“Our latest innovations in learner accessibility expand the impact of our award-winning courses by ensuring that all employees, both in government and in private businesses, can enjoy the full benefit of skill and knowledge acquisition wherever they are located.”
-Joe Dougherty
President, Thomson NETg
Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage the development of technologies to help achieve these goals. It requires that US Federal government agencies must ensure that Federal employees, as well as members of the public, with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of data by individuals without disabilities.
As a leader in industry innovations, Thomson NETg has always included accessibility features in products. With the amendment of Section 508, Thomson NETg has taken a unique approach to bring accessibility efforts to the next level. Thomson NETg is committed to venturing beyond the technical interpretation of this government compliance statute and engineer products that will allow meaningful and innovative accessibility to the disabled, without sacrificing learning quality.
Thomson NETg’s commitment to accessibility includes full
accessibility support in the development plans of its e-Learning (IT, Desktop
and Business and Professional Development) courseware and the availability of
assistive technology directly within its Skill Builder DX courseware and within
select BPD courseware. This commitment
includes a solid accessibility compliance process, a unique technical approach
and a dedication to ensuring that Section 508 considerations are at the forefront of all future content and product
development efforts.
Through a rigorous testing and development process,
Thomson NETg is driving each product toward not only compliance, but also true
accessibility. By including
accessibility in both courseware technology and future course development
plans, Thomson NETg’s efforts will set the accessibility bar at the highest
level and promote rigorous Section 508 compliance standards.
Thomson NETg is truly developing learning solutions consistent with Section 508 guidelines from the ground up. Thomson NETg’s dedication to the spirit of Section 508 goes beyond the letter of the law to deliver a comparable user experience to all learners. With the current Thomson NETg strategy focus on platform unification, Thomson NETg learning solutions will begin to offer consistent accessibility options across products.
In its efforts to raise the bar for information and electronic technology accessibility, Thomson NETg has forged a partnership with TecAccess. TecAccess, a software development, testing, training and consulting company specializing in IT Accessibility and Section 508 compliance solutions is a strong advocate for people with disabilities. Over 75% of TecAccess’ staff are persons with disabilities. That is, TecAccess is composed of the very individuals for whom Section 508 was designed. As such, they possess the inherent capability to realistically evaluate compliance technology from the perspective of the target audience – people with disabilities.
TecAccess has been working with Thomson NETg reviewing products and recommending strategies for both compliance and accessibility. By using TecAccess to monitor and advise on accessibility designs and to test innovations throughout the development process, Thomson NETg is receiving the most realistic assessment of Section 508 compliant functionality.
In a unique approach to Section 508 compliance, Thomas NETg products offer one of the industry’s first integration of assistive technology directly into e-Learning courseware. According to industry research, this unique approach removes many burdens from learners and helps to assure reliable access to learning. In addition, this type of technical solution allows for learners with disabilities to benefit from a quality learning experience and effectively participate in the world of electronic and information technology.
“To use courses that do not integrate assistive technologies, learners with disabilities must deploy specialized third-party devices or technologies in addition to the courseware. Not only is this inconvenient, but learners also frequently encounter compatibility problems with courses and assistive devices that render their learning inaccessible. The NETg solution will remove this burden from the learner and assure reliable access to learning.”
Steve Timmer - President and CIO, TecAccess
Many e-learning products in the marketplace require the purchase of a specific version of 3rd party screen reader software in order to activate Text to Speech (TTS) capabilities. Requiring the use of 3rd party devices or technologies in addition to courseware is not only inconvenient, but learners also frequently encounter capability problems with courses and assistive devices that render their learning inaccessible. The Thomson NETg solution removes this burden from the learner and assures reliable access to learning. By building this technology directly into our software, we have eliminated the need for a user to purchase additional software and can ensure that our products remain accessible regardless of the actions of other organizations.
Through a rigorous testing and development process, NETg is driving each product toward not only compliance, but also true accessibility.
Phase 1 – Evaluation (Evaluate)
The process begins with a thorough evaluation of an existing product’s ability to meet accessibility guidelines with current development practices. NETg has partnered with TecAccess to perform the analysis of a current product against the true market for accessibility (people with disabilities), and not just against compliance checklists.
Phase 2 – Summary (Summ.)
TecAccess provides a detailed analysis of the product including what the law requires from a technology standpoint and suggestions for future development practices that will provide more value to individuals with disabilities. This detailed report is reviewed and summarized in conjunction with TecAccess to develop a concise list of opportunities for achieving greater accessibility within a product.
Phase 3 – Determination of Implementation Strategy
(Strategy)
The NETg engineering and product development teams are then consulted using the summary list and resource and implementation information is gathered. Based on this information and other considerations, an implementation strategy is created for each product.
Phase 4 – Implementation (Implmt.)
Finally, the implementation plan is executed. In many cases, implementation takes a phased approach and may require multiple development initiatives before accessibility is fully accomplished. Upon completion of each development phase, additional evaluation is conducted by TecAccess to ensure that accessibility goals and objectives are being achieved.
|
Product |
Evaluate |
Summ. |
Strategy |
Implmnt. |
Current
Status |
|
Skill
BuilderÒ DX |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
Phase
I is complete. Phase II in process. |
Phase I: Currently, NETg courses have accessibility features including use of keyboard, use of mouse, high contrast interface theme, audio support through the use of Text to Speech (TTS). Phase II: Newly developed courses with further accessibility enhancements through additional technical efforts and development standards. New accessibility options will be available with release of Microsoft Office 2003 curriculum. Additional technical effort for accessibility will become available with the year-end release of NETg Learning Studio (Thomson NETg’s new unified platform). |
|
Product |
Evaluate |
Summ. |
Strategy |
Implmnt. |
Current
Status |
|
Business
& Professional Development Library |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
Phase
I is complete. Phase II in process. |
Phase I:
Currently
available in 5 BPD courses, features include use of
keyboard, use of mouse, high-contrast interface theme, audio support through
the use Text To Speech (TTS). Phase II: Additional courses and
further accessibility enhancements will become available for with the year
end release of NETg Learning Studio and the unification of BPD content to
this new platform. |
|
NETgLearning |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
In review with TecAccess |
|
Web
SkillVantageÒ Manager |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
In
Process |
Projected Q1 2004 |
|
Search
& Select |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
In review with TecAccess |
|
Lectora
Authoring Tool |
Complete
|
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
Using Lectora’s menu system, most
functionality can be accomplished.
Lectora has been tested and works with Windows 2000 Magnifier. It has been tested and works in Edit mode
with Windows Narrator. In addition,
Lectora meets the other Section 508 requirements pertaining to software
providers. |
|
Product |
Evaluate |
Summ. |
Strategy |
Implmnt. |
Current Status |
|
Wave
Online University |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
In final review with TecAccess |
|
E-Skillit |
Complete |
In
Process |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
Quantum
Courses |
Complete |
In
Process |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
e-Books |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
Cardean
University |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
Xebec |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
Netg.com |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
Course
Technology Books |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
NLO+ |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
Shop
netg.com |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
Precision
Skilling |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
|
Skill
Builder DX Administration Utility |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
Skill Builder
DX® courses
Skill Builder DX courses offer the accessibility options of keyboard support, Text To Speech (TTS) capabilities, audio support of content, narrative on-screen text and a high-contrast interface theme. Many of the accessibility options are standard within Skill Builder DX courses, and TTS functionality can be activated at course installation. In the event that a portion of a course is found to be inaccessible, reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure the user has a beneficial learning experience.
New technical advances are being implemented in NETg Learning Studio (Thomson NETg’s new unified platform) to continue to enhance the learning experience for people with disabilities. These efforts include expanded learner control of accessibility options, additional accessibility support within assessments, and new development processes to ensure instruction meets the needs of all learners.
Business and
Professional Development courses
With the high level of user interaction within NETg’s Business and Professional Development courses, implementation of accessibility is being completed on each course individually. The first Business and Professional Development courses with accessibility options became available in September 2002 and additional courses were made available as they are completed. Accessibility options will be delivered with the year-end release of NETg Learning Studio and the unification of BPD to this new platform.
Thomson NETg’s commitment to offering accessible learning options to persons with disabilities is an ongoing process. The first steps in the process focused on the underlying courseware technology. The next step will offer newly developed courses with further accessibility enhancements through additional technical efforts and development standards.
“The
innovations being introduced by NETg, integrating accessibility features at the
course level, are among the first to address this issue with a long-term
solution. In addition to potentially
reducing the cost of providing remote learning access to employees with
disabilities, this heightened accessibility to learning will support all
employees’ usage, a critical issue in many training programs today.”
Adam Newman
Director, Research
Group - Eduventures