tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45663468820146807822024-02-19T07:26:00.168-08:00Accessibility DivaKathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-6292435319938217272018-03-15T10:27:00.001-07:002018-03-15T10:27:58.159-07:00Sonar: Microsoft’s Free New Tool Tells You How Good Your Website Really Is(Shared from noupe.com)<br />
<br />
In the past, Microsoft was not known as a business that cared about web standards. However, at least since the new browser Edge, Microsoft tries to stick to HTML and CSS standards. Now, there’s a new tool called <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://sonarwhal.com/" rel="noopener external noreferrer" target="_blank">Sonar</a>, which checks if websites meet the standards, and tests them regarding optimization options and safety issues.<br />
<br />
Sonar checks your website in five different categories: Accessibility, HTML validity, Optimization Suggestions For Faster Websites, Support for Progressive Web Applications (PWA), and assessing Security Gaps.<br />
<br />
Original post at: <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.noupe.com/design/sonar-microsofts-free-new-tool-tells-you-how-good-your-website-really-is.html" rel="external noopener noreferrer">https://www.noupe.com/design/sonar-microsofts-free-new-tool-tells-you-how-good-your-website-really-is.html</a>Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-46914549014097212342016-09-28T08:12:00.000-07:002016-09-28T08:12:03.732-07:00Web Accessibility: Why It Matters and What Governments Can Do About ItAn informative article on the Government Technology web site: <a href="http://www.govtech.com/opinion/Web-Accessibility-Why-It-Matters-Industry-Perspective.html" target="_blank">Web Accessibility: Why It Matters and What Governments Can Do About It</a>.<br />
<br />
Intro: More and more government services are going online, but if the website isn't accessible to people with disabilities, then millions of Americans are being excluded from vital civic services.Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-54714273248619004252015-01-30T13:24:00.001-08:002015-01-30T13:36:55.767-08:00Nine common accessibility issues affecting websitesAccess iQ has published <a href="http://www.accessiq.org/news/features/2015/01/nine-common-accessibility-issues-affecting-websites">a
list</a> of the nine most common errors they run into when performing website
accessibility audits - one of the worst (Captcha) is at the very end of the
list. What they don't say is that Captcha's are often difficult to use by
people <i><b>without</b></i> disabilities - is that an 'O' or a '0'? An '8' or a 'B'? <br />
<br />
I always have a very hard time using them. There's got to be a better way - they do list some alternatives in the
article.Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-34028790413597381672014-04-21T07:53:00.000-07:002014-04-21T07:53:00.410-07:00INDATA Project Offers Free Training on Assistive Technology BasicsThe<a href="http://www.eastersealstech.com/about/the-indiana-assistive-technology-indata-project/" target="_blank"> INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads</a> is offering a free full-day training program for those individuals interested in learning about the basics of assistive technology.<br />
<br />
“Assistive Technology 101” takes place Thursday, May 15 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the fifth floor conference room at Easter Seals Crossroads, located at 4740 Kingsway Drive in Indianapolis.<br />
<br />
The agenda includes funding sources for assistive technology as well as assistive technology and iPad apps for those individuals with vision, physical and cognitive impairments.<br />
<br />
Anyone interested in learning more about the basics of assistive technology should attend this free training. This includes vocational rehabilitation counselors, social workers, parents, educators, students, professionals and health care providers.<br />
<br />
“This continues to be one of our most popular training topics,” said INDATA Director Wade Wingler. “Anyone who wants to learn or get a refresher on assistive technology basics will benefit from this training content. We will focus on how assistive technology can benefit people with hearing loss, vision impairments, mobility and communication needs as well as learning difficulties.”<br />
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Attendees can register for onsite or online participation in the training at <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/assistive-technology-101-tickets-11004666253" target="_blank">EventBrite</a>.Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-33220989380241125622014-04-07T08:33:00.002-07:002014-04-07T08:33:58.107-07:00Does your mobile phone's browser allow you to select your own colors for web pages?In looking at WCAG 2.0 and how it applies to mobile devices, I've run into a bit of a pickle and I'm hoping the readers of this post can help me out.<br />
<br />
I am looking specifically at <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/#visual-audio-contrast-visual-presentation" target="_blank">Guideline 1.4 Distinguishable: Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background</a>. Under 1.4.8 Visual Presentation: For the visual presentation of blocks of text, a mechanism is available to achieve the following: (Level AAA). 1. Foreground and background colors can be selected by the user. The problem is, however, that even if a page meets this guideline, the browser may not provide a way for the user to create and access their own stylesheet.<br />
<br />
For example, the Chrome browser that runs on the Windows desktop offers High Contrast and Custom Color Support by way of <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/change-colors/jbmkekhehjedonbhoikhhkmlapalklgn" target="_blank">a Chrome extension called "Change Colors"</a>.<br />
<br />
Internet Explorer on the Windows desktop offers these options from within the browser settings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9AiOJnvTJFmnNtaWJQwOWjfR8rAJy6zbkvezDcQZHs5_r8BkpzYq5cXfS1UoJATyERc0_wS1PI3qdjKuZYnM6b97sLNEMjNeT2B0C5Xk6no0DDVyi8AA14-wKlB2Kqo2zmRs_fM8OLc/s1600/desktop_internet_explorer.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="screenshot of Internet Explorer's Accessibility options" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9AiOJnvTJFmnNtaWJQwOWjfR8rAJy6zbkvezDcQZHs5_r8BkpzYq5cXfS1UoJATyERc0_wS1PI3qdjKuZYnM6b97sLNEMjNeT2B0C5Xk6no0DDVyi8AA14-wKlB2Kqo2zmRs_fM8OLc/s1600/desktop_internet_explorer.gif" height="271" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHtZrj4kySSqMQ4pUzPoqeA4zMSxJgnFeSuPNcWY5E-iLNoTuCtpZTQNvkq4yHGrGDoaTk5D0dxuuvEAvPgMgprTX-Ch13phRy30Zf6lFVTAdPE-yR1rRLWG0uEMQRgRhMj42NNUdd_o/s1600/android_chrome.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="screenshot of accessibility options in Android's Chrome browser" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHtZrj4kySSqMQ4pUzPoqeA4zMSxJgnFeSuPNcWY5E-iLNoTuCtpZTQNvkq4yHGrGDoaTk5D0dxuuvEAvPgMgprTX-Ch13phRy30Zf6lFVTAdPE-yR1rRLWG0uEMQRgRhMj42NNUdd_o/s1600/android_chrome.gif" /></a><br />
However, even though the Chrome browser that runs on the Android phone does offer a couple of Accessibility options (Text scaling and Force enable zoom), it doesn't provide a way for the user to select their own custom colors for the page.<br />
<br />
I hope, in time, the ability to let the user select their own colors will be added to mobile browsers.<br />
<br />
The roadblock I've run into, though, is that I only have an Android phone to check. If you have read this far, and have either an iPhone, Windows Phone or a Blackberry, could you let me know in the comments what Accessibility options are available for the browser you use most often on your phone?<br />
<br />
Thanks very much.<br />
<br />
<br />Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-76880726979201178912014-01-20T06:30:00.001-08:002014-01-20T06:30:28.920-08:00How to set up and use the Accessibility options on your iPad<p>The <a href="http://www.eastersealstech.com/about/the-indiana-assistive-technology-indata-project/" target="_blank">INDiana Assistive Technology (INDATA) Project</a> has published another series of videos; this series is about Accessibility on the iPad.</p> <p><a href="http://www.eastersealstech.com/2013/12/30/monday-tech-tip-ipad-accessibility-part-1-of-3/" target="_blank">Part 1 of the series</a> teaches you how to turn on <a href="http://www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/voiceover/" target="_blank">VoiceOver</a> and set up other accessibility options.</p> <p><a href="http://www.eastersealstech.com/2014/01/06/monday-tech-tip-ipad-accessibility-part-2-of-3/" target="_blank">Part 2 of the series</a> shows you how to work with the Contacts app by using the Dictate option to add the first and last name of the contact. </p> <p><a href="http://www.eastersealstech.com/2014/01/13/monday-tech-tip-ipad-accessibility-part-3-of-3/" target="_blank">Part 3 of the series</a> show you how to add a phone number to the contact by turning on Handwriting mode. </p> <p>I watched all 3 videos this morning – unfortunately, I couldn’t follow along because I don’t have an iPad – yet.</p> Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-7646434733544882272014-01-16T12:19:00.001-08:002014-01-16T12:19:02.968-08:00Licensed users of Microsoft Office can get Window- Eyes for free<p>Thanks to a partnership between Microsoft and GW Micro, licensed users of Microsoft Office (2010 or later) can get a copy of <a href="http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/" target="_blank">Window-Eyes</a>, a screen reader for Windows PCs, for free. You can get more information at <a href="http://www.windoweyesforoffice.com/" target="_blank">the Window-Eyes Offer for Users of Microsoft Office web site.</a></p> Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-54348059208034204212014-01-08T12:36:00.004-08:002014-01-16T12:33:19.674-08:00How to use the accessibility features built into Windows 8 (Videos) I've been doing some research as part of my work with the <a href="http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/mobile-a11y-tf/" target="_blank">W3C WAI Mobile Accessibility Task Force</a>, looking for resources on Windows 8 Accessibility, specifically for the Microsoft Surface. I found a collection of videos created by the <a href="http://www.ncatp.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Assistive Technology Program</a> that I thought might be helpful to my readers.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://vimeo.com/66648993" target="_blank">Ease of Access Center in Windows 8</a></li>
<li><a href="http://vimeo.com/66117244" target="_blank">Magnifier in Windows 8</a></li>
<li><a href="http://vimeo.com/66898712" target="_blank">Windows On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 8</a></li>
<li><a href="http://vimeo.com/66916936" target="_blank">Windows Speech Recognition in Windows 8</a></li>
<li><a href="http://vimeo.com/66911389" target="_blank">Narrator on a Windows 8 Touch Tablet</a></li>
</ul>
These are just a few of the videos created by the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program available on Vimeo - check out <a href="http://vimeo.com/user14965918" target="_blank">the complete list of their videos</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-3266144251048718732014-01-07T06:52:00.003-08:002014-01-16T12:33:40.880-08:00How to find accessible apps in the Windows StoreDid you know that you can set your preferences in the Windows Store so it's easier for you to find apps that are built with accessibility features? Here's how:<br />
<br />
On the Start screen, tap or click Store to open the Windows Store.<br />
<ul>
<li>If you are using a touchscreen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings.</li>
<li>If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings.</li>
<li>If you are using a Microsoft Surface and have a keyboard attached, press the Settings charm on the keyboard.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Tap or click Preferences.<br />
<br />
Choose the "Make it easier to find apps that include accessibility features" preference to turn it on. By doing this the Windows Store will only show you apps that meet accessibility requirements (determined by the publisher) when you search or browse the Store.<br />
<br />Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-30271592415098045372013-12-14T07:57:00.001-08:002013-12-14T07:57:39.477-08:00W3C opens registration for Mobile Web Apps course - early bird rate available if you register before December 25, 2013The <a href="http://www.w3devcampus.com/writing-great-web-applications-for-mobile/">W3C
Mobile Web 2: Programming Applications</a> online course is back! Now <a href="http://www.w3techcourses.com/enrol/index.php?id=62">open
for registration</a> and to start on 13 January 2014, this course covers all
techniques for programming successful mobile Web applications that can ship both
online and in application stores. You will have access to high quality content
material, be trained by a first-class expert, and learn step by step. <a href="http://www.w3techcourses.com/enrol/index.php?id=62">Register</a> before
25 December 2013 to benefit from the early bird rate. Learn more about <a href="http://www.w3devcampus.com/">W3DevCampus</a>, the W3C online training for Web developers.Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-80526853355363488312013-10-07T11:29:00.000-07:002013-10-07T11:29:36.075-07:00A new tool in my Accessibility Toolbox - The WAVE Toolbar for FirefoxIn <a href="http://www.eastersealstech.com/2013/10/07/monday-tech-tip-web-accessibility-part-2/" target="_blank">Part 2 of INDATA's Web Accessibility series</a>, Wade Wingler, Director of Assistive Technology at the INDATA Project, introduces <a href="http://wave.webaim.org/toolbar/" target="_blank">The WAVE Toolbar for Firefox</a>. The WAVE (web accessibility evaluation tool) Firefox toolbar provides an automated way to run WAVE reports directly within Firefox.<br />
<br />
It provides you with information about your web page in four different ways:<br />
<ul>
<li>Errors, Features, and Alerts</li>
<li>Structure/Order View</li>
<li>Text-only View</li>
<li>Outline View</li>
</ul>
Text-only View is especially useful if you want to see what a screen reader would read out loud about your page.
Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-86582705061040788492013-10-06T13:18:00.003-07:002013-10-06T13:18:49.107-07:00W3C WAI Mobile Accessibility Task Force - Seeking ParticipationThe W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) has established a <a href="http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/mobile-a11y-tf/" target="_blank">Mobile Accessibility Task Force</a> to develop more specific guidance on mobile accessibility related to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and UAAG (User Agent Accessibility Guidelines).<br />
<br />
The Mobile Accessibility Task Force expects to:<br />
<ul>
<li>develop mobile techniques for WCAG using HTML5, ARIA, CSS and JavaScript</li>
<li>develop design guidance or mobile web accessibility best practices</li>
<li>review existing resources, including those outside of W3C</li>
</ul>
The Task Force seeks to bring together individuals and organizations to contribute to this W3C/WAI work.<br />
<ul>
<li>Active participation in the Task Force takes about 4 hours per week, including teleconferences.</li>
<li>Participation is through either the WCAG Working Group or the UAAG Working Group.</li>
<li>More about participation is at <a href="http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/mobile-a11y-tf/#participation" style="color: #552299;">http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/mobile-a11y-tf/#participation</a></li>
</ul>
More at: <a href="http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/2013OctDec/0000.html">http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/2013OctDec/0000.html</a>Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-30647712497170854412013-10-05T11:02:00.001-07:002013-10-05T11:02:33.551-07:00Make the Internet Accessible for AllMany years ago, when I was working for state government, I wrote an article for civic.com (now <a href="http://fcw.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Federal Computer Week</a>), titled "<a href="http://fcw.com/articles/1999/12/05/make-the-internet-accessible-for-all.aspx" target="_blank">Make the Internet Accessible for All</a>." I discovered today that the article is still online after all those years (14 to be exact). After reading through it, I realized that most of what I wrote back then still applies today (except for my contact information), so I thought I would share the article with my readers and get your feedback.<br />
<br />
I also found a couple of other articles on the Federal Computer Week web site that reference the work we were doing back then to make our state government web sites accessible: <a href="http://fcw.com/articles/2000/10/02/enabling-the-disabled.aspx" target="_blank">Enabling the disabled</a> and <a href="http://fcw.com/articles/1999/04/11/connecticut-legislature-launches-cspan-on-the-web.aspx" id="ph_pcontent2_1_ResultsLV_ctrl3_LinkTitle" target="_blank">Connecticut Legislature Launches 'CSPAN' on the Web</a>.Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-74870545796438450872013-10-04T10:20:00.002-07:002013-10-04T10:20:49.907-07:00Verizon adds support for TalkBack in a firmware update available today for the HTC DROID DNATalkBack is an Accessibility Service that helps blind and vision-impaired users interact with their devices more easily. This application adds spoken, audible, and vibration feedback to your device. It is a system application that was pre-installed on most devices and is updated when the accessibility service is improved. TalkBack is available for download at the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.marvin.talkback">Google Play Store</a>.<br />
<br />
Today Verizon is making an update available <a href="http://support.verizonwireless.com/content/dam/support/pdf/system_update/droid-dna.pdf" target="_blank">to add support for TalkBack to the HTC DROID DNA</a>. After the update, you should be at Version 2.07.605.1 710RD. During the install, it will optimize all the apps on your phone to be more compatible with TalkBack.Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-48110281147658498362013-10-02T08:35:00.002-07:002013-10-02T08:49:35.400-07:00Why is web site accessibility important?In Part 1 of a 3 part series, Wade Winger, Director of Assistive Technology at the INDATA Project, explains <a href="http://www.eastersealstech.com/2013/09/30/monday-tech-tip-part-1-of-web-accessibility-tips-from-the-indata-project/" target="_blank">why accessibility is important when building a website</a> and conducts a short demo on how people using Voice Over on a Mac computer access a web page.<br />
Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-10892160642791631912013-10-01T09:49:00.000-07:002013-10-01T09:49:14.153-07:00United States Access Board a casualty of the Federal Government Shut-DownFrom an email I received this morning:<br />
<br />
Because of the absence of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 appropriation, the Access
Board is compelled to "shut-down" its operations. All Access Board employees
have been placed in a furlough status. During the shut-down we will not be
providing the following services:<br />
<ul>
<li>Complaint processing under the Architectural Barriers Act</li>
<li>Guidelines and standards development</li>
<li>Webinars</li>
<li>Training</li>
<li>Technical assistance</li>
<li>Website maintenance and updates</li>
<li>Publications fulfillment</li>
</ul>
We will return to work once a continuing resolution or an FY 2014
appropriation has been signed into law.Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-89382421528035225302013-07-24T12:23:00.002-07:002013-07-24T12:23:44.575-07:00U.S. Access Board Launches Redesigned Website<!--[if !mso]>
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<div class="style1">
<img align="right" alt="New site homepage" height="205" src="http://www.access-board.gov/images/images/new-site.jpg" width="233" /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The U.S. Access Board has redesigned its <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTMwNzIyLjIxMzY4OTUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDEzMDcyMi4yMTM2ODk1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NjkwNzg2JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2F0aGxlZW4uYW5kZXJzb25Ac3BpZGVyd2Vid29tYW4uY29tJnVzZXJpZD1rYXRobGVlbi5hbmRlcnNvbkBzcGlkZXJ3ZWJ3b21hbi5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.access-board.gov">website</a>,
a leading resource on accessible design. The new site improves navigation so
that the various resources available from the Board are easier to locate and
search through. These include copies of all Board guidelines and standards and
related information, such as companion guides and research reports. Site
content is more clearly organized by subject matter across the different areas
of accessibility addressed by the Board's work. The site also features enhanced
search options and page layouts that improve usability and make related
information easier to access.</span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Check out the new site
at <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTMwNzIyLjIxMzY4OTUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDEzMDcyMi4yMTM2ODk1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NjkwNzg2JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2F0aGxlZW4uYW5kZXJzb25Ac3BpZGVyd2Vid29tYW4uY29tJnVzZXJpZD1rYXRobGVlbi5hbmRlcnNvbkBzcGlkZXJ3ZWJ3b21hbi5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.access-board.gov">www.access-board.gov</a>
and be sure to update any bookmarks to internal pages. Comments or questions
about the site should be directed to Bruce Bailey, the Board’s webmaster, at <a href="mailto:webmaster@access-board.gov">webmaster@access-board.gov</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-71942444753879604452013-06-25T08:26:00.004-07:002013-06-25T08:26:53.028-07:00United States Access Board Webinar on Accessible Web SitesAccessible websites will be the subject of the next webinar in the United States Access Board's free monthly series to be held on July 11, 2013, from 2:30 - 4 pm (ET). This session will review requirements in the internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, also known as WCAG 2.0, issued by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The Board, which is updating its Section 508 standards for information and communication technology, has proposed referencing the WCAG 2.0 to address web accessibility.<br />
<br />
The webinar series is made available in cooperation with the ADA National Network. For more information, including registration instructions, visit <a href="http://www.accessibilityonline.org/" target="_blank">http://www.accessibilityonline.org/</a> <a href="http://www.accessibilityonline.org/"></a>. Questions for the webinars can be submitted in advance through this website. Archived copies of previous Board webinars are also available on the site. Webinar attendees can earn continuing education credits (CEUs).
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-19038346746662778522013-06-10T10:54:00.001-07:002013-06-10T10:54:04.390-07:00Easy Checks - A First Review of Web AccessibilityThe Web Accessibility Initiative at the W3C has published <a href="http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/preliminary" target="_blank">Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility</a>. Easy Checks help you assess the accessibility of a web page. With these simple steps, you can get an idea whether or not accessibility is addressed in even the most basic way.<br />
<br />
These checks cover just a few accessibility issues and are designed to be quick and easy, rather than definitive. A web page could seem to pass these checks, yet still have accessibility barriers. More robust evaluation is needed to evaluate all issues comprehensively.<br />
<br />
It addresses the following issues that need to be checked and addressed to ensure your web site is accessible to people with disabilities:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Page title </li>
<li>Image text alternatives ("alt text") (pictures, illustrations, charts, etc.) </li>
<li>Text: Headings, Contrast ratio ("color contrast"), Zoom </li>
<li>Interaction: Keyboard access and visual focus, Forms and errors, Multimedia (video, audio) alternatives</li>
</ul>
Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-71446658827692373242012-01-27T11:39:00.000-08:002012-01-27T11:39:39.208-08:00New Web Standards for the Government of CanadaThe Government of Canada has replaced its Common Look and Feel standard with <a href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/ws-nw/index-eng.asp">new Standards on Web Accessibility and Web Usability</a>. Their website provides guidance on implementing the new Web standards and demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to delivering websites that are more accessible and usable.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-22487515910261143352011-12-15T08:28:00.000-08:002011-12-15T08:28:57.572-08:00New free add-ins boost accessibility for Office 2010<p>Microsoft wants to make sure customers of all abilities can use Microsoft Office to get their work done. Last spring we released beta versions of two Office add-ins that make working with Office docs easier for people with hearing and print disabilities. We received lots of helpful feedback from people in the accessibility community, and made significant changes and improvements to them.
<p>Today, we're happy to announce that STAMP and Save as DAISY Word 2010 are out of beta and ready for everyone to use!
<p>Subtitling Add-In for Microsoft PowerPoint (STAMP) lets you add closed captions to the video and audio files in PowerPoint presentations, which means people with hearing disabilities can more fully experience and understand them.
<p>Save as DAISY for Office 2010 builds upon our partnership with the DAISY Consortium. This add-in lets Microsoft Word users convert Word Open XML files to the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) format. Don't worry if you can't remember what the acronyms stand for. What matters is that Save as Daisy powers digital talking books and compatible software, and braille readers for those with print disabilities.
<p>This version supports Office 2003, 2007 and 2010, and works in all the languages Office currently supports around the world.
<p>Read more and downloads at: <a href="http://blogs.office.com/b/office_blog/archive/2011/12/15/new-microsoft-office-2010-accessibility-add-ins.aspx">Office Blogs</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-51169989029604162272011-11-08T07:48:00.000-08:002011-11-08T07:48:20.638-08:00Best Android Apps and Options for Persons with DisabilitiesWith the swiftness with which technology has drastically changed over the years, it can be easy to get so caught up in all the hype and excitement of how the latest gadgets have transformed how we live. For techies and the younger generation, getting up to speed and adapting to the change in our lifestyles is a breeze. But, for some others, catching up is somewhat akin to a chore, and so they are, quite sadly and unintentionally, left in the dust.
Not to worry, though. Android and app developers are becoming more and more sensitive to the special accessibility needs of our friends with disabilities. Apps and mobile operating systems are now designed with these users’ ease of use and convenience in mind.
Read more about this at <a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-apps-and-options-for-persons-with-disabilities-31045/">Android Authority</a>, including options for the visually impaired, options for the hearing impaired and options for the mobility impaired.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-40724244891030529142011-11-03T08:40:00.000-07:002011-11-03T08:40:27.360-07:00Advanced Academics makes online learning accessible to students with disabilities<p>OKLAHOMA CITY: Advanced Academics, a nationally recognized online learning provider, announced today that it has modified more than 100 courses to become compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, making them accessible to hearing and visually impaired students. The organization plans to release 50 additional courses compliant with Section 508 by the end of January 2012. The revised courses have been approved as section 508 compliant by the Digital Learning Department of the Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.</p>
<p>“We are proud that Advanced Academics is leading the effort to offer online courses compliant with Section 508,” said Jeffrey A. Elliott, President, Advanced Academics . “This project was an enormous undertaking that involved people from across our organization. Making our online courses available to hearing and visually impaired students supports Advanced Academics’ mission to help all students graduate from high school and succeed in life.”</p>
<p>Accommodations for hearing impaired students include the addition of closed captioning to audiovisual course content. Transcripts of audiovisual content are also available, allowing hearing impaired students to read information contained in videos and audio clips.</p>
<p>More at: <a href="http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2011/11/03/advanced-academics-makes-online-learning-accessible-to-students-with-disabilities/">Global Accessibility News</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-57552394438130444032011-11-02T12:35:00.000-07:002011-11-02T12:36:38.169-07:00Designing Accessible Web Forms On-Line Course starts November 14th, 2011• Course Dates: November 14th to December 6th (3.5 weeks)<br />
<br />
• Times: Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00-4:00pm Central Time (Chicago Local Time)<br />
<br />
• Location: Online using Elluminate web conferencing software<br />
<br />
• Instructor: Jon Gunderson, University of Illinois<br />
<br />
• Cost: $295 for general public ($245 for WOW members, educators, and government employees)<br />
<br />
• Registration Link: <a href="http://webprotraining.org/accessible-forms-course">http://webprotraining.org/accessible-forms-course</a> <br />
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• More information at: <a href="http://formsonline.cita.illinois.edu/">http://formsonline.cita.illinois.edu/</a> <br />
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Problems of Accessible Web Forms<br />
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A recent survey of over 26,000 web pages found from 188 university websites found that less than 50% of the web pages that have form controls use proper labeling for accessibility. Creating web forms that are accessible to people with disabilities requires understanding of the labeling features of HTML markup and how browsers interpret labeling markup for assistive technologies like screen readers. The course will start by using simulations to help participants understand the issues people with disabilities face when using the web. Participants will learn the basics of labeling form controls, how to indicate required controls and provide feedback on invalid responses in a way that is usable to people with disabilities. Examples of more complex labeling of form controls for dates, phone numbers, validation codes and high density surveys will be included in the course. Participants will learn CSS techniques to layout form controls without using tables and how to highlight the active form control using CSS pseudo elements. The last part of the course will provide a preview of the form labeling capabilities of the new Accessibility Rich Internet Accessibility (ARIA) specifications which provide new capabilities to label form controls and provide accessible feedback on form validation as required by the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.<br />
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Who Should Participate in the Course?<br />
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This course is designed for web developers interested in learning about the disability access issues faced by people with disabilities in using the web and how web forms can be designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. Participants should be familiar with HTML coding and the form elements. Knowledge of basic CSS techniques and javascripting will be helpful, but not a required part of the course.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566346882014680782.post-35235180671094410612010-01-06T12:23:00.000-08:002010-01-06T12:33:29.195-08:00Take a few minutes to encourage web accessibility. You can make a difference. - W3C BlogShawn Henry blogs about what to do when you try and use a web site that is inaccessible. To help make this easier and hopefully more effective, <strong style="font-weight: normal;">WAI just published:<br /> <a href="http://www.w3.org/WAI/users/inaccessible">Contacting Organizations about Inaccessible Websites</a>. It walks through steps, provides lots of tips, and includes sample e-mails.</strong> Read more at:<br /><a href="http://www.w3.org/QA/2010/01/encourage_accessibility_make_a_difference.html">Take a few minutes to encourage web accessibility. You can make a difference. - W3C Blog</a>Kathleen Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06921461452736295229noreply@blogger.com1