Project SET
Modules
Broadening Web Audience by Lowering Barriers to the
Disabled:
Accessible MultiMedia, PowerPoint, and PDF
launch module
John C. Cummins
Research Associate, Department of Plant SciencesHave you ever considered the disabled as you design your web pages for class or for presentation to the outside world? Do you realize your web site may be difficult for up to 20% of the general population to 'see' or 'access'? This learning module is designed with the objective of helping faculty and staff at the University of Tennessee broaden their web audience by lowering barriers to the disabled through better design practices. This module will address the issue in the following ways: 1) through examination of accessibility problems with multimedia, PowerPoint, and PDF files; 2) by offering examples of accessible and inaccessible multimedia, PowerPoint and PDF, and; 3) by helping you to develop a strategy for creation of accessible captioning in Multimedia files, examination of features in PowerPoint for accessibility development and features in Adobe 6 for creation of accessible PDF files by observing samples and through online exercises and self-tests. Utilization of the Quicktime editor for creation of Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) files for Multimedia presentations and Dreamweaver in combination with LIFT, a new plug in software package, will aid the learner in validation and fixing of accessibility issues in their Flash presentations. Additional exercises will be provided for the educator for further practice in accessible coding.