Strategic Partners Program
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AMERICA ONLINE:

America Online is committed to enhancing the accessibility of the AOL service for disabled members. AOL has been working with the National Center for Accessible Media to ensure that we develop products and services that are accessible to disabled users. Our initial efforts have focused on ensuring that employees developing new products and services understand the special technology needs of people with disabilities. We provide training and guidance to employees, and we work closely with the disabled community to identify ways to ensure our products and services meet their needs. Additionally, in seeking grant proposals, both the AOL Rural Telecommunications Leadership Awards and the Digital Divide Bridge Grants include specific requests for programs that serve people with disabilities.

IBM:

The IBM Self Voicing Kit (SVK) enables automatic speaking of Java applications. The SVK features the IBM Access Engine, a new technology that exploits the accessibility features of a Java application. Launched in the background, the Access Engine communicates directly with accessible components in the Java application. Program files, called Perks, tell the Access Engine what to do when specific events occur, such as focus changes, selection, or receiving input from an input device. The Access Engine supports stacking of Perks so that the user interface can be expanded or customized for a particular application. Perks, written in Java, communicate with the Access Engine through toolkit methods. Currently, the Access Engine supports screen reading functions to provide accessibility for blind users. In the future, it can be expanded to provide support for other types of assistive technology.

NCAM has worked with IBM to incorporate the Self Voicing Kit into our CD-ROM Access Photosynthesis Explorer prototype. See the description of the Photosynthesis Explorer for more information. The protoype provides a real-world example of the usefulness of the SVK and has allowed us to provide feedback to the IBM developers as they continue to improve the SVK.

MACROMEDIA:

Macromedia supports the creation of great Web experiences for everyone. They encourage Web developers to produce rich, engaging content that is accessible by all. While much has been done to make the Web accessible, there is still more work ahead. Macromedia joins the rest of the technology industry dedicated to removing Web technology barriers for people with disabilities.

Macromedia is providing free accessibility seminars about how to build engaging W3C- and Section 508-compliant Web content using HTML, animated GIFs, Macromedia Flash elements and the Macromedia Accessibility Starter Kit. The seminar will also teach developers how to create data-driven solutions for accessible content, and how to use the new 508 Accessibility Suite for Dreamweaver 4 and UltraDev 4, developed by UsableNet. Designed for use with Dreamweaver 4, the Section 508 extension checks and corrects your code to comply with Section 508 and the W3C, and also provides reporting for ongoing accessibility maintenance.

MICROSOFT:

Created in 1983, Microsoft's Community Affairs Program is one of the first philanthropic efforts in the high-tech industry. Overall, Microsoft seeks to empower people and communities in discovering a better future through technology. Last year, Microsoft gave more that $34.3 million in cash and $200 million in software to nearly 5,000 non-profit organizations to improve technology access to underserved communities, to strengthen profits through technology, and to expand and diversify the technology workforce.

This year, with funding from Microsoft Corporation's Community Affairs Program, the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) and CAST (the Center for Applied Special Technology) are working together to raise corporate awareness about the importance of Web accessibility in the hiring and retention of employees with disabilities. CAST's and NCAM's year-long joint effort will help ensure that employees and applicants with disabilities are not shut out of Web-based educational and job advancement opportunities.

PANASONIC:

Matsushita Consumer Electronics Company (MCEC) has partnered with NCAM in redesigning its Panasonic VCRs to make them more accessible to blind and visually impaired consumers. The modification entailed designing a raised tactile dot for the SAP button of the VCR remote control and establishing universal placement of the SAP button on all Panasonic and Quasar model remotes. Matsushita is also involved in a joint venture project which is developing software to be used in a computerized speech-training system designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. To learn more about Matsushita, visit its Web site at: http://www.panasonic.com.

SUN MICROSYSTEMS:

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer" has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of hardware, software, and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. Sun Microsystems has developed the Java Accessibility API, which enables Java developers to write applications that many more of America's 40 million people with disabilities can immediately access and use. The Java Accessibility API allows assistive technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, speech recognition systems, and Braille displays to access Java applications.

The CD-ROM Access project used Java to built the Photosynthesis Explorer prototype. Building accessible applications in Java is possible because of the important work done by Sun Microsystems. The accessibility team at Sun worked to ensure that the Java language includes accessibility information in its core structures. They included access by default in the Swing user interface components so that when developers use those components all accessibility information is included automatically. More information on Sun's access work is available on their Enabling Technologies web site.

VERIZON:

As part of Verizon's commitment to Universal Design, they have adapted their telecommunications service, Caller ID, that allows customers to see the name and phone number of the person who's calling them before they answer the phone. In addition to displaying the caller's name and phone number on the Caller ID screen, the Universally Designed Caller ID box includes a computer chip which enables it to announces the telephone number in a synthesized voice. The names and numbers are also saved in memory, so that if you're away from home when the calls come in, you can retrieve the information -- as text or spoken words -- when you return. By adding an inexpensive voice chip to a traditional Caller ID display unit, the manufacturers improved the overall functionality of the product without a significant price increase.

WORLDCOM:

The WorldCom Foundation supports the MarcoPolo program, which provides no-cost, standards-based Internet content for the K-12 teacher and classroom, developed by the nation's content experts. Online resources include panel-reviewed links to top sites in many disciplines and professionally developed lesson plans and classroom activities. NCAM is working the Marcopolo partners to help them make their content accessible. According to Dr. Vint Cerf, Senior Vice President of Internet Architecture and Technology for WorldCom, "Support for NCAM's program is a high priority for WorldCom's Foundation because it is aimed at making the Internet far more accessible to people with various disabilities.