README.TXT

October 22, 1992

Please read this entire README.TXT file.  There is important
information in this file!  This disk contains the current status of
the International Committee for Accessible Document Design (ICADD)
activities.

This disk should contain the following files:

Readme.txt -   This file.
Purpose.wp -   WordPerfect 5.1 file that is ICADD's statement of
               purpose.
Purpose.lp -   WordPerfect 5.1 file in 18pt print that is ICADD's
               statement of purpose.
Purpose. txt - ICADD's statement of purpose in flat ASCII.
Purpose.brl -- Standard braille file of the purpose statement.
Purp32.brl --  Braille file for braille embossers that have a
               shorter line.  The braille Blazer, for example.
PDD.DTD -      The current state of the formal SGML Print Disabled
               Document type definition (PDD).  This is a formal
               SGML document type definition (DTD) that is being
               examined by experts around the world.  These are
               the file formatting specifications ideal for
               persons with disabilities.  One of our goals is to
               put formally published documents into this format.
DTP2PDD.dtd -- The SGML DTD that relates to the export
               specifications for desk top publishing systems.
DTP2PDD.txt -  This paper explains some very simple rules to
               follow for exporting information from Desk Top
               Publishing systems.  Developers can use this to
               produce export utilities from their systems into a
               format that is more useable for persons with
               disabilities.  This should be considered the bare
               minimum information provided in computer files for
               persons with disabilities.  What is really needed
               is the PDD DTD described on this disk, but if a
               software package cannot provide that level of
               detail, at least it should be able to provide the
               data described in this paper.  In no way do we
               suggest that this set of tags is what is ultimately
               needed by persons with disabilities.  This does
               give us something significantly more useful than
               flat ASCII, but much less than what is ultimately
               needed.  There is a danger in thinking that this
               simple explanation is what is needed.  Please do
               not make the mistake in thinking that the
               DTP2PDD.txt file is what is ultimately needed. 
               This will allow people to build files that are
               useable for automatic text processing for persons
               with disabilities, but this type of file will
               require a great deal of hand work and human hours.

Please start by reading ICADD's statement of purpose.  The PDD.DTD
should be examined next.  It is not meant to be read by persons
unfamiliar with structured document production techniques. 
Finally, the DTP2PDD.txt file explains in very understandable terms
the types of information that we are asking to be preserved in desk
top publishing documents that are being exported for persons with
disabilities.  While the DTP2PDD is very easy to understand, it is
only an upgrade from flat ASCII.  We expect that files in the
DTP2PDD format can be converted to the superior PDD.DTD that is
ultimately needed.  Please do not make the mistake in thinking that
this simple set of tags is the goal of our work.  However, the
DTP2PDD is a very good technique to make a large number of
documents accessible in a very short time.
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