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16 Jun 00 - 03:24 AM (#243253) Subject: visually impaired users From: Richard Bridge 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". |
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16 Jun 00 - 05:20 AM (#243276) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 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. |
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16 Jun 00 - 09:24 AM (#243336) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Brendy Making Mudcat Accessible B. |
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16 Jun 00 - 11:12 AM (#243395) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Richard Bridge 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 |
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16 Jun 00 - 12:41 PM (#243434) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Max 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 |
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16 Jun 00 - 05:13 PM (#243512) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 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. |
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16 Jun 00 - 05:47 PM (#243525) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Ed Pellow You can find lots of information on making web pages accessible to everyone here (click) Ed |
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16 Jun 00 - 05:52 PM (#243529) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: SeanM 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 |
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16 Jun 00 - 06:42 PM (#243544) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Jon Freeman 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 |
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16 Jun 00 - 07:19 PM (#243559) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 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 Enjoy! |
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16 Jun 00 - 07:43 PM (#243570) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Jon Freeman 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 |
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16 Jun 00 - 11:41 PM (#243648) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: JenEllen 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 |
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17 Jun 00 - 04:44 AM (#243719) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Richard Bridge 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. |
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17 Jun 00 - 01:10 PM (#243813) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 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. |
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18 Jun 00 - 01:46 PM (#244079) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Richard Bridge 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. |
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18 Jun 00 - 08:07 PM (#244175) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: John in Brisbane 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 |
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19 Jun 00 - 11:08 AM (#244440) Subject: RE: visually impaired users From: Richard Bridge 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. |