Web Axe: web accessibility podcast and blog

Podcast and blog on practical web design accessibility tips.

What is web accessibility? | Email: web axe [at gmail] NOSPAM! dot com

Current Posts

Selecting an Accessible CMS

Friday, March 30, 2007

Here's a good article from Juicy Studio on choosing a CMS with accessibility and other considerations in mind. The highest ranked were Quick and Easy, Plone, and Drupal (with "some customisation").

The criteria used in the testing were:

• functional, accessible and usable to authors with minimum experience
• an accessible Web content management solution on a limited budget
• the WYSIWYG editor should be accessible to screen reader users (JAWS and Window Eyes), and easy to use
  

The CMS's evaluated were:

• Jadu
• Mambo
• Joomla
• Quick and Easy
• Expression Engine
• Plone
• Drupal
• Textpattern
• Xoops
• Typo3
  

Labels: accessibility, accessible, article, browser, cms, testing

0 comments

Accessibility audit vs. accessibility testing

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

In the article Accessibility audit vs. accessibility testing, Webcredible discusses the definition and differences between the accessibility audit, accessibility testing, and automated tools, and when it's appropriate to use each evaluation type.

Labels: accessibility, article, testing

0 comments

Why Web Accessibility Makes Sense

Friday, March 16, 2007

Another great article from Accessites.org "Why Web Accessibility Makes Sense" explains the why's of web accessibility. Reasons cited for accessible web sites include:

• takes advantage of web standards
• uses lighter code and less bandwidth
  
• it's the law (or will be)
  
• more aging users
  
• better for search engines
• it's the right thing to do

Labels: accessibility, article

0 comments

Podcast #44: Interview with Mike Cherim

Monday, March 12, 2007

Dennis and Ross speak with Mike Cherim, the author of the highly respectable blog Green Beast, and the founder of Accessites.org. Conversation also includes Mike's background, his interest in PHP and WordPress, and an audio conference on the NFB vs. Target lawsuit in which he was a guest speaker.

Download Web Axe Episode 44 (Interview with Mike Cherim)

Labels: accessibility, author, expert, law, podcast, wordpress

2 comments

Alternative Mouse

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Part of web accessibility is ensuring that any input device can be used to navigate through a web site. In the Accessites.org article, "I Saw a Mouse! Where?", Mel Pedley discusses this issue and describes several alternatives to the "normal" computer mouse including:

• Assistive Mouse Adaptor
• Ballpoint Mouse
• Air Mouse
• Head Mounted Pointer
• Touchpad
• Touchscreen
• Mouse Keys

Labels: "assistive technology", accessibility, article, input

0 comments

"Accessibility Backlash" Is Good?

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Here's a nifty blog post by Julie Howell on E-Access Blog, The 'accessibility backlash' - it's a good thing!. It's nifty article on why industry representatives' passion against web accessibility is actually good.

It thrills me to now learn that industry representatives are finally responding to accessibility, and with such passion. Industry figures aren’t merely aware of web accessibility. They’re now arguing about it!

Labels: accessibility, theory

0 comments

Podcast #43: Progressive Enhancement

Ross goes solo for this Web Axe episode. He discusses the levels of Progressive Enhancement and how it benefits accessibility. I would also label some of his discussion as "graceful degradation".

Download Web Axe Episode 43 (Progressive Enhancement)

Labels: accessibility, podcast, theory

0 comments

Podcast #42: SpokenText web app

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Dennis converses with Mark McKay founder of SpokenText.net which is a new, free online application that converts documents to audio files. Excellent tool for making documents accessible by providing an alternative format. Good for iPod usage also!

Download Web Axe Episode 42 (SpokenText web app)

This site allows you to upload text (.txt), Acrobat (.pdf) or Word (.doc) files and have them converted to spoken audio. We also let you record emails, text from a website or enter the text you need converted directly.

Labels: "assistive technology", accessibility, audio, expert, impairment, pdf

1 comments

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Previous Posts

• Podcast #76: Web Accessibility Disasters
• Roundup: Accessibility Links on Twitter
• Accessible YouTube Sites
• Free Browsers for Visual Impairment
• Colorblind, Law, and Lightboxes
• Podcast #75: Jeremy Keith Interview, Google Wave
• ATIA Chicago 2009
• Accessibility Round-Up from Twitter
• Podcast #74: Awards, Events & Back to Basics
• Accessible Twitter Wins Award, Slidedeck

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Related Sites

• Web Overhauls - tune-up your web site!
• Accessible Twitter - superior alternative to Twitter.com.
• 3.7crea.tv - web design and marketing blog.
• Refresh Detroit - regional group for web professionals.
• Detroit Podcasters Network.
• Website Design - seo friendly web design company.

About the Hosts

 

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Web Axe was nominated for "Podcast of the Year" in .net magazine's 2008 and 2009 Best of the Web awards.

To learn more about Dennis Lembree, the founder and main host of Web Axe, visit his web site at www.DennisLembree.com.