- From: Laurie Harrison <laurie.harrison@utoronto.ca>
- Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 10:17:55 -0800
- To: "w3c-wai-ig@w3.org" <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
The SNOW project, Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, University of Toronto, has been using WebCT to deliver distance education courses and online workshops for educators. As advocates for accessible web design, we too were very concerned about the some of the inaccessible components of WebCT. We have developed several strategies for modifying the framework, focussing on essential components such as bulletin boards, navigation and table of contents, for which duplicate accessible tools have been developed. To see a demo of this, visit one of our courses at: http://snow.utoronto.ca:1800/SCRIPT/Access/scripts/serve_home login: guest password: guest We have written our own CGI for the bulletin board, created a duplicate navigation system, and a frames-free site index. We acknowledge that other course functions may not be accessible to some users, and have grouped these on a Student Tools page and Content pages button bar, rather that being deleted. We have decided to include these "features" of the WebCT server software, as their inclusion serves as a showcase for the difficulties educators face in creating accessible curriculum. Our search for development tools which consistently provide accessible formats has not located any satisfactory courseware programs. We are currently reviewing courseware tools to evaluate their accessibility, and are pursuing funding to work on development of accessible courseware, our goal being integration of accessibility features at a grassroots level. Let me know if you want further details. -- Laurie Harrison Resource Coordinator Centre for Academic and Adaptive Technology, Information Commons University of Toronto laurie.harrison@utoronto.ca (416) 946-3778
Received on Monday, 18 January 1999 11:24:32 UTC