Web Accessibility Anyone?

jomanila

jomanila

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Let's discuss about web accessibility from the point of view of a deaf person. I know most of the time, this topic is geared towards visually challenged people. What do the deaf community think about this?

By the way, I am Jojo Esposa, a hearing person although I have been working for the deaf since 1991. The website of our school Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf in the Philippines at www.mccid.edu.ph passed the accessibility standard set by www.cynthiasays.com and validated by w3c.org, the international web standards commission using xhtml 1.0 strict. I am also the only one in our country that is a member of Guild of Accessible Web Designers of UK.

Hey guys, what is your idea about this? Are we affected by this or not? Recent developments from google labs has created an accessible search engine. This means, websites that are accessible rank higher than those that not. I know that deaf loves flash animation, or anything that are flashy. But are you amenable for web accessibility? Care to comment?
 
Font size is very important and when you adjust the font size in Internet Explorer (View > Text Size), then this will depend on how they format their documents. Some developers lock font size to specific size and some do not.

There are some web developers who use absolute positioning for thier websites -- bad idea. By setting View > Text Size > Largest, there can be text that can overlap text boxes, but keep in mind that locking text size aren't a very good option. Why use absolute positioning wheras you can use a flow layout for adding in div tags, tables, etc.

Here's another thing: Presentation layer should be seperated from code layer. What do I mean by this? You can't use headers for paragraphs and menus. Headers can serve as a title, section, subsection, etc. This is why those who are blind and use a Braille display for tactile reading will find it confusion that paragraphs are enclosed with headers but they shouldn't.

Overall, HTML are used to represent text to the screen, along with showing images, etc. and table are used for representing data, so you might want to use div for title of main page, menu, etc. For images, you will need to include an alt="" attribute. Here's a difference between when you add a smiley with alt="" attribute and a smiley without an alt="" attribute as posted via an image tag.

An image with alt="" attribute:

:Owned:

An image without alt="" attribute:

owned.gif


So an image with an alt="" makes it more accessible to those with screen readers than an image without an alt="" attribute in an image tag. Just mouse over the two images (the "owned" image) to see a difference.
 
Thanks Grayson. I am quite familiar with the alt text and the font size. That is why I encourage web developers to use cascading style sheets instead of locking the font sizes. That way, presentation is separated from the commands. Are you blind too right? But how about those who are only deaf? Are they amenable to it? I am also an advocate of accessibility for all not just for the disabled sector.

:cheers:


GraysonPeddie said:
Font size is very important and when you adjust the font size in Internet Explorer (View > Text Size), then this will depend on how they format their documents. Some developers lock font size to specific size and some do not.

There are some web developers who use absolute positioning for thier websites -- bad idea. By setting View > Text Size > Largest, there can be text that can overlap text boxes, but keep in mind that locking text size aren't a very good option. Why use absolute positioning wheras you can use a flow layout for adding in div tags, tables, etc.

Here's another thing: Presentation layer should be seperated from code layer. What do I mean by this? You can't use headers for paragraphs and menus. Headers can serve as a title, section, subsection, etc. This is why those who are blind and use a Braille display for tactile reading will find it confusion that paragraphs are enclosed with headers but they shouldn't.

Overall, HTML are used to represent text to the screen, along with showing images, etc. and table are used for representing data, so you might want to use div for title of main page, menu, etc. For images, you will need to include an alt="" attribute. Here's a difference between when you add a smiley with alt="" attribute and a smiley without an alt="" attribute as posted via an image tag.

An image with alt="" attribute:

:Owned:

An image without alt="" attribute:

owned.gif


So an image with an alt="" makes it more accessible to those with screen readers than an image without an alt="" attribute in an image tag. Just mouse over the two images (the "owned" image) to see a difference.
Click to expand...
 
I'm blind on my left eye, but have vision on my right eye, but not perfect. :P

For the deaf, I'd say include captions for what the sound makes and for audio "podcasts" like if you're listening to what the speaker are saying through the microphone, a transcripts (a transcript contains everything what the speaker are saying, like closed caption in TV) must be included for those who are hearing impaired (I'm hearing impaired) or deaf.
 
Usability Guidelines

Thanks for the information guys. I'm actaully looking for a little research aroung the same topic. I'm currently doing a course at Banbridge Tec in N.ireland and we are researching Usability Guidelines, OS enhancments, Specialised Software, Input/ Output devices and existing enhanced websites. We have to gain information for all. We also have to find a person who is impaired and ask them about problems they might have encountered/ confusion that might have happened. Visual perception on sites or memor constaints.

any more information that you could shed would be much appreciated.

Thank You :fingersx:

Mark
 
Press hold SHIFT + ALT + Print can biggest fonts and color than IE's larger fonts
for only Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista and future but not support Windows 95, 98 and ME

you like it if not like press "setting" choose it and done

if you like it

people don't like it don't worry press SHIFT + ALT + Print back nmrmal

P.S. if you have Norton, Macfee, Defender can't change color, SHIFT+ALT+PRINT will work Color any Norton, MacAfee, etc...!!
but Start->Setting->Control Panel->Accessibility won't work, but only Shift+ALT+Print work!
 
GraysonPeddie said:
I'm blind on my left eye, but have vision on my right eye, but not perfect. :P

For the deaf, I'd say include captions for what the sound makes and for audio "podcasts" like if you're listening to what the speaker are saying through the microphone, a transcripts (a transcript contains everything what the speaker are saying, like closed caption in TV) must be included for those who are hearing impaired (I'm hearing impaired) or deaf.
Click to expand...


Yeah I love transcripts for news and that is very useful and when I design my websites, I try to make it accessiable to all and I'll test my sites using the Mac verision of Lynx so I know if it works for the blind.

When I use graphs, I like to leave a link for the blind so they can click on that and get a text verision of it.
 
I doubt a blind person will be coming to my Pokemon site any time soon but I am interested in ranking better in Google.

Can you provide some sort of article to back up your statement about more accessible websites being ranked better?
 
I am deaf and sometimes, Web sites play music, sounds or whatever. My hearing dog alerts me to any wierd sounds .... however, if Chance (dog) is outside, my husband will complain about my choice of music . ...

so there needs to be some visual clue there is sound . . .
 
There usually is, look around on the screen for what looks like media player controls and hit the 'stop' button.

Some also have it as a link, a box or a drop down menu.

And yet others are just stupid and embed background music. That's probably not a site that you want to be visiting in the first place.
 
Like to up this thread. Anyone having difficulty accessing popular web sites?
 
zeroality, don't make such an assumption- we're interested in and view pretty much any website you might.

As to the general of the topic, Deaf users could experience inaccessible content in many forms. Not captioning sound would be a clear one. If much of your sites audience is Deaf or HOH viewers, including videos in the local sign language could also be a valuable tool to web access, for those who English is not their first language. That's pretty much all I can think of.
 
I find too much graphics a problem. I have also difficulty reading PDF files. Is there any other deafblind here that can manage PDF. If so how do they do it? (Without using speech as I'm profoundly deaf).

When I first went on line I was also bothered by poor contrast and font styles. However I've since found a way round that by using the accessablility options on "internet options".
 
dreama said:
I find too much graphics a problem. I have also difficulty reading PDF files. Is there any other deafblind here that can manage PDF. If so how do they do it? (Without using speech as I'm profoundly deaf).

When I first went on line I was also bothered by poor contrast and font styles. However I've since found a way round that by using the accessablility options on "internet options".
Click to expand...

My Apple computer has a Universal Access preference to let you to zoom in big texts and graphics without a difficult reading. For hearing impaired, the screen will flash you in one second to let you know such like a beep sound instead.

I am pretty sure that your IBM PC has the universal access or a disability preference.
 
dreama, using the in-pdf zooming feature might help, as I know zoomtext does a shit job at it. However, setting zoomtext to yellow on black might help for some, depending on your level of visual impairment.

Also, one can convert a pdf back to plain text, which will allow you to format it as needed. it's on adobes site somewhere, i'd suggest you google it.

JAWS and other screen readers are not a world closed off if you're deaf- i'm going to assume you read braille, and investing in a decent 20 or 40 cell display could help you a great deal. I find it irreplaceable for long reading tasks. No more wrist-strain from dragging zoomtext around at 10! newer style braille displays can have some confusing navigations, but older styles can and often do only have 6 or 8 braille keys and a few navigation ends- it takes some effort to learn navigation within jaws, that's without a doubt true, and getting used to the display , but once you do - it can be a valuable tool.

hope that helps.
 
GraysonPeddie said:
Font size is very important and when you adjust the font size in Internet Explorer (View > Text Size), then this will depend on how they format their documents. Some developers lock font size to specific size and some do not.

There are some web developers who use absolute positioning for thier websites -- bad idea. By setting View > Text Size > Largest, there can be text that can overlap text boxes, but keep in mind that locking text size aren't a very good option. Why use absolute positioning wheras you can use a flow layout for adding in div tags, tables, etc.

Here's another thing: Presentation layer should be seperated from code layer. What do I mean by this? You can't use headers for paragraphs and menus. Headers can serve as a title, section, subsection, etc. This is why those who are blind and use a Braille display for tactile reading will find it confusion that paragraphs are enclosed with headers but they shouldn't.

Overall, HTML are used to represent text to the screen, along with showing images, etc. and table are used for representing data, so you might want to use div for title of main page, menu, etc. For images, you will need to include an alt="" attribute. Here's a difference between when you add a smiley with alt="" attribute and a smiley without an alt="" attribute as posted via an image tag.

An image with alt="" attribute:

:Owned:

An image without alt="" attribute:

owned.gif


So an image with an alt="" makes it more accessible to those with screen readers than an image without an alt="" attribute in an image tag. Just mouse over the two images (the "owned" image) to see a difference.
Click to expand...
That's one good example. I agree.

When making websites, there should be pictures AND text.

If it's picture that's showing text, be sure to have a text back-up.
 
Thanks Aleser.

Aleser said:
Also, one can convert a pdf back to plain text, which will allow you to format it as needed. it's on adobes site somewhere, i'd suggest you google it.
Click to expand...

Where? Could you provide me with a link?

JAWS and other screen readers are not a world closed off if you're deaf- i'm going to assume you read braille, and investing in a decent 20 or 40 cell display could help you a great deal. I find it irreplaceable for long reading tasks. No more wrist-strain from dragging zoomtext around at 10! newer style braille displays can have some confusing navigations, but older styles can and often do only have 6 or 8 braille keys and a few navigation ends- it takes some effort to learn navigation within jaws, that's without a doubt true, and getting used to the display , but once you do - it can be a valuable tool.

hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Yes. I do read braille. It's my prefered medium. I have thought a lot about getting a braille display. I've had them in the past. What puts me off though is the cost mainly as they are very expensive. They are also rather fragile. Especially when you share your home with other animals.

What system do you use?
 
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_onlinetools.html
That will allow you to convert to html or txt, I'd suggest html for zoom and txt for braille.

I primarily use an ALVA display. I haven't had many problems aside from a few stuck braille keys that were (mostly) very easily serviced. I use JAWS as my screenreader with that. I have windows XP (home, I think) One thing to consider: sometimes, you can get them ALOT cheaper used. I've seen pacmates with 20 cell displays go on ebay for 500usd, which is really, really cheap. Also, push to get funding through your local rehab departments. I can understand the struggle to keep up with the prices- I've done my share of "You said that cost -how- much?!" with some of those nicer 80 cell deals.
 
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