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From: Kimputer
Date: Feb 6, 2002 9:33AM

I made what I believe to be an accessible map of our college campus a year
ago. I used Macromedia Flash to create it. I made the buildings grow large
when the mouse rolls over each one, and while this is happening, a voice is
saying the name of the building out loud. If the building is clicked on, a
new page opens up with a close-up drawing of the building with symbols
indicating wheelchair ramps, exterior stairs, and automatic doors. Knowing
the totally blind user is not likely to roll the mouse around on the map, I
made a drop-down list below the Flash map to click directly on the building.
Our buildings have both a letter designation and a name, so there are two
drop-down lists to choose from so the user can locate a building by either
designation. On the page that is the close-up, there is a text list of
classrooms, offices, etc. that are in the building. All I need to add now is
a textual description of the accessible features of the building, such as
"wheelchair ramp located at west entrance".

In short, by having a text description on each web page of the building(s),
screen readers can read this aloud. By having a descriptive voice sound clip
attached to each element in the Flash movie map, I have eliminated the
concern for screenreaders to be able to read the map.

Wondering why I have the text version if the Flash movie talks? Because the
text version can be printed out and carried by any student, and because the
deaf-blind cannot see or hear the Flash movie.

The map was actually on our college web site, but the new college web rules
prohibit Flash movies, period. I am working my way up the chain in
administration to get special permission for the map, which still needs the
text additions mentioned above.

I created this map for my final project in my Multimedia class - I am an IT
student, legally blind and hearing impaired, who will graduate this May.
After graduation, I plan to add the map to my own personal website (I have to
change the links in the map to do this), to share the concept with others.

Kim Paulk


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