Abstract

ABSTRACT
The overarching goal of the ATRC is to help ensure that emerging information technology and practices are designed inclusively from the very beginning. The Centre defines inclusive design as design that enables and supports the participation of individuals and groups representing the full range of human diversity. The ATRC see disability as a mismatch between the needs of the individual and the service, education, tools or environment provided and accessibility as the adaptability of the system to the needs of each individual. Their research, development, education and service are all grounded in this principle. The ATRC supports open standards - as well as open access and open source wherever possible - to distribute their work as widely as possible and to encourage broad participation in initiatives. The Centre is strong advocate of the overlooked principle that people with disabilities should be producers and not only consumers of information, knowledge and culture. Society as a whole is impoverished and deprived if we exclude through action or omission. Inclusion benefits everyone, it should be everyone's concern and, in this digitally transformed reality that we live and work in - where consumption does not consume and space has no limits - there is no downside to inclusion and it is possible to make room for us all.

ATutor is one of the ATRC ongoing project, an Open Source Web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS) designed with accessibility and adaptability in mind. With ATutor, students learn in an adaptive learning environment. ATutor is compliant with the W3C WCAG 1.0 accessibility specifications at the AA+ level, allowing access to all potential learners, instructors, and administrators, including those with disabilities who may be accessing the system using assistive technologies. Conformance with W3C XHTML 1.0 specifications ensures that ATutor is presented consistently in any standards compliant technology. ATutor has also adopted the IMS/SCORM Content Packaging specifications, allowing content developers to create reusable content that can be swapped between different e-learning systems. Content created in other IMS or SCORM comformant systems can be imported into ATutor, and visa versa. ATutor also includes a SCORM 1.2 Runtime Environment (LMS RTE3) for playing and managing SCORM based Sharable Content Objects (SCOs).

Greg Gay is a project coordinator with the University of Toronto's Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, leads the development of the open source ATutor learning management system, is actively involved in development of international accessibility guidelines, and manages a Web accessibility evaluation and design service.