Web Accessibility: Special Formats and Plug-Ins
Special Formats and Plug-Ins (Web CT, PDF, PowerPoint)
The following six resource listings are arranged alphabetically.- Accessibility
and VRML (http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc/rd/vrml/main.html)
University of Toronto's Adaptive Technology Resource Centre provides information regarding accessibility initiatives and VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).
- Adobe Accessibility Plan for PDF and Acrobat
Viewers (http://access.adobe.com/)
Adobe Systems Incorporated is committed to providing solutions that improve the accessibility of both Adobe® Acrobat® software and the information contained in Adobe PDF files. Adobe Acrobat 5.0 software marks a new era in accessibility, providing a number of capabilities that improve access for disabled users. For older versions, Adobe provides a set of free tools that convert PDF documents into either HTML or ASCII text which can then be read by many screen reading programs.
- JAVA
and accessibility (http://www.sun.com/access/)
If the accessibility factors have been included by the programmer, JAVA can be accessible. Sun has developed an API (Application Programming Interface) that allows a screen reader user to access the content of a JAVA application or applet. (Use alt text or a descriptive link if content not accessible.)
- Math
Home Page (www.w3.org/Math/)
A product of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Math working group, MathML is a low-level specification for describing mathematics as a basis for machine to machine communication. based on XML, it provides a much needed foundation for the inclusion of mathematical expressions in Web pages. MathML is the best choice for a mark-up language for expressing math.
- PowerPoint-
Making your slide show an HTML document is a great way to have it be an accessible posting. Before converting to HTML, don't forget to add those Alt tags on your graphics. It is pretty easy- select your graphic, right mouse click and select Format picture. The Web tab will provide you with a text box for inserting Alt text. This link connects you to a Word document that features tips on how to set up your PowerPoint, and how to get rid of the left frame, leaving only the slide show content. (Rich Text Format of same document).
- WebCT Accessibility
(http://www.webct.com/accessibility/home)
Making WebCT Courses Accessible for Students with Disabilities is featured on this Web CT page. Also of interest is the 40 minute streaming video of Bringing your Web CT Course into ADA Compliance.
