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First, just a quick run through some of the issues.
1. Valid code does not equate to accessible websites, it's just one step.
2. For the bean counters: Making your site accessible isn't going to bring in huge amounts of revenue. In fact, the ROI most certainly won't be measured in dollars and cents. The return on your investment will be a warm fuzzy and the knowledge that you've helped make the web more accessible to everyone, not just buyers and clients.
3. While there are no laws yet that cover accessibility in the private sector web, history would indicate that those laws are coming.
4. It's a world wide web. For me that means that it should be accessible to everyone. Currently more than 95% of websites are totally inaccessible to the blind and people with severe visual impairments.
5. If you can make the time to make sure a site renders in some obscure browser, you have the time to make your site accessible. ;)
Rather than rely solely on guidelines, I've written to several schools for the blind to get some input. What I'd like to do is get some input from everyone here and create a list of questions. I plan on inviting some folks over to check out this thread. ;) I simply can't think of a better way to realize some of the challenges the visually impaired face other than by asking them.
[edited by: digitalghost at 12:11 pm (utc) on July 24, 2003]
We also produce software and I'm curious at how that can be improved for use by the blind or visually impaired.
Watching this thread with interest,
TJ
For the bean counters: Making your site accessible isn't going to bring in huge amounts of revenue.
I'd like to pick up on that: I always hear folks dribbling on about the 0.5 percent of their users that use NN4 and how they have to use font tags and kludgy, counter-intuitive and let's face it, lazy table based layouts.
What about the similar if not higher figure (sorry, no hard data on either) that can't SEE YOUR SITE? or need to adjust it to be able to see it?
What about those with physical or cognitive disabilities? - Anyone other than the obvious guys in here using access keys on sites that attract loyal repeat visits?
Nick
Not all users can, or have the know how to get themselves hooked up with Opera so making your sites easily adjustable and intuitive is a must if you want my money...
Nick
What I'd like to do is get some input from everyone here and create a list of questions.
Great idea DG, and I look forward to the answers you get from the people you are collaborating with.
I suppose from a general viewpoint it would be interesting to get a Top 5 (or Top 10) list of things that this user group feel effects their ability to easily use (or not use) a site. A gripe list for want of a better phrase.
This sort of metric would be invaluable to anyone who wants to build an accessible site.
"Blind sue over site failings"After years of campaigning for companies to make websites more accessible, the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) is now backing a number of individuals to take legal action.
The cases allege that a number of websites failed to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995.
Under the DDA, organisations providing goods, services and facilities directly to the general public are not allowed to refuse to serve a disabled person for a reason that relates to their disability.
The article also details a succesful case by an Australian man against Sydney Olymic comittee for not providing an accessable site.
Mind you, it's not just the threat of legal action that should inspire webmasters, but it does add an extra incentive. ;)
added: "Top 5 (or Top 10) list"
Great idea, and useful to see exactly what problems some people have accessing the web.
DG you don’t even need to have a severe disability to make some sites inaccessible. A lager proportion of men, I read 1/12 suffers from colour blindness. Pick the wrong colours and you have a lot of potential users not catered for.
For those concerned about this particular facet of accessibility take peek at:
[vischeck.com...]
cheers
>>challenges the visually impaired
you have made your first error, I know it does not occur often :) but what about physical disability. My grandmother has carpel tunnel syndrome? Do have access keys. You may have reached WAI A but that does not help her.
>>What I'd like to do is get some input from everyone here and
>>create a list of questions.
1.Would you like to be able to change the text size by clicking a link.
2.Would you like to be able to change the contrast by clicking
3.Do you know how to change the text size in your browser and if yes, do you do it.
4.Apart from the WAI guidelines are there any useful features you would like to see that would assist your surfing.
5.What is your impairment and what aids do you use to assist you (concepts or brands)
6.What website feature makes it most difficult for you to surf effectively?
7.What percentage of sites do not cater for your disability and have you ever gone elsewhere as a result
8.Have you ever written to a webmaster complaining about their site and did you ever get a response.
Cheers
I've written to several schools for the blind to get some input.
I'll also add to the "fuzzy" feeling the added sense of trust, inclusiveness and authority, not to mention that it's about device-accessibility too.
One can't help sometimes usin the word "disability" when talkin about accessibility but I do try to make an extra effort not to when I can because I consider the whole issue to be a lot wider and just plain good practice. It's about "accessibility" in the truest sense of the word of findability, navigatability, readability etc...
Q I would want to know what sort of effect flash has on accessiblity. Also are other web based applications and animations accessible? and do screen readers and other accessibilty software have problems with them?
Q What features make it easier to surf effectivley?
EG: javascript 'CSS switcher' function for increasing font size and contrast
Q What would be the ideal generic code for alt tagging.
EG: widget or image:widget or image text:widget
Q In your opinion what site has best catered for accessibility users?
and
Q What site has bugged you the most - or are there too many to mention?
IMO those things are worse than useless. Mostly they just confuse the issue even more. If you have bad eyes you KNOW how to adjust the text on your browser and using a client-side technology for something you consider so important is just silly.
They're very easy to set up sever-side but for fonts (i have used it for contrast and layout in past) they are just a silly gimmick..
Nick
Nick, surely it is for the people being asked what they think of these things. I am making an asumption here that you dont have a visual impairment.
The above comment is not meant to be rude Nick :)
Sorry if it came out wrong, my comments were aimed purely at the technology not you...
Nick
Cheers for the input on this one - I did have a feeling that something like that could look a little, err, patronising.
However we are testing a toolbox area on our site so we hope to approach it and other functionality with a broad generic attitude that will hopefully be sensitive enough not to offend.
<snip>
Ta
Lim... errr
[edited by: korkus2000 at 12:06 pm (utc) on July 25, 2003]
[edit reason] Per Member Request [/edit]
It was made with DreamWeaver snigger... ;)
Nick
Maybe we can raise awareness in both directions. ;) I have the same frustration you expressed, which is why I don't want to rely on "authorities". I want input from the real experts and that's the people that have to surf using screen readers and the folks that have to use oral command applications.
Alternative Web Browsing [w3.org]
[edited by: pageoneresults at 8:30 pm (utc) on July 24, 2003]
Nick
I'm especially interested in aiding the accessibility of mathematics. How widely supported is MathML? Do any screen readers or aural browsers support it?
Nick
P.S. The devices that are used in a disability environment are not cheap. I was just getting ready to purchase JAWS when I saw that it is $800.00+ depending on the version you choose. Ouch!
And here is an article on the value of overall accessibility from a business standpoint...
The Business Value of Integrating Accessible Technology into Business Organizations [microsoft.com]
I was just getting ready to purchase JAWS when I saw that it is $800.00+ depending on the version you choose. Ouch!
Ouch indeed. Also, the trial version of JAWS lasts for only 40 minutes! (Compare IBM's Home Page Reader: 30 days.)
On another topic, you will absolutely dig this one...
Accessibility Valet Demonstrator [valet.webthing.com]
The output is incredible. Definitely my new hangout for a few days.
<added> Just did my first 508 validation. I sort of knew that I was very close, just never had the type of tool above to explain it all this clearly. Pretty amazing stuff!
I work for a public sector organisation. The government has prepared guidelines, the W3 has prepared guidelines, the various Royal Blind Societies and their equivalents have prepared and run excellent schools on the topics of general disabilities and access issues. I use validators for HTML, XML, CSS, text-speech readers etc just to make sure the information is available in a useful format.
I am fully aware of my responsibilities to reach as many as possible through the WWW. When it is impossible to reach people because of remote access, disabilities or incompatability due to techology, an alternative must be given to these people to obtain the information they seek via contact details and personal assistance.
However, one cannot appease everyone. But, giving a means to be appeased instead of just ignoring them is our overall responsibility as providers to the information explosion on the WWW and to our fellow seekers of information.
Finally let me say it is not always easy.
I'd recomend anyone do this, as it gives an immediate idea of how arduos a process it can be, especially if navigation is lengthy, or things aren't described properly.
[wats.ca...]
