Digital Frog International Leaps into Adaptive Technology World with New
Educational Adventure Hearing Exchange 
September 10, 2001

PUSLINCH, ON - Digital Frog International (DFI) is proud to announce the
release of its first fully accessible virtual adventure, The Digital Field
Trip to the Rainforest AT. With help from the Adaptive Technology Resource
Center at the University of Toronto (ATRC), DFI has adapted its original
award-winning Rainforest CD-ROM to create one of the most advanced and
accessible educational programs available.  

"Our goal in designing The Digital Field Trip to the Rainforest AT was to
offer a multimedia program that can be experienced by everyone, including
those with disabilities," says Jeff Warner, Rainforest AT Project Manager. 
"As a result, we believe we have created the most media-rich and accessible
program available today."  

Whether operating in standard or accessible mode, students can experience the
sights and sounds of the rainforest in Belize and Central America, without
leaving the classroom. Hundreds of photos, videos and engaging activities
teach about the rainforest's mechanisms, plant and animal diversity, and the
importance of this vital ecosystem.  

"Even with modern technologies, very few educational computer programs are
completely accessible to students with disabilities. It's difficult to find
high quality, engaging learning materials that do not require outside
assistance for the students," says Jim Allan, Texas School for the Blind. 
"I've reviewed many multimedia titles and they just don't compare to The
Digital Field Trip to the Rainforest AT. DFI is head and shoulders above the
competition." 

A single keystroke changes the program from standard to AT mode, enabling
blind and physically challenged students to access the program. Full
text-to-speech, audio instructions and photo descriptions guide blind
students through the rainforest. Captioned video ensures that the deaf do not
miss any information. Full keyboard access opens up the program to the blind
and the physically challenged.  

"DFI is leading the way with their use of adaptive technology and truly
opening new horizons for those with disabilities," says Wendy Porch, ATRC. 
"That's why the Digital Field Trip to the Rainforest AT won the International
Coalition of Access Engineers and Specialists' Award for Innovative Access
before it was even released." 

The Digital Field Trip to the Rainforest AT accommodates different learning
styles and speeds, multiple intelligence's, learning disabilities, as well as
visual and motor skill problems. No special equipment is required-everything
is included on the CD.  

Digital Frog International is an innovative, enthusiastic software company,
dedicated to creating high-quality educational, multimedia CD-ROMs with the
focus on natural sciences, biology and ecology. The Digital Frog, The Digital
Field Trips to the Wetlands, The Rainforest and The Desert have all won
multiple awards.  Corporate headquarters is a converted barn surrounded by
frogs, dogs and bogs in rural Ontario, Canada. DFI resides on the Web at:
http://www.digitalfrog.com. 

