Re: Hello?

Web accessibility issues are not just for poeple who are visually impaired.
There are a lot of other disabilities that come into play with the WWW like
motor disabilities, lack of hearing and cognitive disabilities. Many times
potential users of a website are turned away because they can't use the site.

One major concern of a text only site is that you now have two sites to
maintain. This can be a big deal especially with a dynamic site/database driven
site where more than one person is updating information.

Have you ever tried using a screen reader or some of the other assistive
technology. I have for learning purposes, to see how these tools are used. Give
it a try and remember, its not just 100% blind people that these accessibility
guidelines  are created for.

To learn more try visiting
http://www.awarecenter.org/
It's the HWG's accessible web authoring resources and education center

Mike


Lauren Hanka wrote:

> I'm here John, and have been watching with hesitated interest. Please, be
> don't be disgusted, but I find accessibility issues annoying. Tell me why
> one must study, on top of all the other studies that are required to keep up
> with this ever-changing, and highly competitive field, to make a site
> accessible for the visually impaired, when if this is desired, all that's
> really needed, as far as I understand, is make a "text only" duplicate of an
> existing site? Am I wrong? Short-sighted? After all, the Web, *is* a
> visually based medium, as is television. Of course, I am in agreement that
> easily accessible *information* be available for the visually impaired on
> the net, just annoyed that a separate and specialized technique must be
> learned and employed to make a basically visual site easier to see for the
> visually impaired --it just doesn't make sense in the efficiency department.
>
> On the other hand --since North American governments are establishing
> compliancy requirements, and since there are so few designers with knowledge
> in this area, I'm game to learn...
>
> Just my quick, unguarded, and conflicting personal thoughts...
> Lauren
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Foliot - Another 4:00 AM Web Thing" <foliot(at)fouram.com>
> To: <aware-techniques(at)hwg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 10:31 AM
> Subject: Hello?
>
> > This appears to be the sleepiest list I've ever subscribed to.  What's the
> > problem? Are there really no issues, or does nobody but a very small group
> > of us actually care?
> >
> > - Yesterday I received an eMail from the good folk at M*crom*dia (names
> > changed to protect the innocent) who have put on a travelling road show to
> > demonstrate the accessibility features in a number of their applications
> > (both graphic and code tools).  Has anyone been to any of these demos in
> > their home town?  Is it worth investing half a day of dog and pony show?
> > Inquiring minds want to know...
> >
> > - As a Canadian web developer located in Ottawa, Ontario, list members
> might
> > be interested in the following fact:  The Canadian Federal Government has
> > mandated all federal web sites be compliant to the Level 1 and Level 2 WAI
> > Guidelines, similar to the Section 508 statute in the US, but, to my
> > understanding, stricter.  Can anybody confirm or deny this fact?
> >
> > - There is a dire need for developers who are both aware and able to code
> to
> > these standards... hint<wink>.  The Canadian government has provided a
> > testing group to assist governmental employees who actually work on
> federal
> > sites (http://www.cio-dpi.gc.ca/clf-upe/1/wats/wats_e.asp) to help them
> > identify and correct potential problems.  Attendees consistently ask if
> > there are any "real time" support mechanisms out there.  I would love to
> > recommend this list, but the last posting was dated October 8th, 2001.
> >
> > So, show of hands... is there anybody out there?
> >
> > JF
> > Ottawa, Ont.

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