Making your site accessible to handicaped citizens

**iFroggy** · Sep 19, 2001 17:55

Hey,

(Not sure if this is the right forum for this...)

I am asking this question for someone. What do you do to make your website is accessible to people that have a handicap.

What software can you buy or use? What do you do exactly?

Any information would be great.

Thanks.

**Hellbent** · Sep 19, 2001 22:00

I guess it would depend on their handicap. It would be tricky. For the blind i guess you could use flash that guides them audibly on where to click.

**big_al** · Sep 19, 2001 23:01

Hi,

Use ALT tags, stay away from frames, javascript and offer plain text links to any graphical links.

**RKuhle** · Sep 19, 2001 23:35

There's special software available for people who are blind that magnifies the objects and text on the screen. It also uses contrasting colors.

If you're completely blind, you can find software that will "talk" to you.

**big_al** · Sep 20, 2001 00:02

JAWS and Windows Eyes are two such programs

**RKuhle** · Sep 20, 2001 00:06

Yes! I couldn't remember the titles, thanks.

They work great too, a friend of mine uses them both.

**tdevil** · Sep 20, 2001 00:41

This is awesome!

I have never thought about blind people accessing the internet. But to have software for them is absolutely great!!

How does it work? Does it automatically translate what is written??

(I remember some *stupid* program that worked with ICQ a couple of years ago that read messages to you - A Norwegian friend absolutely cracked up when it tried to read her messages when she was sending to Norwegian friends

)

What other disabilities are catered for?

**big_al** · Sep 20, 2001 02:05

Originally posted by tdevil
This is awesome!

I have never thought about blind people accessing the internet. But to have software for them is absolutely great!!

How does it work? Does it automatically translate what is written??

(I remember some *stupid* program that worked with ICQ a couple of years ago that read messages to you - A Norwegian friend absolutely cracked up when it tried to read her messages when she was sending to Norwegian friends )

What other disabilities are catered for?

They are called "Screen Readers", and as the name suggests they read whats on the screen. (text)

I haven't had much experience with Window Eyes but trained a lady to run her entire business on a computer and she was using JAWS, so I have become fairly familiar with it. It's quite amazing how functional it it and what you can do with it.

The lady I trained was totaly blind and she was my best pupil i have ever taught.

**tdevil** · Sep 20, 2001 02:18

This still blows me away!!

Top marks to whoever invented these programs!!

big_al, because of their affliction, can blind people get this software free? (I see you are an Aussie, so I am assuming that you might have a bit of info in that area?)

I have had a few students under my wing, but apart from slight to medium intellectual disabilities, never really thought about the major ones (to us)

Still Awestruck!!

**big_al** · Sep 20, 2001 03:25

Originally posted by tdevil
This still blows me away!!

Top marks to whoever invented these programs!!

big_al, because of their affliction, can blind people get this software free? (I see you are an Aussie, so I am assuming that you might have a bit of info in that area?)

I have had a few students under my wing, but apart from slight to medium intellectual disabilities, never really thought about the major ones (to us)

Still Awestruck!!

Hi,

unfortunatly the answer to that is, no

and these things are pretty expensive.

The only way to get it "Free" is to apply for a government grant if you are intending to use that program in a new business. Even then the creening process is pretty strict.

Your look over $1200 for JAWS, not quite sure how much window eyes is but i'd guess it's a bit. I can dig up the local distributors names and address if you like.

**tdevil** · Sep 20, 2001 03:31

Thanks mate, but in this point in time it isn't necessary, but I will remember this post should I have a need to tutor the visually impaired!!

A shame the Libs can't provide it free for the blind

**dhtmlgod** · Sep 20, 2001 03:33

i havent read the whole post (lazy) but i think nicky knows all about this if you want to ask her

**Nicky** · Sep 20, 2001 03:47

Ha ha I was waiting to cut in, don't you people read my articles?

Try Surfing the Web with Your Eyes Closed
W3C Accessibility Guidelines
7 Principles of Universal Design

**tdevil** · Sep 20, 2001 04:00

Guess I had my eyes closed

Where do we find your list of articles? Is it listed in SPF somewhere, or do we follow links from above URLs?

**Nicky** · Sep 20, 2001 04:08

All my articles are on the SitePoint Network, I have linked to their exact location above.

**tdevil** · Sep 20, 2001 05:08

This place is huge!

I would need to be on this site all my online time to read all the threads - even just new threads/posts!!

So I kinda stick to computer help desk, beginners, and other stuff I know something about :-)

Every now and again if I am bored

I will start browsing other threads.

I see why you have so many mentors/advisors now, cos it would be a full time job keeping up with it all

So, sorry Nicky that I didn't find your stuff before

**Nicky** · Sep 20, 2001 06:02

No worries!

**RKuhle** · Sep 20, 2001 17:22

Originally posted by tdevil
Thanks mate, but in this point in time it isn't necessary, but I will remember this post should I have a need to tutor the visually impaired!!

A shame the Libs can't provide it free for the blind

In the States you can get a lot of help with adaptive technology that is required for the workforce. The only problem is, you need to know about the process to get any help. Unfortunately, these bureaucrats don't jump out to help you too often.

**Temos** · Sep 22, 2001 21:40

Web site pages designed in Flash or as Graphic Arts Images (where the entire page is one image) appear blank to the handicapped.

**RKuhle** · Sep 23, 2001 12:26

Originally posted by Temos
Web site pages designed in Flash or as Graphic Arts Images (where the entire page is one image) appear blank to the handicapped.

Handicapped is a very broad term, which doesn't apply in your situation. Many "handicapped" people can read and watch Flash just fine.

I'm guessing you're referring to those with eye troubles...

**iFroggy** · Sep 23, 2001 12:36

Thank for the info... anyone that has any other info... please post.

And no Nicky, I don't read your articles. lol

**Ian Glass** · Oct 6, 2001 19:55

There's alot of info on the net on how to make sites accessible to the disabled. Nicky's articles are great (I think "Try Surfing The Web With Your Eyes Closed?" was the best).

Some of the resources I use:
∙ WebAIM http://www.webaim.org
∙ Usability.gov's accessibility section is great http://www.usability.gov/accessibility
∙ Nicky mentioned Bobby in her articles, there is also a downloadible version.

Section 508 requires all U.S. government sites to be accessible to disabled users. Government grants and contracts (I think) will only be given to companies who's sites comply to Section 508, too. Check out http://webaim.org/standards/508/checklist for a checklist of requirments.

At the W3's site http://www.w3.org/WAI/Resources/ has a ton of links (to other W3 pages) for accessability info including checklists; also check out http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/ for off W3 links.

Hopes this helps --

**cragthehack** · Oct 8, 2001 00:03

If you use Dreamweaver, Dreamweaver UltraDev, and/or Fireworks there are accessibility extensions available. Browse the exchange at the Macromedia Site. If you have the Extension Manager, just click on the Macromedia logo. Search the exchange for “accessible”. The extensions allow you to check your pages, and graphics against the Web Accessibility Guidelines mentioned above (and below).

I have done several sites that meet level Double-A of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, including all Priority 1 and Priority 2 checkpoints defined in the Guidelines. And it’s not that easy with Dreamweaver. You’ll have to do some hand coding. Which I think is a good thing anyway.

**Nicky** · Oct 8, 2001 05:09

Yes Macromedia has extensions that you can download into Dreamweaver. Want to hear something funny about Dreamweaver? The actual software IS NOT ACCESSIBLE to visually impaired users! I think Macromedia are just pretending to care about accessibility as a commercial ply.

**cragthehack** · Oct 8, 2001 07:53

Oddly enough I agree with you Nicky. Macromedia didn’t do anything about accessibility until there was a fair amount of public pressure. People were asking in their newsgroups and at their conferences. It was more of an after-thought. Also, the extensions only check your page.. that’s about it. Macromedia hasn’t done anything to help you build more accessible pages. Dreamweaver doesn’t even support TABLE SUMMARY. And Flash.. don’t get me started.

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if you use Dreamweaver....

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