The Goal
In order to provide students with print disabilities equal access to the general education curriculum, the DIAGRAM Center has been created to improve the way image and graphic content for accessible instructional materials (AIM) is produced and accessed. The center is chartered to:- Research the current state of accessibility of images, graphs and other non-text content in AIM
- Develop innovative, open-source technologies and tools to address the challenges of producing and displaying accessible content
- Recommend practices and develop training to support these efforts
In other words, we will make it easier, faster, and more cost effective to make and use accessible images so that students with print disabilities have timely access to the information they need. To do this, DIAGRAM aims to:
- Make it easier for content producers to create accessible images
- Make it easier for consumers to use accessible images via technology
- Make it easier for both producers and consumers to discover accessible images and tools
- Make it easier for both to interact with content that need not be stored as traditional images in the first place (e.g., mathematical equations)
Measuring Our Success
We will know if we have met our goals if…- We can provide, using a combination of existing technology and new DIAGRAM-sponsored technology, a student with the ability to find and engage an accessible image in his preferred mode of learning, whether through sound, sight, touch or some variation or combination. That student can see an end-to-end demonstration of how to find and engage with an accessible image using that technology.
- We can provide an interested teacher the right materials so she can understand how to easily find, access, create, and/or edit an accessible image for a student who needs the information in that image. The same teacher can see an end-to-end demonstration of the process that makes tangible the new tools and workflows that DIAGRAM Center work makes possible for her.
- We can provide a publisher, author, accessible media producer, or other educational content provider an understanding of the value of making images accessible as well as an easy-to-understand demonstration of the end-to-end process of making an accessible image using the new tools and workflows the DIAGRAM Center work makes possible.
- We can provide at least one innovation or improvement to the tools used for each stage of the accessible image life cycle, an innovation that answers a currently unmet need and thereby contributes to a truly end-to-end process.
- We can clearly demonstrate through application that the standards work we engage in results in the innovation and improvements noted above. That application can be through DIAGRAM developed technology or third-party developed technology.
- We can clearly articulate our goals, mission and benefits to all stakeholder groups.
Original Objectives – DIAGRAM Timeline and Milestones
Year 1: May 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011
Research
- Evaluate image-creation software and production and rendering technologies
- Evaluate digital text software and production and rendering technologies
Development
- Modify AnyDaisy, the open source browser-based DAISY reader, to accommodate editing of image descriptions by volunteers
Standards
- Investigate current support for images in revision of the DAISY Standard and future revisions to NIMAS
- Incorporate an SVG accessibility strategy into the revision of the Authoring and Interchange and Distribution portion of the DAISY Standard
Communication
- Create an accessible Web site for the DIAGRAM Center Produce technology and product matrices and reports to guide product development
- Produce/disseminate reports on devices or software developed or modified by the Center
- Produce/disseminate reports on current technologies and production practices that impact the provision of accessible images
Program Management
- Solicit participants for the advisory panel and confirm with OSEP
- Attend kick-off meeting in Washington, DC, within four weeks of the award
- Identify, with the advisory panel, development priorities and potential development subcontractors/partners based on the research findings
Year 2: May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012
Development
- Develop an open source “checker” of NIMAS/DAISY eBooks with images to assess image description coverage
- Add an SVG editor as a plug-in to Tobi to provide editing support and integrate SVG editing capabilities into the Tobi user interface
Testing
- Test products developed by the Center, including AnyDaisy, SVG plug-in and the NIMAS/DAISY eBook checker
Training
- Conduct image description training sessions for publishers, AIM providers and AMPs
- Provide training to SEAs/LEAs/IHEs/educators/students on using accessible image tools for reading and display of images in AIM
- Provide customized training on tools and image description practices to OSEP funded projects including NIMAS, RFB&D, APH etc.
Best Practices
- Create content on best practices for reading and display devices and software that can be “plugged in” to other applications
Standards
- Participate in DAISY and IDPF working groups to support adoption of the Center’s research and technologies
Communication
- Write and disseminate reports on processes related to development/modification of technologies for production and devices and software used to access graphic content for AIM
- Write and disseminate reports on updated product research, usability data and test results
- Write and disseminate reports on tools developed or modified by the Center
Program Management
- Subcontract to test sites, with OSEP’s approval, to assess cost, quality, usability and availability of technologies developed or modified
- Manage subcontractor development to ensure it is aligned with specifications
- Run pilot program for AnyDaisy browser-based image description editing by volunteers
Year 3: May 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013
Development
- Coordinate with development subcontractors on bug fixing and feature enhancements as identified by the field-test sites
- Develop and test audio synchronization with SVG presentation
- Work with a technical expert to evaluate tools, devices and software developed through this project to help inform the next round of development priorities
Testing
- Manage the field-test sites as they evaluate technologies and products created or modified by the Center and the development subcontractors
Training
- Provide ongoing trainings on image production and authoring, in addition to playback and display products for AIM
Best Practices
- Support the incorporation of image description best practices into authoring software
Standards
- Participate in DAISY and IDPF working groups to support adoption of the Center’s research and technologies
Communication
- Write and disseminate reports on updated product research, usability data and test results
- Write and disseminate reports on devices/software developed or modified by the Center
Program Management
- Identify, in consultation with the advisory panel, development priorities based on the current needs assessment
Year 4: May 1, 2013 – April 30, 2014
Research
- Continue ongoing research, with increased emphasis on multimedia requirements
Development
- Iteration on SVG editing capabilities in authoring tools and audio synchronization with SVG presentation
Training
- Provide ongoing training sessions on image production and authoring, in addition to playback and display products for AIM
Standards
- Participate in DAISY and IDPF working groups to support adoption of the Center’s research and technologies
Communication
- Write and disseminate reports on updated product research, usability data and test results
- Write and disseminate reports on products developed/modified by the Center
Program Management
- Manage subcontractors in the development of new or modified products, including those incorporating multimedia, according to our updated research findings
Year 5: May 1, 2014 – April 30, 2015
Development
- Support the incorporation of image description training into digital accessible content authoring software
Testing
- Manage the field-test sites as they evaluate technologies and products created or modified by the Center and the development subcontractors
Training
- Provide ongoing training sessions on image production and authoring, in addition to playback and display products for AIM
Best Practices
- Participate in DAISY and IDPF working groups to support adoption of the Center’s research and technologies
Communication
- Write and disseminate reports on updated product research, usability data and test results;
- Write and disseminate reports on any devices or software developed or modified by the Center.
Program Management
- Prepare a technical assessment with consult from experts and work with the external evaluator to prepare formative and summative evaluation of the Center’s impact;
