Accessibility Browsers

Walking in their shoes.

[gcross]

As a webmaster, browser compatibility has always been a major issue to me. However, the recent introduction of accessibility standards and the changing standards at W3C.com have added those concerns to my existing focuses.

I've got a lineup of browsers in different versions and on PCs with different operating systems, to use to view my pages in as many mediums as I can to ensure consistency and cross-browser compatibility. However, not being disabled (yet), I don't have any software intended specifically for those who are blind or of limited vision nor software for viewing on Macs or Linux.

I've heard of software emulators that would enable a windows O/S to emulate Mac or Linux programs. I would like to obtain some. I would also like some input on the most popular, widely used, or cheapest (read free:)) screen readers and whatever other software the blind or disabled utilize to surf the web. I think that adding such software to my repertoire would be a vast help in enabling me to better understand how my pages appear to the disabled and would better enable me to code my pages for maximum accessibility. At this time, even with the help of W3C and the Accessibility Standards and bobbycast.org, it's like sewing the Emporer's new clothes when you can't actually see them, you just have to go by the Emperor's comments.

Input, anyone?

[luma]

There is a Screen Reader Simulation [webaim.org] at WebAIM - Web Accessibility in Mind [webaim.org]. It's a two MB Shockwave application and I haven't tried it (due to slow download).

You'll find losts of useful links at DMOZ and in the Google Directory: Browsers > Accessibility section [directory.google.com] or by searching directly at Google.

I heard about BLINDOWS and blinux. Please let me know if you find anything useful.

[mattur]

You can download a free demo copy of Jaws for Windows from [freedomscientific.com...]

The demo version will work for 40mins - enough time to try out your pages for visual-impairment accessibility.

An RNIB talk I attended stated that IE + Jaws was the most popular combo for blind users browsing the web.

It's a revealing experience to browse using Jaws. Try visiting the w3c Web Accessibility Guidelines page for an ironic example of a validated/css page that offers very bad accessibility in spite of its standards compliance - mainly due to its profusion of hyperlinks at the start.