The internet has become a global educational boon, offering students and teachers unparalleled access to resources worldwide. Gone are the days of relying solely on outdated textbooks or browsing through school catalogs. Instead, millions of online resources are now available, bridging the gap between those with extensive access to educational tools and those who have traditionally been underserved. This progress is particularly significant for individuals with visual and hearing impairments, a group often overlooked by educational initiatives. In Australia alone, approximately 4,000 blind and partially sighted children benefit from these advancements (according to Media Access Australia).
Online video is playing a pivotal role in improving access to educational resources for these students. A prime example is ABC Splash, a free digital educational platform from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). ABC Splash provides educational content for students of all levels and abilities, featuring a mix of online articles, podcasts, and, most notably, interactive online videos. With around 2,500 videos available and new content added daily, the platform offers an engaging and visual way to learn.
What sets ABC Splash apart is its commitment to accessibility. The platform features advanced access tools that cater specifically to users with visual and hearing impairments. Brightcove has a long-standing partnership with ABC and now works closely with its education division to enhance the accessibility of ABC Splash. Through Brightcove, users can access videos with features such as closed captions, transcripts, keyboard controls, and screen reader support. Additionally, the entire site adheres to accessibility standards, ensuring that more users than ever can benefit from its content.
Brightcove’s Dynamic Ingest technology enabled the rapid ingestion of ABC’s entire video library, ensuring that all content was ready in time for the platform’s launch. This included optimizing workflows to accommodate both geographically restricted and unrestricted content within the same account and integrating with ABC’s content management system (CMS).
ABC Splash exemplifies how Australian content providers are leveraging advanced technology to reach broader audiences and promote accessibility, particularly for marginalized groups. This initiative is a groundbreaking example of how online video can provide barrier-free access to educational resources for an ever-expanding audience. Brightcove is proud to support ABC Splash in this important project, which makes learning more inclusive and accessible for all.
