Top FAQ 5: What barriers need to be removed from current general curriculum materials to make them accessible for all learners?
The single most significant barrier in the general curriculum is the fixed medium of presentation. For example, printed materials, the most pervasive means of providing curriculum, cannot be modified from their original format, nor can the information provided be enhanced or made more supportive for diverse learners. Videotapes, audiotapes, and even some software are also generally “fixed” in their presentation, making them accessible and appropriate learning tools for some, but not for all. The presentation of curricular materials and tools in digital, networked form is the first step in overcoming the barrier of fixed media. Digital form is necessary because it provides the underlying flexibility needed for customization. Text, images, sound, and video, when digitized, can be converted to other forms for accessibility to different learners at the teacher’s or learner’s request. This ability to be transformed, and to be presented in multiple forms simultaneously, is unique to digital
