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Mainstreaming Accessible Content through DAISY. SPD-Microsoft Collaboration. DAISY project in Singapore. Background The Ministry of Education appointed SPD to convert printed textbooks into digital text for visually impaired students in a destinated mainstream Secondary School
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Mainstreaming Accessible Content through DAISY SPD-Microsoft Collaboration
DAISY project in Singapore • Background • The Ministry of Education appointed SPD to convert printed textbooks into digital text for visually impaired students in a destinated mainstream Secondary School • Students use the Braille Note takers to ‘read’ the text formatted textbooks by means of Braille display or using the audio function of the device • Textbooks with mathematical or scientific symbols were converted manually into Braille embossed textbooks
DAISY project in Singapore • DAISY Pilot Project • In Singapore, most people with print disability are unfamiliar with DAISY • Microsoft and SPD generated a literature textbook for students in this mainstream Secondary School during the pilot • Student tested the DAISY book using Assistive Devices loaned from SPD (Victor Stream) • Feedback were collected from the students to improve future conversions
DAISY Book Demo • Demonstration of DAISY book playback using Victor Reader and AMIS software
Student feedback Average student age :14
Future Plans • Short term • To convert more textbooks for the next school year (2010) for the students • Target all 30+ visually impaired students in the pilot Secondary School • Give student another alternative format of accessing reading materials besides the Braille Notetakers • Expanding the project to include people with learning disabilities e.g. dyslexia and ASD • Convert textbooks with scientific symbols and diagrams into DAISY DTB
Future Plans • Long Term • Introduce DAISY as an alternative DTB format to benefit more users via public forums and PE activities • Find more partners, including publishers to collaborate on conversion of more print publications into DAISY DTB • Participate as a member of DAISY consortium to garner stronger network globally and build knowledge and competency within Singapore
Challenges • Change of users mindset to accept DAISY • Limited availability of DAISY readers • Cost of owning a DAISY reader • Limited availability of DAISY format reading material e.g. newspaper, magazine, bestsellers • Understanding users’ preference and perspective on navigation of digital books • Lack of publication rights to convert from print to DAISY
The End SPD – Microsoft : Mainstreaming DAISY content to the masses