<div>Interesting article!</div><div> </div><div>I usually have been very adept in convert university textbooks through a long process of scanning, and conversion so the Kuzweil text to speech literacy software (assistive technology for reading) can read it to students with learning and physical disabilities. But you will be surprised that although textbooks have the ebook version, it does not have the braille version so our visual-impaired students rely on Kurzweil. Another issue is that most of the college coursework are online. For instance, C-engage Learning has APLIA that streamlines access to coursework in the hope that it will increase student engagement. Our Visual-impaired students use the JAWS (Job Access with Screen) screen reader when they access their coursework online. If not, their accommodations allow them to go to the testing center where the questions are read to them aloud. I agree that students have better access to screen readers and accommodations while they're in school. After school, it's totally a different ballgame. It also boils down to small and large scale business knowing that they should hire web developers who are aware of ADA compliance. There is an accessibility checklist published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, just FYI to some:</div>
<div> </div><div>* Every image, video file, audio file, plug-in, etc. has an alt tag<li> Complex graphics are accompanied by detailed text descriptions</li><li> The alt descriptions describe the purpose of the objects</li>
<li> If an image is also used as a link, make sure the alt tag describes the graphic and the link destination</li><li> Decorative graphics with no other function have empty alt descriptions (alt= "")</li><li> Add captions to videos</li>
<li> Add audio descriptions</li><li> Create text transcript</li><li> Create a link to the video rather than embedding it into web pages</li><li> Add a link to the media player download</li><li> Add an additional link to the text transcript</li>
<li> The page should provide alternative links to the Image Map</li><li> The <area> tags must contain an <em>alt</em> attribute</li><li> Data tables have the column and row headers appropriately identified (using the <th> tag)</li>
<li> Tables used strictly for layout purposes do NOT have header rows or columns</li><li> Table cells are associated with the appropriate headers (e.g. with the id, headers, scope and/or axis HTML attributes)</li><li> Make sure the page does not contain repeatedly flashing images</li>
<li> Check to make sure the page does not contain a strobe effect</li><li> A link is provided to a disability-accessible page where the plug-in can be downloaded</li><li>All Java applets, scripts and plug-ins (including Acrobat PDF files and PowerPoint files, etc.) and the content within them are accessible to assistive technologies, or else an alternative means of accessing equivalent content is provided</li>
<li>When form controls are text input fields use the LABEL element</li><li> When text is not available use the title attribute</li><li> Include any special instructions within field labels</li><li> Make sure that form fields are in a logical tab order</li>
<li> Include a ‘Skip Navigation' button to help those using text readers</li></div><div> </div><div>If you think about it, web accessibility is really easy to understand. Web developers just need to COMPLY.</div><div>
</div><div>Charity Embley<br></div><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 22, 2013 at 8:08 PM, Suresh Ramasubramanian <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:suresh@hserus.net" target="_blank">suresh@hserus.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid" class="gmail_quote"><div><div>Thanks for sharing these. Please connect with Arun Mehta (<a href="http://skid.org.in" target="_blank">skid.org.in</a> and <a href="http://bapsi.org" target="_blank">bapsi.org</a>) if you haven't already. </div>
<div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:100%">--srs</div></div><div><div class="h5"><br><br><br>-------- Original message --------<br>From: Catherine Roy <<a href="mailto:ecrire@catherine-roy.net" target="_blank">ecrire@catherine-roy.net</a>> <br>
Date: 07/23/2013 6:14 AM (GMT+05:30) <br>To: <a href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" target="_blank">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a> <br>Subject: [governance] Blind Community Fights for a More Accessible Web <br>
<br><br>Hello all,<br><br>In an effort to create more awareness and discourse on tis list <br>regarding accessibility issues for people with disabilities with ICTs, I <br>will occasionally be sending out links to articles or resources on this <br>
subject. I hope members will take an interest and think about how they <br>can further integrate this important dimension of the digital divide <br>into their work.<br><br>The following article is from <a href="http://mashable.com" target="_blank">mashable.com</a> and while it speaks to issues <br>
that people with visually impairments face on the Web, I would add that <br>other types of disabilities (auditory, mobility, cognitive, learning) <br>all face challenges in this regard.<br><br>It is always surprising to me that in ths day and age, all this still <br>
needs saying.<br><br><<a href="http://mashable.com/2013/07/18/blind-internet/" target="_blank">http://mashable.com/2013/07/18/blind-internet/</a>><br><br>I am always available for questions or to point to resources, whether on <br>
list or off.<br><br>Best regards,<br><br><br>Catherine<br><br><br>-- <br>Catherine Roy<br><a href="http://www.catherine-roy.net" target="_blank">http://www.catherine-roy.net</a><br><br><br><br></div></div></div><br>____________________________________________________________<br>
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