1. Addressing Diverse Learner Needs Through Multimodal Access
6/27/2011
Addressing Diverse Learner Needs Through Multimodal Access
NFB Tactile Graphics Symposium
November 11, 2018
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

2. Today’s Presenters Sue-Ann Ma Project Director, DIAGRAM Center
Senior Product Manager, Benetech Labs
Nicole Johnson
PhD Student, University of Colorado at Boulder
Acknowledgements:
DIAGRAM Center’s Tactile working group members
Lucia Hasty, Rocky Mountain Braille Authorities

3. The DIAGRAM Center Making STEM Education Accessible for ALL Learners
6/27/2011
The DIAGRAM Center
Making STEM Education Accessible for ALL Learners
The DIAGRAM Center strives to make STEM education accessible to students who learn differently. Our goal is to create equal educational opportunities by providing accessible learning tools and materials to students with a variety of disabilities. In partnership with a community of experts, we develop technologies and best practice guidelines that make it easier, faster, and cheaper for content creators and educators to produce accessible material that support STEM education.
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

4. 6/27/2011
DIAGRAM’s Approach
“It was an amazing opportunity to be able to share ideas that could further support all learners. I wish more organizations would take action like this!”
– Jennifer Larson, Co-founder of My City School
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

5. Imageshare Platform 6/27/2011
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

6. 6/27/2011
Goals of Imageshare
Make popular STEM concepts accessible to learners with various disabilities & learning differences
Create a multimodal platform for the community to access various alternative resources (e.g., 2D tactile graphics, 3D models, captioned videos)
Eliminate redundancies in AEM production
Facilitate ease of search & discovery of accessible content, across multiple repositories
Empower the community to help grow & test the materials
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

7. Alternative Resources
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Alternative Resources
Image descriptions
Audio files
2D tactile graphics
3D-printed models
Interactive Simulations
Videos
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

8. Imageshare’s Target Users
6/27/2011
Imageshare’s Target Users
Contributors: content creators who produce accessible alternatives, such as 2D tactile graphics & 3D models
Accessible media producers
Content creators (OER, publishers, service providers)
Disability student services
Special education teachers
Teachers of the visually impaired
Tinkerers (often friends & family)
Consumers: end users or facilitators likely to search and use accessible image alternatives
Tinkers (often friends & family)
End users
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

9. 6/27/2011
Search & Discover
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

10. 1. Search Using Accessibility Metadata
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1. Search Using Accessibility Metadata
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

11. 2a. Review Search Results by Topic
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2a. Review Search Results by Topic
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

12. 2b. Review Search Results by Resource
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2b. Review Search Results by Resource
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

13. 3. View Associated Resources
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3. View Associated Resources
STEM topic
Related Resources
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

14. 4. Access Resource Details
6/27/2011
4. Access Resource Details
Resource Description
Metadata & Reviews
Instruction & Production notes
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

15. 5. Share Comments & Feedback
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5. Share Comments & Feedback
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

16. Contribute to Collection
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Contribute to Collection
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

17. Create the STEM Topic 6/27/2011
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

18. Create an Associated Resource
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Create an Associated Resource
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

19. Attach files to the Resource
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Attach files to the Resource
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

20. Content Curation Examples
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Content Curation Examples
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

21. Extended Image Descriptions
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Extended Image Descriptions
Poet Training Tool was a collaborative effort between Benetech’s DIAGRAM Center and WGBH’s National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM).
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

22. Best Practices & Feedback on 3D Models
DIAGRAM Resources: 3D Printing, Tactiles and Haptics
Printing of Braille with 3D printers
3D Printing for Accessible Materials in Schools
3D designs selected by DIAGRAM’s Tactile working group, tested with
College of the Dessert
Lighthouse, SF
Texas School for the Blind (coming up)

23. Traditional 2D Tactile Graphics Files
Design principles based on BANA Guidelines and user feedback
Provided: PDF and Illustrator files for editing
Digital master files, intended for swell paper but can be adapted as template for handicraft

24. Traditional 2D Tactile Graphics Files
Questions about usability as a tactile graphic designer
Intent: files to reach as wide an audience possible
What file formats do users prefer?
Label style: should multiple variations of a concept be included?
Is there a way to design so the file can be utilized through multiple media?
For example, used for both swell paper and embossing software

25. Adapting 2D Production
Exploring ways to address the needs of other special needs learners (i.e., Autism, cognitive disabilities, language processing disorders, low vision)
Modifications to the files include:
Converting braille to print
Application of color
Extra emphasis on context
Exploring combination of texture & color …

26. Adapting 2D Production Summer 2018
Produced graphics for a range of educational concepts
atoms, cells, bones, brain, eye, female reproduction, frog anatomy, geometry of circle, normal distribution, Pythagorean theorem
Explored simple design adaptions for a range of learners
Braille (labels/no labels)
Print, color (labels/no labels)
Print, greyscale (labels/no labels)
Print, texture (labels/no labels)
When applicable in anatomy, include a graphic illustrating overall location in body for context

27. Remaining Design Principles
Adapting 2D Production
Remaining Design Principles
Simplified details
Consistency in presentation
Contrast between elements

28. Adapting 2D Production

29. Adapting 2D Production

30. Adapting 2D Production
Intended for informal classroom testing alongside various modalities

31. Open-ended questions Adapting 2D Production
Amount of variables makes designing graphics like this for formal research difficult
Opinions? Research methods?
Color palettes?
Design modifications are specific to user-ability, there may not be a universally accessible image

32. How can you help? Consumers:
6/27/2011
How can you help?
Consumers:
Download resources and test them with learners
Provide feedback about resources using Imageshare’s “Reviews” feature
Contact with suggestions about how we can further improve our tool
Contributors
Add STEM topics & resources to Imageshare
Help spread the word to other makers
Connect us with repositories who might want to partner
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials

33. Questions? Sue-Ann Ma Nicole Johnson
6/27/2011
Questions?
Sue-Ann Ma
Project Director, DIAGRAM Center at Benetech
Nicole Johnson
PhD student, University of Colorado Boulder
This document was produced under U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs Grant No. H327B The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the positions or polices of the Department of Education. No official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education of any product, commodity, service or enterprise mentioned in this publication is intended or should be inferred. This product is public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the citation should be: ”Addressing Diverse Learner Needs Through Multimodal Access,” The DIAGRAM Center, Palo Alto, Benetech.
Digital Image and Graphics Resources for Accessible Materials