The objective of this project is to provide accessible versions of documents on demand through a web service, allowing users to send documents to an online web service that then returns an accessible version. This work is guided by a desire to make documents available to users with print disabilities in a variety of file formats to meet their distinct needs. Initial implementations will provide accessible alternatives (DAISY or BRF formats) to PDF files, including image-based documents, encypted documents, and locked/password-protected PDFs.

 The initial work includes the following:

1. Develop technology to unlock e-documents in PDF and TIFF formats.
2. Develop automation that enables the system to find, validate, and convert e-docs that are made available.
3. Develop web-based tools that will be made available to users that empowers them to unlock e-docs and convert documents into the accessible DAISY format.
4. Investigate the feasibility of converter utilities for other document formats.

The preliminary pilot project will be available via the Bookshare.org website and will automatically convert uploaded documents into accessible versions that are available online for a limited period of time.

DocAccess is a joint project of the Trace Center and Benetech under funding from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the US Dept of Education under grant #H133E030012.

Get Involved

If you are interested in this project, have something to contribute, or would like to help with programming and bugfixing, include  [DocAccess] in the subject line of an email to Contribution@RaisingTheFloor.net 

If you are interested in being on the user support mailing list for this project send an email to Lists@RaisingTheFloor.net and put [DocAccess] in the subject line.