Resources for Accessible Instructional Materials Summer Accessibility Institute July 11, 2007

Licensing Digital Collections Application of the Procurement Process to Electronic Library Materials Acquisition By Lisa Moske, Director Systemwide Electronic Information Resources California State University, Office of the Chancellor

Scope CSU-SEIR (Systemwide Electronic Information Resources) manages over 60 systemwide agreements, covering over 200 resources, for the 23 CSU libraries Digital content for libraries is licensed from and hosted by both commercial and non-profit vendors Scholarly journals, index & abstracts services, statistical information, encyclopedias, general reference, directories, archives, aggregated resources Over 25,000 full text titles Resources cover core programs, including Arts and Humanities, Life and Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and professional programs Information is delivered and searchable on web-based platforms

Advisory Process CSU-SEIR works closely with each of the campus libraries and with the Electronic Access to Information Resources (EAR) Committee, an advisory committee appointed by the Council of Library Directors SEIR, in partnership with the libraries and with EAR, engages the ongoing effort to inform vendors and providers on systemwide needs, including accessible technology The EAR Committee recommends resources of systemwide interest, advises on systemwide collection development criteria and standards, and performs formal product reviews The EAR review process was revised in 2006, and includes a special evaluation form for 508 compliance and accessibility

Challenges Informing the publishers of digital content about accessibility is an ongoing and challenging effort In 2003, the Chair of the EAR committee invited the vendors SEIR works with to engage in a dialog about accessibility. Only a handful of vendors responded. Vendors have varying levels of understanding of the requirements; many must make substantial changes in their business practices and product development cycles to comply SEIR requests that vendors fill out the VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) and discusses compliance and/or company timelines for building compliant platforms during contract negotiations for renewing agreements and when considering new resources Fortunately, we notice ongoing, progressive change and increased understanding Before new resources are considered for systemwide purchase, vendors must exhibit compliance or have a timeline for compliance in place

Positive Change The CSU’s negotiations and conversations with vendors are creating a broader awareness that will benefit the wider community Vendors are showing more awareness and understanding of the needs and are more responsive to requests for information and for change Vendors are demonstrating willingness to partner with CSU and other academic institutions to meet or exceed current compliance standards Accessibility and/or compliance clauses or statements are being included in publishers’ licenses Adding compliance statements to current and new systemwide agreements is progressively building the record, and will eventually allow campuses to track accessible products and services

CSU Center for Accessible Media (CAM) Supporting campus efforts to provide timely alternate formats of instructional materials By Mark Turner, Director CSU Center for Accessible Media California State University, Office of the Chancellor

CAM Development Established as CSU coordinating center for electronic text (e-text) distribution in 2004 Centralizes listings of 7,000+ e-text holdings from across the CSU Coordinates requests of e-text from CSU to publishers Facilitates intra-campus distribution of e-text to CSU campuses Systematizes tracking of alternate media requests and fulfillments

CAM Goals General goals Increase timeliness of delivery Increase operational efficiencies Increase cost-savings Leverage CSU resources Specific goals Increase publisher compliance Eliminate redundant requests to publishers Eliminate redundant in-house production Decrease in-house production of alternate media

CAM Structure Technology Web-based interface Database back-end Hosted on Chancellor’s Office network Access Authorized alternate media personnel via password New Feature: Open access for browsing/searching

Demonstration of Open Access Currently in Testing Phase Projected Go-Live: Fall, 2007 Additional features currently under investigation Subject browsing Federated searching Additional formats (audio, large-print, Braille)

CSU Digital Marketplace Accessibility Project Enabling Discovery of Accessible Digital Content Matching Learner Needs to Resources By Mary Cheng, Director Accessible Technology Initiative California State University, Office of the Chancellor

Digital Marketplace Defined A set of open, standards-based Internet services that allow for the exchange of commercial and non- commercial education content between providers and users The goal of the Digital Marketplace is to provide the broadest array of digital learning materials and innovative learning practices to the largest number of students and faculty of the California State University system at the most affordable cost.

What types of exchange modes will the DM include? Sharing: peer-to-peer (free content) Farmers Market: exchange (direct sales from producer to customer like eBay) Library: public interest (CSU electronic core collection) Department Store: commerce (goods and services like Amazon.com)

DM Accessibility Project: Integration of Accessibility into the Overall Design Our Vision Faculty and students will be able to easily find and use content that meets their accessibility needs

Core Idea: Reframing Disability in the Learning Context Disability= Mismatch between learner needs and education offered Not a personal trait but an artifact of relationship between the learner and the learning environment or education delivery Accessibility= The ability of the learning environment to adjust to the needs of all learners

“Access for All” Metadata Standard Enables discovery of the accessibility features of content resources (Accessibility Metadata) Enables the identification of user accessibility needs and preference (Profile Service) IMS Global Consortium:

Teacher’s Domain Prototype of Personal Profile My Profile Accessibility Features that I will Need oCaptions oAudio Descriptions oTranscripts oText Descriptions oLarger Text Alert me if a resource requires: oKeyboard control oMouse control oFull color vision

Preferences [Help] Preferred Language: oI would like to make the text on the screen easier to see. oI would like to enhance the structure of the content. oI would like to enhance the navigation of the content. oI would like alternatives to visual content. oI would like alternatives to textual content. oI would like alternatives to auditory content. oI would like to specify the URL of my personal stylesheet oI would like access to learner support tools.

Teachers’ Domain Prototype

Matching learner needs to resources benefits… Learners with disabilities Learners with diverse learning approaches Learners with diverse hardware and software Learners in disabling environments Learners with diverse cultural or linguistic requirements Anyone who diverges from the hypothetical norm