CD-ROM Access
Detailed Overview

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The National Science Foundation's Program for Persons with Disabilities provided funding to the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media for the CD-ROM Access Project, a three-year study on making educational multimedia accessible. Traditionally, the graphic-rich content of multimedia software has prevented blind students from participating in the dynamic learning environment that technology has brought to the classroom. Most barriers can be easily eliminated by thoughtful planning when software developers are aware of the needs of students with disabilities.

The CD-ROM Access Project set out to develop and disseminate guidelines to assist developers in the creation of mainstream science and math based multimedia products that are accessible to all students, including those who are blind or visually impaired. To accomplish this goal, the project was divided into three phases:

A comprehensive assessment of the usability of existing science and math CD-ROMs by blind students: Learn more about this 1997 analysis by visiting the CD-ROM Access Analysis Findings page.

The prototype phase: Based on our usability assessment, two prototypes were built to demonstrate an array of access solutions. The prototypes are available for download. Read more on the CD-ROM Access Project Prototypes page. See our Solutions page for an explanation of steps we feel can be taken by developers to vastly improve access to educational multimedia for blind students.

Design guidelines: Using the prototypes as a proof of concept, project staff have created guidelines to recommend standards for accessibility. Making Educational Software Accessible: Design Guidelines Including Math and Science Solutions is now available.

Visit the credits page for a list of the distinguished educators and technologists we're pleased to have as advisors to this project.