Digital Resource Description

Digital Resource Description (DRD) is a component of the AccessForAll framework (standardized in ISO 24751 and IMS AccessForAll) that provides a structured way to describe the accessibility properties and available adaptations of digital learning resources. For each resource, the DRD specifies its original modality (visual, textual, auditory, or a combination) and lists any alternative versions available in different modalities — for example, an audio description of an image, a text transcript of a video, or a sign language interpretation of spoken content. When a learner's Personal Needs and Preferences profile requests content in a particular modality, the system uses DRD metadata to locate and deliver the appropriate adaptation. DRD also supports describing the language of resources and whether adaptations should supplement or replace the original content. The concept enables a many-to-many mapping between original resources and their accessible alternatives.