visually impaired users

Subject: visually impaired users
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 03:24 AM

A visually impaired friend of mine is also a computer programmer and a blues/folk/country/etc musician and has heard me and others talk of the Mudcat. He is just getting a PC with a Braille reader set up at home and asks if the Mudcat is set up to facilitate use by the visually impaired with Braille readers - in particular do links have text labels attached which will appear in the braille reader as "link to [insert description]" rather than just "link".

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From:
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 05:20 AM

Hi. As far as I can determine, few of the pictures at Mudcat have an "Alt-String" with a descriptor of what the picture is about.

Something to think about, mudcat coding people. Except for things like "Coming Soon" on the front page, all the other links, like the New Banner Gif, doesn't explain anything.

Can something be done for all those links at the bottom of the main page. All that shows up is [LINK] on a text browser.

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Brendy
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 09:24 AM

Making Mudcat Accessible

B.

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 11:12 AM

Thanks Brendy - that seeems more oriented to manually impaired users who can't control a mouse, but I've also forwarded the link to the thread

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Max
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 12:41 PM

I am very interested in doing whatever I can to make sure the Mudcat can be accessible to anyone and everyone. I will do some research on this, and please make suggestions

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From:
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 05:13 PM

Max, the main thing is to put ALT strings for any images used on any of Mudcat's pages. Strings that explain what you would see, and/or perhaps what clicking on it would do. Depending on what the specific picture is used for.

I seem to remember a page someplace which dealt with the subject. Will look it up, Max.

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 05:47 PM

You can find lots of information on making web pages accessible to everyone here (click)

Ed

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: SeanM
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 05:52 PM

The ALT string on images is also useful in case someone has their browser set not to view images, or if the browser just doesn't support them (I hear that there are a few out there that don't).

M

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 06:42 PM

When it comes to using browsers that speak the text, I still think that there are far to many links on the pages. This is great for people who can see but if a person was relying on the browser to read what is on a page, on the main forum page, as these things read sequentially through the HTML, it takes ages to get to the links to the threads.

Perhaps the ideal solution would involve desiging a special (extra) set of pages to help those with dissabilities.

Jon

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From:
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 07:19 PM

I don't see why it can't be possible to have a web-page which can accomodate the visually impaired yet be useful for other browsers too.

Max, here are a few other links which could be of use.

Designing Web Pages for Blind Readers
Resource Guide for the Visually Impaired
Blindness Related Resources
Designing Accessible Web Pages
recommendation on customized web pages for blind users
text matters - web pages for the visually impaired

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 07:43 PM

Perhaps you are right George. The most important thing to me is Max's desire to make the site as accessible as possible and I think he deserves thanks for looking into the possbilities - thanks Max.

Jon

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: JenEllen
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 11:41 PM

Thanks to Max for checking into accessibility, and also thanks to George, I hadn't seen some of those pages. Anyway I can assist, let me know.
~Elle

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Jun 00 - 04:44 AM

I am sure that when my friend arrives he will be most impressed by the amount of thought that has gone into the replies to this request - and will post or get posted any specific requirements.

One point, as I understand it, exemplified above, is this. If I were using a braille reader, would I be aware of where the embedded links in this very thread were going to take me before I clicked on them?

If anyone finds a new user possibly called "Clever Evil" on line, be prepared to be astonished by first the depth of knowledge about "pop" and folk/country, and second by the lightning wit.

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From:
Date: 17 Jun 00 - 01:10 PM

Thanks Richard! We'll watch.

I personally don't use a lot of pictures on my own pages. It's almost all text. I don't follow all the rules, especially the one about one link per line.

I HAVE been a bit remiss in not putting separators between all the links though, and will have to check them out again. This has been a good reminder of the problems associated. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 18 Jun 00 - 01:46 PM

Refresh

I expect the user and one of our mutual friends to be on later tonight and if the thread is near the top it will help them find it.

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 18 Jun 00 - 08:07 PM

My sincere thanks to Richard for starting this thread and for all who have provided Links to find out more. Special thanks to George.

As an amazing coincidence I was last night asked to review the brief to develop a Wab page for Queensland Parents of People with a Disability. QPPD is a political advocacy organisation with major efforts in inclusion in education, training and employment. My wife Anne has worked her insides out for QPPD for a number of years, we have a son with Down Syndrome and my own visual impairment is now quite advanced.

Amoing Feorge's Links I found a site called Bobby at http://www.cast.org/bobby/. This allows you to rate any Web Site from the view point of accessibility and a report is provided. Maybe Max may care to run Mudcat through its paces.

Many thanks, John

Subject: RE: visually impaired users
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Jun 00 - 11:08 AM

Thread creep setting in.

Another problem for the visually impaired (particularly the religious) is that a hymn book has got stuff in it with hundreds of different authors, and publishers typically don't know if the contracts permit them to "translate" into Braille, and so refuse to give permission for braile hymnals to be made!

This differs from country to country but I am tempted to suggest that translating a work into Braille on a non-profitmaking basis ought to be an act permitted under copyright law - sort of like reporting current events only different (in the UK) or "fair use" in the USA.