Presenting DARAT: Developing the TCD’s linked CRIS and institutional repository to create an Open Access disability accessible archive

Abstract

The Disability Accessible Research Archive (DARAT) is an online resource that aims to build accessible spaces at the university through dissemination of research conducted by academics, staff and students in accessible formats. DARAT incorporates three features to ensure accessibility of the information: a) short presentation of the research publication in plain spoken English; b) short presentation of the research publication in Irish Sign Language (ISL); and c) plain English written summary of the publication.

DARAT is available through the university’s Institutional Repository (IR) and is synchronized with the CRIS. When users of the CRIS update their research outputs (for example, add details about a new peer-reviewed publication), they have the option to upload the accessible features of that publication to the system. These accessible features will be automatically uploaded to the DARAT central collection in the Institutional Repository.