of the DAISY Consortium, who says we are on the verge of an XML-driven breakthrough that is set to be a "Gutenberg Revolution" to the print disabled.
http://www.dclab.com/kerscher.asp
- Adaptive Technology Opens Doors for Disabled Workers
Rapid advances in modern technology is more than just convenience, especially for people with disabilities. The possibility now exists for them to do things they've never before been able to do, things that many of us take for granted, simple things that enable participation in everyday life and in the workplace, to an extent never before possible. The federal government is taking a lead role in this revolution through Section 508 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.
http://www.dclab.com/adapt.asp
- Leveling the Textbook Playing Field for the Print Disabled
Increasing numbers of state legislatures require textbooks and other educational materials to be in structured electronic formats like XML, which makes educational texts more accessible and vastly improves the quality of life for people who are not able to read due to disabilities. This article looks at current accessibility legislation and reviews many of the issues surrounding the conversion of materials to meet these legal requirements. It also provides an overview of how a conversion firm, Data Conversion Laboratory, goes about converting data into XML and other structured electronic formats.
http://www.dclab.com/accessibility_whitepaper.asp
- CAST Uses XML to Provide New Hope for Disabled Students
Data Conversion Laboratory works with a number of organizations doing very interesting things with XML to make information more accessible and available to people with disabilities. One of the more interesting organizations we’ve come across is the not-for-profit Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) and in particular the Universal Learning Center (ULC). We recently had an opportunity to interview Rick Bowes, ULC’s Managing Co-Director in order to get his insights on where things are going and what might be possible in the future.
http://www.dclab.com/cast.asp
- GPS And Digital Maps Reveal the Way for Warfighters, Farmers, and the Sightless
Northrop Grumman has won a multi-million dollar contract to provide digital mapping software for the Army - similar technology is being used in the farming industry and to help blind people navigate. DCLnews reports.
http://www.dclab.com/digital_maps.asp
- DCLnews - Focus on Adaptive Technology for People with Disabilities:
Disabilities run across a spectrum of types. Who can be assisted by adaptive technology? People with disabilities who are blind, deaf, color blind, dyslexic and those with physical injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis are among the disabled workers employed by the federal government worldwide. Section 508 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 guarantees individuals with disabilities who are Federal employees or members of the public who are disabled to have unfettered access to electronic information and technology. How and what are the adaptive technologies available? Read all about it here...
http://www.dclab.com/newspage0306.asp
- First PDA for the Blind Comes with Hefty Price Tag
The first handheld computer for the blind has been developed and will ship later this year. Called "PAC Mate," the personal digital assistant runs on Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system. it comes complete with an eight-dot braille keyboard or QWERTY-style keyboard. Plus it lets users access all Windows' applications, including Word documents, Outlook e-mail, and Internet Explorer.
http://www.dclab.com/dclnews0411.asp#story5
- Braille Readers of Harry Potter Beef Up their Biceps
The 13-volume Braille version of the latest Harry Potter book weighs in at 17-pounds and had the National Braille Press working hell-for-leather to ship it on time. DCLnews reports.
http://www.dclab.com/braille_harry_potter.asp
- CNIB Launches Digital Library for the Blind
Thanks to the Internet and some original programming by Microsoft Canada, 105,000 blind or visually impaired Canadians will be able to read thousands of books, daily newspapers and magazines. Launched by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the CNIB Digital Library is described as the most advanced collection of alternative formats in the world and a model for 175 international libraries producing alternative-format information.
http://www.dclab.com/dclnews0512.asp#story6
- Tech Partnership Helps Blind Access Newspapers
A partnership announced in December last year between Knight Ridder, Inc., of San Jose, and the National Federation of the Blind will provide the content of the company's 32 newspapers, plus that of 80 U.S. dailies, to the blind. Rather than waiting for volunteer readers to create audiotapes (as is currently the case), the National Federation of the Blinds' Newsline allows instant access by phone to newspaper content using technology that creates synthetic speech.
http://www.dclab.com/dclnews0501.asp#story4
- DCLab.com Becoming Accessible to Print Disabled
The visually impaired can now surf much of Data Conversion Laboratory's large content-driven website.
http://www.dclab.com/dclab_accessible.asp
- Teacher Pushes for E-Textbook Accessibility Legislation
A special education teacher from Arizona is the driving force behind a
bill that would allow children with disabilities to get textbooks on
electronic computer files - e-textbooks.
http://www.dclab.com/dclnews0504.asp#story2
- Computers Help the Blind Read Maps
Computer science professor Gary Bishop and a small team of software engineering students at the University of North Carolina have developed an application that allows the blind to read maps. The map navigation software, dubbed Blind Audio Tactile Mapping System (BATS), takes digital map information and provides non-visual feedback as a user moves a cursor across a map.
http://www.dclab.com/dclnews0410.asp#maps
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