📚 Chapter 3: WIA EDU Standard Overview

Hongik Ingan (弘益人間)

"Benefit All Humanity"

The WIA EDU Standard creates a universal framework for education accessibility, enabling seamless learning experiences regardless of platform or disability type.

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3.1 Mission and Goals

3.1.1 Mission Statement

The WIA EDU Standard's mission is to establish an open, interoperable framework for education accessibility that enables learners with disabilities to access educational content and platforms with the same ease and effectiveness as their peers.

3.1.2 Primary Goals

1. Portability: Learner accessibility profiles that travel between institutions and platforms
2. Interoperability: Standardized interfaces for LMS platforms and assistive technologies
3. Automation: Reduce manual accommodation processes through intelligent matching
4. Privacy: Learner-controlled data with granular disclosure options
5. Compliance: Built-in support for WCAG, Section 508, and AccessForAll standards

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3.2 Four-Schema Architecture

The WIA EDU Standard is built on four interconnected schemas that together provide a complete accessibility framework:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      WIA EDU ARCHITECTURE                        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                  │
│  ┌──────────────────┐      ┌──────────────────┐                 │
│  │  LEARNER PROFILE │◄────►│  COURSE METADATA │                 │
│  │                  │      │                  │                 │
│  │ • Preferences    │      │ • Accessibility  │                 │
│  │ • Needs          │      │ • UDL Options    │                 │
│  │ • AT devices     │      │ • Accommodations │                 │
│  └────────┬─────────┘      └────────┬─────────┘                 │
│           │                         │                           │
│           ▼                         ▼                           │
│  ┌──────────────────┐      ┌──────────────────┐                 │
│  │ CONTENT METADATA │◄────►│   ASSESSMENT     │                 │
│  │                  │      │                  │                 │
│  │ • Features       │      │ • Timing         │                 │
│  │ • Alternatives   │      │ • Presentation   │                 │
│  │ • Access modes   │      │ • Response       │                 │
│  └──────────────────┘      └──────────────────┘                 │
│                                                                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
        

3.2.1 Schema Relationships

Schema	Purpose	Key Relationships
Learner Profile	Store learner accessibility preferences and needs	Links to WIA AAC, BCI, Eye Gaze profiles
Course	Define course-level accessibility features	Contains content items, maps to LTI contexts
Content	Describe individual content accessibility	AccessForAll DRD compatible, Dublin Core metadata
Assessment	Define assessment accommodations	QTI accessibility patterns, timing rules

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3.3 Supported Disability Types

The WIA EDU Standard provides comprehensive support for all major disability categories:

3.3.1 Visual Disabilities

Condition	Profile Settings	Automatic Adaptations
Blindness	screen_reader: true, vision: "none"	Alt text required, audio descriptions, structured navigation
Low Vision	magnification: 2.0+, high_contrast: true	Scalable content, reflow support, contrast modes
Color Blindness	colorblind_type: "deuteranopia"	Color-independent information, alternative color schemes

3.3.2 Hearing Disabilities

Condition	Profile Settings	Automatic Adaptations
Deafness	hearing: "none", sign_language: "ASL"	Captions required, sign language videos, visual alerts
Hard of Hearing	hearing: "partial", captions: true	Captions, transcripts, volume controls

3.3.3 Motor Disabilities

Condition	Profile Settings	Automatic Adaptations
Paralysis	input_method: "eye_gaze" or "bci"	WIA AAC/BCI integration, dwell selection
Limited Mobility	input_method: "switch", target_size: "large"	Keyboard access, large click targets
Tremor	sticky_keys: true, double_click_delay: 1000	Debouncing, sticky keys, movement tolerance

3.3.4 Cognitive and Learning Disabilities

Condition	Profile Settings	Automatic Adaptations
Dyslexia	dyslexia_font: true, tts: true	OpenDyslexic font, text-to-speech, increased spacing
ADHD	breaks: true, chunking: true	Content chunking, timer breaks, reduced distractions
Intellectual Disability	simplified_content: true, reading_level: "basic"	Simplified versions, clear language, visual supports

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3.4 Design Principles

3.4.1 AccessForAll Alignment

The WIA EDU Standard implements the ISO/IEC 24751 AccessForAll framework:

• Personal Needs & Preferences (PNP): Mapped to Learner Profile schema
• Digital Resource Description (DRD): Mapped to Content Metadata schema
• Access Matching: Automated in the API layer

3.4.2 Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

The standard supports all three UDL principles:

{
  "udl_options": {
    "engagement": {
      "interest_triggers": ["choice", "relevance", "authenticity"],
      "effort_persistence": ["goals", "challenge", "collaboration"],
      "self_regulation": ["expectations", "coping", "self_assessment"]
    },
    "representation": {
      "perception": ["alternatives", "customization"],
      "language_symbols": ["vocabulary", "syntax", "structure"],
      "comprehension": ["background", "patterns", "transfer"]
    },
    "action_expression": {
      "physical_action": ["response_methods", "assistive_tech"],
      "expression": ["media_options", "construction_composition"],
      "executive_function": ["goals", "planning", "progress"]
    }
  }
}

3.4.3 WCAG Compliance

The standard ensures content meets WCAG 2.1/2.2 guidelines:

WCAG Principle	WIA EDU Implementation
Perceivable	Alternative content, color independence, resizable text
Operable	Keyboard access, timing control, seizure prevention
Understandable	Readable content, predictable navigation, input assistance
Robust	Compatible with AT, valid markup, future-proof

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3.5 Development Phases

Phase 1: Data Format Standard

JSON schemas for learner profiles, courses, content, and assessments. Establishes the data foundation.

Phase 2: API Interface Standard

RESTful API design for CRUD operations, profile matching, and LTI integration.

Phase 3: Communication Protocol

LTI 1.3 extensions, OAuth 2.0 flows, and real-time WebSocket updates.

Phase 4: Ecosystem Integration

Integration with WIA AAC, BCI, Eye Gaze, and other assistive technology standards.

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3.6 Chapter Summary