Not only did I wipe Lemmings from my hard disc, I overwrote it so's I couldn't get it back. Terry Pratchett on alt.fan.pratchett
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Implementing WCAG 2.0
Mike Cherim has recently published an article on implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0 based on his experience of developing a AAA web site — 1 of only 2 AAA sites currently acknowledged by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).
His advice and personal approach to future development pretty much confirms the same points that I was reaching with regard to WCAG 2.0. Having intitially staggered away from the draft documents with head reeling and a feeling of “How on earth am I going to work within this?
“, I’ve since taken a step back and decided that, since Real World access issues are not going to be affected by a change of guideline from version 1 to version 2, neither should my overall approach — which is to continue doing the best job I can.
WebVisum
WebVisum is a new Firefox extension that greatly enhances web accessibility and empowers the blind and visually impaired community by putting the control in their hands.
Features include:
- Community driven tagging and page enhancements.
- CAPTCHA support, sign up to web sites and make forum posts and blog comments without asking for help!
- Built in helper functions for easier page navigation and less confusion.
- Numerous under the hood page tweaks designed to help screen reader users.
- High contrast page option
- Link and focus highlighting
The extension’s developers recommend the following for screen reader users:
- JAWS 8 or later.
- Window-Eyes beta 7 or later
The free and open source NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) screen reader0.6p1 or later.
Currently, the extension is only available for Firefox 3 running on Windows but the WebVisum team hope to develop a version for the Mac that will work with VoiceOver, the built in Mac screen reader, in the future.
To use the extension, first create a WebVisum account and then install the extension.
Accessible iTunes
Apple’s iTunes and their related service, iTunes U, will be improved to allow for their use by the blind after a settlement between Apple, the National Federation of the Blind and the Massachusetts’ Attorney General. As part of the settlement, Apple has agreed to make the services compatible with screen reader and braille software.
Target Lawsuit Settled
The Target Corporation have agreed to a $6 million settlement of the lawsuit filed against them by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) regarding the inaccessibility of Target.com.
The original complaint, filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), cited various problems with Target.com – images that lacked alternative text; missing page headings and site facilities that could not be used by non-sighted keyboard navigators.
As part of the settlement, Target have agreed to:
- Pay the original claimant (blind college student Bruce Sexton) $20,000.
- Establish a $6 million fund for the payment of additional individual claims.
- Ensure that the Target.com website meets a set of agreed assistive technology guidelines and achieves NFB Nonvisual Accessibility Certification.
- Ensure that blind screen-reader users can access the same information and engage in the same transactions as sighted visitors.
- Allow NFB to monitor the site’s compliance for the next 3 years.
13 Tips For An Accessible Site
There are quite few “Top 10 Tips” around but I don’t seem to be able to get my favourite accessible design tips below 13. So here, for a change, is a baker’s dozen of tips to keep in mind when creating an accessible site or page.
WCAG 2.0 Almost Ready
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Working Group announced the publication of WCAG 2.0 as a W3C Candidate Recommendation on 30th April. WCAG 2.0 is part of a series of accessibility guidelines and techniques developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). The document explains how to make Web sites, applications, and other content accessible to people with disabilities, and many elderly users.