This is an interesting  subject, and it is important to make sure that what
separate groups work is compatible.
there are two parts to what you are describing.

Evaluation -
EARL Is the Meta data evaluation  technique for accessibility,

Accessibility Support -

We have been working on accessibility techniques baised on RDF and Meta
Data. This work  is being done at this point with  W3C protocols and formats
working group  to be compatible with the web accessibility content
guidelines. It is currently at a draft stage.

We are extremely eager to find other groups doing similar work (such as the
WWAAC ) to join us, and make this more robust

Would this list be interested in reviewing this work, and maybe explore
compatibility with the Dublin Core

Peter, could you send me the email addresses  of your Colleagues  who may be
interested participation?

What type of tool were you intending on building?

All the best,

Lisa Seeman

UnBounded Access

Widen the World Web


[log in to unmask]
www.ubaccess.com
Tel: +972 (2) 675-1233
Fax: +972 (2) 675-1195



-----Original Message-----
From: DCMI Accessibility Group
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Peter Rainger
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 2:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Creation of Accessibility Metadata and Evaluation tool


Dear all,

I have been asked to create an Accessibility Metadata taxonamy and
Evaluation tool.

I am doing this work for a number of people:

- Learning and teaching Scotland
- Royal National College for the Blind
- Specialist Collegues - techie group
- X4L (Lauder College and Surf Consortia)
- TechDis (Technology for Disability Information Service)
- University of Sussex, Institute of Education

+ a number of disability specialists from the UK.

Possibly to used by the JISC respositories.

I have made a start and am making significant process with the work.

I will be including the W3C guideline and usability heuristics,
specialist accessibility requirements such as for those with specific
learning difficulties etc etc.

The basis will be an semi-automated evaluation tool that asks a number
of question in a logical order about a site and then calculates the
level of accessibility conformance though a number of 'specialist
themes' and produces the metadata that give a broken down evalution and
an overal rating.

I am interested is using my work to benefit Dublin Core, as the result
of my work produces machine-readable code (and human) and therefore is
useful for all type of metadata schemas.

I would very much like to hear from anyone who could contribute to the
work or who feels they might benefit from it.

Please contact me if you have any specialist accessibility knowledge
that you feel should be included.

I am very interested in doing a bit of joined-up-thinking and involving
as many people as possible before the project progresses too far.

I hope to complete the main bulk of the work in under 6 weeks!

Hope this is not too much of a shocker to you all! Sorry if this email
is a little crazy but I am up late working on it all now.

Peter Rainger
Email [log in to unmask]
Mobile 07900911018