Global

Methodology to pilot the Accessible Digital Textbooks initiative at country level, UNICEF and its partners have developed steps to produce, test and validate the piloting of the accessible digital textbooks at the county level. The textbooks must be based in the country’s educational system and produced jointly with a multidisciplinary technical team, collaborating with teachers, experts, technologists, publishers, authors and,…, Pre-production phase, The pre-production phase includes initial implementation steps to build local capacity in a country. All stages are needed, but the sequencing of the following actions is optional: 1. Understand the needs of the country in terms of accessibility to learning materials and inclusive education: Identifying the country preparation and configuration…, Production phase, The production phase includes developing and adapting the prototype. In most cases, publishers do not have the original files of materials in accessible formats. Therefore, the first step is to transform the materials delivered by the publisher into a format that can be adapted and sent back to the publisher for distribution, e.g., in EPUB 3…, Post-production phase, This phase includes creating the ‘production master files’, as well as ‘translating’ these files into the different accessible formats. It also includes defining the conditions for quality control and final production of the materials. The recommended steps are the following: 1. Edit the accessible content. The publisher participates in the…

Accessible ePub links: eKitabu Accessible EPUB Toolkit:  https://www.ekitabu.com/index.php/impact/toolkit/ DAISY accessible EPUB Guide:  http://www.daisy.org/tools-products-and-services Floe Project: A wealth of EPUB 3 resources, many other inclusive design resources from across the web.  https://handbook.floeproject.org/EPUB3Resources.html…

Features of the accessible interactive activities are: ● Provide extra hints. Providing additional information and descriptions gives context to content. For example, furnishing more details when describing images will help learners answer the exercise questions; when adapting exercises, adding the details of the image description should also be…

Producing sign language videos, Using a deaf-centered production team that has responsibility for ensuring compliance with the necessary requirements is key.  , Skills and general requirements  , The team should be comprised of people who bring together the following competencies: Fluency in sign language and native knowledge of the local sign language, recognized by the deaf community as role models and references in the areas of education, leadership and the knowledge of sign language; Fluency in written language with training and…, Technical recommendations, Camera format   The person behind the camera should know sign language. A digital camera should be used because of its superior usability, quality and edition. The camera should have sufficient storage to record 60 minutes of video. The camera should be able to film in high definition. The exact quality to be used is decided in post-production but…

Lessons we learned from creating the 'Learn My Way' reader. 1. Consider the technology Before starting the process of converting a textbook to a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) digital textbook, consider the technology distribution platforms, target devices and content types. If the content is to be consumed on all device types, screen sizes…

Consultations with partners and disability experts , Since 2014 and building on existing progress enabled by the  Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled , UNICEF has been conducting wide-ranging consultations on accessible digital textbooks, involving education and technology experts, software developers,…, Work on content adaptation, A scoping exercise and several consultations took place with key stakeholders to create the basis for the initiative’s implementation within countries’ educational systems. As a result, UNICEF began to identify funding and technical partners to build the foundations for the initiative. Four regional workshops were held, in Argentina, Brazil,…,  , Work on technology development, UNICEF is working with several partners to extend the accessibility of existing publishing standards to a broader population. In line with UDL principles, this innovation will allow authors, content creators and publishers to develop and enhance their own accessible digital textbooks but, more importantly, it will allow parents, teachers and…, Experts workshop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - August 1 - 3, 2017, Goal: Review and update the protocols developed with Brasil, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay specialists, with a particular focus on hearing and with intellectual/developmental and learning disabilities. Workshop in Rio, Brazil with experts on a panel. Workshop in Rio Brazil with attendees siting in a conference room Pink Post-it Picture from…, Experts Workshop in Washington, DC - 26 - 28, September 2017, Goal: To harness appropriate teaching/learning materials and technology support to ensure all children, including children with sensory and intellectual disabilities have the same access to textbooks and to learning materials.   Workshop of experts in DC Workshop with panel of experts in DC including Gopal Mitra, Richard Orme, Linda Hiebert,…

After participating in an inclusive development experience, Carmen Cosp (ADEC; Ultima Hora, 2014), said: “We became aware that the discrimination mechanism is active in each one of us, no organization is free from it, be a private, public or religious one. No schools, political groups or press organisms are free from it… discrimination is part of…

Introduction Creating an accessible EPUB involves a number of steps that can vary slightly depending on the type of content authoring tools being used, and the features you want to include. In this guide we will look at the more commonly utilized techniques for authoring accessible EPUBs and provide links to resources and guides you may refer to…

Purpose This user requirements document (URD) specifies what the different types of users need from a digital textbook technological standpoint, to make the textbooks accessible and to enhance users’ learning experience, in equal conditions with their peer classmates. The digital textbook was intended for school-aged children, teachers, parents or…, Download user requirements:,  

SWITCHES Pal Pads  Pressure-activated membrane switches that require slight touches to operate. Control Units Allows switch users to control up to two electrical appliances with single switches. Button Switches Auditory and tactile feedback single touch switches. Proximity Sensor Switches Switch that do not require physical touch to activate.…

Links to ePub guidelines and standards w3c standards for ePub accessibility: EPUB Accessibility defines discovery and content accessibility requirements for EPUB Publications.  https://www.w3.org/Submission/2017/SUBM-epub-a11y-20170125/ WAI-ARIA:  https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/aria/ The IDPF: The international Digital Publishing…

There are a large number of tools that can be used to read, create, and edit ePubs. These include both open source options (available to the public for use and modification) and commercial products. EPUB READER SOFTWARE Open source: Readium: ePub reader available for Google Chrome. Available on iOS and Android.  https://readium.org/ Free &…