LINC was selected to participate in a joint product test and evaluation contract coordinated by the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) . LINC's Technology Coordinator, Mike Birkmire, performed product testing and evaluation on Microsoft Encarta 97 with access products for persons with vision impairments such as screen readers and screen enlargement software.

Microsoft enlisted seven ATA centers like LINC throughout the nation because of their collective expertise in technology for persons with disabilities. Software companies are just now beginning to realize the importance of access issues for persons with disabilities. This kind of testing during the design phase will pave the way for new products and eliminate possible barriers to access in the future. Based on this concept of universal design, the products will be available to even more customers.

Microsoft will receive valuable input on the current version of Encarta from the participating ATA centers. When their designers begin work on the 1998 version, the barriers revealed during the testing process will be solved before production. (Winter 1997)