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Those who can't see can surf
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-07/24/content_6873835.htm
Have you read the news online today? Sent an e-mail? Used an online search engine? Accessibility websites ensure that people with disabilities are no longer excluded at a time when the Internet is indispensable to everyday life. "The delegation to Beijing Paralympic Games is the largest in Chinese history" a gentle voice reporting the latest Olympic news to 58-year-old Beijing retiree, Shi Yuhua, which she prompts with computer keyboard Tab key. "I though my visual disability precluded me from ever surfing the Internet," Shi, who lost her vision years ago due to measles, said. She can now surf the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games' official website to her heart's content enjoy, thanks to the many major websites in China involved in information accessibility transformation. The "Information Accessibility Action" event was jointly initiated early this year by China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), BOCOG, Internet Society of China, China Communications Standards Association and China Foundation for Disabled Persons. It aims to enable the visually impaired to share the latest news and information on the Beijing Games.
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:22:44 GMT.
News Focus - Public Sector Web Accessibility Guidelines: Buried Sticks And Mixed Messages
http://www.headstar.com/eablive/?p=197
From the E-Access Bulletin: The new guidelines for UK public sector bodies on 'Delivering inclusive websites' (see E-Access Bulletin, June 2008) are a bewildering blend of the vague with the Draconian. The guidance, published by the Central Office of Information (COI) under the reference number 'TG102' stipulates that all new UK public sector websites must conform to at least 'AA' accessibility standards as specified by the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Existing central government department websites must conform to 'AA' by December 2009. "This includes websites due to converge on Directgov or BusinessLink, unless convergence is scheduled before this date," the guidelines state. Sites of all other government agencies and non-departmental bodies must conform by March 2011. The guidance is also strong and clear on the point of avoiding less accessible content formats wherever possible. Content formats not covered by WCAG 1.0 such as Flash, pdf and JavaScript "should only be used if it is determined that they are the most appropriate for the intended purpose. For example, this could be where the proposed content enhances the functionality or understanding for the intended audience."
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:21:52 GMT.
Ten Top accessibility developer tips
From the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Developing accessible web content is increasingly important. Ensuring your website is accessible to as broad an audience as possible helps not only to increase your user base, but also helps to avoid falling foul of government legislation. Creating accessible content and meeting standards can be easily achieved by considering accessibility in the early stages of development and following simple guidelines throughout programming and design. We have put together some examples of good practice to bear in mind.
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:20:19 GMT.
What's the deal with... Web Accessibility and the ADA?
http://www.afhill.com/blog/2008/07/16/whats-the-deal-with-web-accessibility-and-...
Until only a few years ago, I would have stated that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) had nothing to do with web accessibility. However, the landmark case against Target has altered the landscape. Part 36 of the ADA refers to "nondiscrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities". A quick look at the published "standards for accessible design" makes the intended focus of this law clear: the document is entitled "ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities", and calls out the need for ramps and wide aisles. As a result, web developers haven't worried too much about the applicability of the ADA. The lawsuit raised against Target in 2006 changed all that, however. It was deemed that ADA applied due to the cross-channel integration of the online and in-person experience. It was services like "buy online, pick up in-store" that put Target at risk, users of assistive technologies could not take advantage of this service. A very significant consideration is that unlike WCAG or Section 508, there are no clear "ADA Web Accessibility Standards" to follow. This is about actually ensuring equal access, not fulfilling a checklist. This makes it arguably a much more daunting initiative.
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:19:12 GMT.
Lessening the Load - Accessible Curriculum in Universities
http://accesscurriculum.blogspot.com/2008/07/as-internet-has-opened-up-new-ways-...
As the internet has opened up new ways of communicating and working online, it has also opened up access to users with disabilities, giving them independence to access information that previously was not available to them without assistance. When we are teaching in this environment you cannot assume that students will have the most up to date equipment, or that they are accessing the content the same way that you are. Adaptive technologies (sometimes called Assistive) allow users to independently work using their computer, in some instances Learning Management Systems (LMS) are not fully accessible to students using adaptive technology and they can cause content to become inaccessible. Under the Disability Standards for Education which is part of the Disability Discrimination Act educational providers must supply content to students in their preferred format, this falls to the academic to ensure that they have content available in alternative formats, academics have the universities equity office to help with conversion of content if there is large amounts that may need conversion for a student using adaptive technology. Australian Universities equity units have access to funding from the Federal Government for students studying in Higher Education. TAFE, secondary and primary funding comes from State Governments you will need to check with your equity office as to the support that is available for conversion of content.
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:17:10 GMT.
Guidelines and User Testing - Let's Talk About Food Instead!
http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/general/guidelines-and-user-testing-%E2%80%93-let...
Everybody loves a good analogy and surprise surprise I'm no different! I want to revisit an issue that I'm sure has been raised numerous times before - the differences between guidelines and user testing and the benefits of each. Now feels like an important time to talk about this again given the imminent release of the next version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0). At the recent Accessibility 2.0 conference held by AbilityNet, there was also some talk of how useful guidelines actually were compared to user testing, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to put my opinion out there. So, with all that in mind, let's talk about food instead!
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:16:20 GMT.
Lotus Symphony 1 freely accessible to all
http://www.it-director.com/business/compliance/content.php?cid=10592
Lotus Symphony is the office productivity suite embedded into Lotus Notes. Lotus Notes is a product that is bought in large numbers by many enterprises. This means that Symphony has the full engineering excellence, reliability, usability, support and maintenance, that we expect of any enterprise product, especially one from IBM. The good news is that Lotus Symphony 1 is now available as an independent product that can be downloaded for free. This must make it an attractive option for anyone who needs a well engineered office product but does not want to pay a lot of money for it. Further because it is a brand new product and, as IBM has always been in the forefront of accessibility technology, you can be sure that it has been designed and tested with people with disabilities in mind.
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:14:41 GMT.
George Kerscher, PhD, DAISY Consortium Secretary General, Receives Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award from National Federation of the Blind
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/07/prweb1077924.htm
On Independence Day, 2008, the National Federation of the Blind awarded the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award to George Kerscher, Ph.D. for his efforts to make information accessible to people who are blind or who have print disabilities. Kerscher, who is blind, coined the term "print disabled" to describe people who cannot effectively read print because of a visual, physical, perceptual, developmental, cognitive, or learning disability. Kerscher has said that access to information is a fundamental human right and has worked tirelessly for twenty years to ensure that right for those with a print disability. Since 1997, Kerscher has led the staff of the DAISY Consortium. Now the organization's Secretary-General, Kerscher is steadfast in his pursuit of the Consortium's vision of a world where people with print disabilities have equal access to information and knowledge, without delay or additional expense.
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:13:53 GMT.
Commission opens public consultation to improve website accessibility in Europe
http://euroalert.net/en/news.aspx?idn=7544
15% of Europeans suffer from some form of disability, and many face barriers such as reading a website's small text or even knowing how to access websites and online services. Despite repeated calls by the EU and government leaders to improve this situation, progress remains limited: by far the majority of websites fail to use universally accepted user-friendly solutions. On July 2nd the European Commission launched a public consultation on further measures to make websites in Europe accessible, starting with those of public administrations, and invites stakeholders to give their views. It also addresses other technologies like digital television. The consultation is open until 27 August 2008.
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:12:44 GMT.
Software Lets Blind Use Any Computer
http://www.foxnews.com/bloghealth/?bbPostId=BEgboF0khfJQCzDVNTmtrMVcNCzDtgLsRwaT...
Just as we left the pad and pencil behind, we're quickly moving away from the desktop computer. Mobile devices are the future tools of communication, with instant access on-the-go being the new standard. But, what happens when the only way you can access the Web is through the software on your existing desktop? Most people who are blind are in this situation, relying on screen reading software to interpret the online content and then read it aloud. No more. A University of Washington professor and doctoral student have devised a fabulous new program that offers those who are blind computing mobility. The key to the program it that the screen reading program itself is Web-based. That means persons who are blind can access it from any computer, anytime, anywhere. "This is for situations where someone who's blind can't use their own computer but still wants access to the Internet. At a museum, at a library, at a public kiosk, at a friend's house, at the airport," said Richard Ladner, a UW professor of computer science and engineering.
Contributed on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:11:49 GMT.
FCC fully plugs disabled TRS users into the phone system
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080625-fcc-fully-plugs-disabled-trs-users...
The Federal Communications Commission has published the details of an Order requiring telcos to assign people with hearing and speech disabilities something that everyone else takes for granted: a ten-digit telephone number. Until this decision, "there was no uniform, consistent way for voice telephone users to call Internet-based TRS [Telecommunications Relay Service] users," the FCC's press release declares. TRS devices help consumers with disabilities access the public telephone system. Actually, there still isn't a consistent way, but the FCC has told TRS vendors to put one together by the last day of this year. "Time is of the essence," the agency's Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking warns. What the Commission proposes is a complex but doable plan that, at its center, requires participants to build a big central database of people who use TRS accessibility applications. That database will allow participants to enjoy the "functional equivalence" of a ten-digit ID.
Contributed on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:57:57 GMT.
To what extent does your company purchase products that meet accessibility, 508 requirements?
http://community.citrix.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=33980811
In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual's ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. ' 794d), agencies must give employees with disabilities and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others. It is recommended that you review the laws and regulations listed below to further your understanding about Section 508 and how you can support implementation. So, for employees who have some degree of special needs, certain accommodations need to be designed into the product. A few examples are sticky keys, screen readers and providing feedback not solely based on color perception. As the baby boom population continues to age, the percentage of users with some level of special needs is increasing. Disability does not just mean those who are blind or deaf. Among other things it also covers folks that may be hard of hearing, those that are color blind, are unable to use their mouse, or speak clearly, or need things to be magnified, etc.
Contributed on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:56:53 GMT.
Integrated Web Accessibility Strategy
http://www.thinkmulticultural.com/2008/06/23/integrated-web-accessibility-strategy/
A few months ago I posted some interesting data on the commercial potential of the disabled market in the U.S. I think the next 2-3 years will bring a lot of change and attention to this market and the broader importance of other related segments as 3 major trends come together: 1. Section 508 and Universal Design initiatives expand beyond the Federal government; 2. Increasing numbers of aging Baby Boomers going online; and 3. The 2010 Census. Since 2005, pretty much every Federal agency and all of their departments have made their Web sites Section 508 compliant. In case you're not up on Section 508 compliance, it basically means that a Web site is built in such a way that it can be used just as easily by someone with a disability (and their assistance technology like screen readers for the blind) as someone who is not. However, more and more non-Federal entities are embracing the basic tenets of universal design embodied in Section 508 requirements. The ITTATC defines universal design as the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. I know we are seeing more and more clients request accessibility as a requirement during Web site redesign projects.
Contributed on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:56:09 GMT.
Making sure your technology measures up
http://www.vividinteractive.co.uk/news/accessibility/making-sure-your-technology...
The increasing number of pupils with disabilities learning in mainstream schools, and the rise of computer use in education means that testing your product to ensure it complies with accessibility guidelines and best practice makes sense. This is not just a moral duty, but a legal one, as anyone treating a disabled person less favourably can be prosecuted under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The good news is that there is lots of support available and modifications can be carried out to meet pupils' needs.
Contributed on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:55:02 GMT.
Major Employers Launch Accessibility Taskforce.
http://www.headstar.com/eablive/?p=193
From the E-Access Bulletin: A taskforce to help businesses provide accessible technology to employees and customers has been launched by the UK's Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD), a body whose members include some of the country's largest corporations and public agencies. The aim of the forum's Business Taskforce on Accessible Technology is to "make accessibility and usability as fundamental to IT as security is now," said Steve Lamey, Chief Operating Officer of HM Revenue and Customs and chair of the new group. Some parts of the business community are still failing to see the benefits of improving accessibility, the forum says. Accordingly, one of the most important jobs of the new taskforce will be to promote awareness of the strong business case for engaging with people with disabilities as both colleagues and customers.
Contributed on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:54:07 GMT.
Opinion - Web Accessibility. Life In the Post-Guideline Age.
http://www.headstar.com/eablive/?p=195
From the E-Access Bulletin: Joe Clark, the Canadian web accessibility expert, has said that he believes we now live in a post-guideline era. What might Joe mean by this? To date, talk about making websites usable by people with disabilities has usually featured the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative Web Accessibility Guidelines as a key aspect. This is absolutely appropriate and remains the crucial foundation of every website. However research, such as that undertaken by the Disability Rights Commission in 2004, has suggested that even those organisations that believe they have applied accessibility guidelines when designing their sites are not always producing websites that people with disabilities can use with sufficient degrees of success. This would seem to point to a gap in understanding between web developers and the guidelines. It may be that developers fully understand the technical aspects of the guidelines but are failing to address people with disabilities' user experiences. An accessible website that is unusable is of little help, so in order to create web experiences that are meaningful for persons with disabilities perhaps it's time we began to think beyond technical guidelines and put stronger focus on usability for people with disabilities. It is crucial to understand that thinking around web usability for persons with disabilities is maturing year by year. Technology improves and our understanding of how people with disabilities use the web improves.
Contributed on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:52:15 GMT.
Organisation in the Spotlight - The Employers' Forum on Disability: Blue Chip Access
http://www.headstar.com/eablive/?p=192
From the E-Access Bulletin: The creation of the Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD) Business Taskforce on Accessible Technology (see News, this issue) is a sign that the UK's and the world's largest companies and organisations are beginning to take accessibility seriously. The taskforce aims to help global ICT suppliers and regulators understand what organisations need from IT products and standards if they are to employ and do business with people with disabilities. So what kind of body is the EFD? The forum claims to be the largest and most active organisation of its kind in the world. It has campaigned since 1991 for more accessible and inclusive workplaces, collaborating with people with disabilities, government and businesses to help make it easier for firms to employ disabled people and serve customers with disabilities. It has published numerous guidelines advising its members on how to improve provisions for the disabled, on topics such as employment, customer care, IT, e-commerce, e-recruitment, the built environment, product development, corporate responsibility, procurement, health and safety, occupational health, marketing and communications. Among its highest profile projects is the Disability Standard, which the EFD claims is the only management tool available that allows organisations to accurately measure their performance on disability, including access to IT. In 2007, some 116 UK and global private and public sector employers used the standard.
Contributed on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:19:05 GMT.
Groundbreaking work will provide support for delivery of resources to disabled students and staff
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/Home/news/stories/2008/06/techdis.aspx
The JISC TechDis Service has joined forces with the Publishers Association to provide resources which have the potential to transform the delivery of learning materials to disabled students and staff. These two resources, developed in collaboration with the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) and several major publishers, will support the delivery of materials in alternative formats to meet the needs of people with a range of disabilities, a crucial requirement for equality of access for all students and staff in education and research. One of the resources, Publisher Lookup UK, will enable education providers and publishers to source electronic formats of textbooks for students with disabilities more quickly and efficiently than existing processes allow. Currently publishers generally provide one of two digital formats, either an e-book or a PDF, but sourcing more accessible formats can be a complex undertaking both from the publishers' and the users' points of view. Publisher Lookup UK provides mechanisms for simplifying request, delivery and access processes between the education and research sectors and UK publishers. The site currently provides links to over 150 imprints and additional guidance on making PDFs accessible to users with a range of disabilities.
Contributed on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:17:23 GMT.
Nominations Sought For The Jodi Accessibility Awards 2008
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART58564.html
Nominations are now being sought for the Jodi Awards 2008. The awards, supported by Culture24 and the British Museum, as well as MLA and a host of regional agencies, are for museums, libraries, archives and heritage venues that use technology to provide access to collections and learning for people with disabilities. Entrants will be sought from organisations that have developed useful tools such as websites, interactive objects, audio-guides, PDAs and virtual reality shows, which will be eligible for awards in five categories: Excellence for projects aimed at people with a learning disability; Web accessibility: Excellence with a low budget; Web accessibility: Excellence; Accessible ICT: Excellence with low budget; and Accessible ICT: Excellence. Last year the awards were given to a range of innovative projects including a DVD film tour of ancient castle staircases and vaults and an innovative website illustrating the life of a child prisoner in the 1800s.
Contributed on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:15:59 GMT.
Accessibility, the right thing to do
http://sensiblesites.com/featured/accessibility-the-right-thing-to-do/
I will admit that when I first started designing websites, I did not think about making them accessible to people with disabilities. Of course I did do some things to make my designs accessible without realizing it - using tableless page layout, separating markup (html) from presentation (CSS), using well formed markup including heading tags and identifying images using alt tags - but there was no special effort, just working toward coding using web standards. When I started reading a bit more about accessibility though, I realized that there was much more to do and that I needed to consider more than those individuals who would experience a website via a screen reader. One must also consider visitors who are hearing impaired, those who cannot use a mouse (who may use a touch screen or only the keyboard), those who suffer from seizure disorders and those who may only be temporarily disabled.
Contributed on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:15:09 GMT.
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