Around the Globe

Section-508-Compliant eLearning Solutions

Warrenville, IL (USA), March 2009 - Plateau Systems and CourseAvenue now provide Plateau's iContent clients with Section-508-compliant eLearning content. CourseAvenue's Accessibility Player reduces the complications of accessibility interpretation by embedding the standards' requirements directly into the eLearning course player. Government and corporate clients around the globe are using iContent to make custom and pre-packaged learning and training materials available to their users.

Through this additional offering, these clients can provide their learners with accessible training materials using their existing iContent training credits or through other established purchasing mechanisms.

"Critical content can now be accessed and integrated into our clients' training programs while side-stepping time consuming, often complex procurement processes", states Lee Wright, Plateau's Director of iContent. "This is an area that has been a challenge for many organizations, so we're excited to be able to provide them with a fast and easy way to build and deploy Section-508-compliant eLearning."

CourseAvenue's Accessibility Player provides a foundation for adherence to many of the details in the standards. Essential to true Section-508 compliance, they also provide professional services that ensure the remaining portions of code are being followed, the piece of the puzzle that lies in the course developer's hands.

CourseAvenue has worked closely with Criterion 508 Solutions, Inc., an independent third-party auditor who utilizes an extensive array of assistive software and hardware, and one of the industry's most rigorous testing methodologies to ensure the CourseAvenue 508 player meets all the requirements of the code.

"Attempting to meld instructional design, accessibility standards, and screen reader functionality with a wide array of content and assessment elements has resulted in a number of costly mistakes", warns CourseAvenue CEO Joe Gorup. "As opposed to relying on each and every developer to interpret and apply the standards, important standards are built into our player."

Plateau and CourseAvenue continue to work closely to provide effective eLearning solution for their clients by providing both the technology and purchasing mechanisms needed for accessible content development.