Small changes can have a big impact
Open access journal partners with the Library and increases accessibility on a global scale
Israel Cefrin da Silva Developer, Digital Initiatives
Waterloo professor Jay Dolmage is the founding editor of the open access Canadian Journal for Disability Studies (CJDS). With readers from over 195 countries and 350,000 unique visitors, it’s hard to think back to the early days of the journal. There were many components to figure out – platforms, hosting, archiving and more. At the time he wasn’t quite sure where to start but looking back thirteen years later, he can say it wouldn’t have been possible without the Library.
OJS support at the Library
Accessibility was a primary concern for Dolmage to ensure CJDS would connect with its intended audience. An online, open access journal was a great first step, but there is much more to do to make a journal truly accessible.
“Open access scholarship is not always accessible. Having the open access journal platform available from the library means you have a true partner in prioritizing accessibility of information.”
-- Jay Dolmage, Professor and Editor of Canadian Journal of Disability Studies
The Library uses the Open Journal Systems from the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), open-source software that manages the entire scholarly publishing workflow from submission to indexing, and provides hosting, technical support and training for those on campus managing an open access journal. The platform provides many accessibility options such as text and audio descriptions for images and language translations, and even sign language descriptions.
However there is always more that can be done and the Library is part of a community of developers that works to improve the platform for all. It was through this lens that Graham Faulkner, a developer with the Library in 2019, suggested providing a simplified HTML version which removes a frame around the text that is included in the regular HTML version. By taking this extra step articles are much more accessible for those who use screen readers.
Increasing accessibility for all
For the last several years, CJDS has employed this simple adjustment to make the journal more accessible for its readers. And it's been noticed.
At the Access 2023 conference, blind activist scholar Cynthia Bruce, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Chair of the Department of Creative Arts Therapies at Concordia University, namechecked the CJDS and Dolmage for prioritizing accessibility during her keynote address.
Sitting in the audience, the Library’s current developer, Israel Cefrin da Silva, took note of this feedback. Upon returning home, he wrote a proposal for the Accessibility Interest Group at PKP that would provide the simplified HTML option as part of the default theme on the OJS platform.
At the spring 2024 PKP sprint, da Silva presented the proposal, and it was accepted. The simplified HTML updates will be available in the next version release of the OJS platform, allowing the over 40,000 journals that use the platform to easily add this option to their journals, increasing accessibility of information on a global scale.