[Athen] AltFormat Survey

[Wink Harner]

1. Top priority is a relatively universal, independent tool plus a set standardized publisher guidelines to ensure math/science conversion for (as much as possible) accurate rendering of math, science and engineering texts into audio format. No more jerry-rigged, retyped, convoluted, complicated and unacceptable turn-arounds for providing student texts. For example publishing math & science materials which are prepared with MML in mind. Should be a file-type choice on the publisher requests (XML, MML, XHTML, for example, in addition to DOC, RTF, PDF).

2. Universally accepted practices among publishers to provide textbook fiIes, provide access to material in a universal, standardized format, with a standard turnaround time (48-72 hrs for example) for providing a download link for the files, a standard "qualifying" form available online and in an easily found location or found with standardized terminology (for example, all publishers could make the request available under "permissions"), starting with renderable PDF, adhering to a consistent set of useable file types. 

3. Engaging LMS in setting standards for "accessibility" not just of online access by students, but of documents uploaded to the course by the instructors. Providing basic formatting guidelines to instructors on how to format MSOffice, PDFs, and other document types (Windows, iThings, Linux etc.) for accessibility prior to upload, providing steps to test for screen reader usability, steps for simple captioning, steps for mouseless navigation, for example.

4. Engaging the national testing boards in creating accessible technology standards for tests.

5. Engaging the regional accreditation boards for colleges & universities in adopting standards for technology-based accessibility to be used in the accreditation process and in subsequent re-qualification for accreditation. 


There are a few of my BIG dreams. As the conversation develops, I'm sure we'll all think of more to add.

Wink 
Wink Harner
foreigntype at gmail.com


> On Apr 2, 2014, at 8:15 AM, Shahida Khaliq <shahidak at echo.rutgers.edu> wrote:

> 

> Ditto.  The comments below I think hold true for a lot of us.  STEM  is absolutely the biggest problem.

>  

> Best Regards

> Shahida Khaliq

> Coordinator for Alternate Format Text & Adaptive Tech.

>  

> Office of Disability Services

> Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

> Lucy Stone Hall, Livingston Campus

> 54 Joyce Kilmer Ave, Suite A145

> Piscataway, New Jersey 08854

> Phone # (848) 445-6800  Fax # (732) 445-3388

> Office Hours Monday- Friday 8:30am-5:00pm

> Website: https://ods.rutgers.edu

> Making a Key Difference

>  

>  

> From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Teresa Haven

> Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 10:40 AM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] AltFormat Survey

>  

> I’ll third all of what Susan and Kathleen said.  Also, even when students do know what works best for them, faculty often don’t understand how to create an accessible document or just think that because it’s digital it’s automatically accessible.  Getting the faculty educated in how to do things right from the beginning (so that they can post last-second content without needing conversion), without also having to teach each one of them individually, is a growing challenge. 

>  

> Teresa

>  

> Teresa Haven, Ph.D.

> Accessibility Analyst

> Northern Arizona University

> (928) 523-6042

>  

>  

>  

> From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Kathleen Cahill

> Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 7:27 AM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] AltFormat Survey

>  

> Susan, you summed it up so well.  Especially Penguin and Random House. I would also add that science simulations online are difficult to make accessible and students with disabilities lose out on those important teaching tools.

>  

> STEM alt format is challenging since there are a number of ways to do it, all of which are somewhat convoluted and difficult.  

>  

> Our faculty sometimes provides course materials and class slides with little to no lead time for conversion.  Getting them to think ahead more is tough.  I second Susan’s comment about the difficulties of what DAISY books work with what readers.    

>  

> Susan’s point about professors and teaching staff thinking they understand how to provide alt format is also true.  We’ve had issues where the professors think they get it, the student isn’t always clear about their needs and the exam isn’t the right format.  We try to iron out these issues ahead of time, but it doesn’t always happen.

>  

>  

> Kathleen Cahill

> MIT Assistive Technology Information Center (ATIC)

> 77 Mass. Ave. 7-143

> Cambridge MA 02139

> (617) 253-5111

> kcahill at mit.edu

>  

>  

> From: Susan Kelmer <Susan.Kelmer at Colorado.EDU>

> Reply-To: Access Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 10:13 AM

> To: Access Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Athen] AltFormat Survey

>  

> Penguin

> Random House

>  

> Only half kidding.  Actually, not kidding at all.  These two publishers give me the biggest grief. Aside from that:

>  

> 1.       Publishers and others assuming that Bookshare is good enough.  It is good for certain types of students, but not for all of them.

> 2.       Difficulty in STEM alt format – the conversion process, how much manual labor is involved, how complex the tools are.

> 3.       The assumption that an alt format person is also a content expert. 

> 4.       A hundred different formats for a hundred different reasons, and needing specialized software to access some of them (Learning Ally and Bookshare and ePub and Daisy and and and) rather than the tools the student may already have.

> 5.       Professors and teaching staff that don’t understand how important alternate format is, and how they can provide it easily themselves without our intervention.

>  

> Those would be my top five.  I’m interested to see what others come up with.

>  

> Susan Kelmer

> Alternate Format Coordinator

> Disability Services

> University of Colorado

> 303-735-4836

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