Web Axe: web accessibility podcast and blog

Web Axe is a podcast and blog featuring practical web design accessibility tips

What is web accessibility? | webaxe at gmail dot com

Current Posts

Podcast #47: Alternative Text in Detail

Monday, April 30, 2007

Dennis and Ross discuss alternative text on the web, mostly the ALT attribute in detail. Also discuss alternative text for audio and Flash.

Download Web Axe Episode 47 (Alternative Text in Detail)

News

• Guidelines for creating better markup
• NFB and Amazon to making deal
• Accessify interviews Andy Clarke

Announcements

• Dennis leaving Detroit for opportunity in Silicon Valley! Refresh Detroit to announce replacement co-leader.
  
• New Podcast from Ross - Web Marketing Podcast
  

Links

• WCAG 1.0 Guideline 1.1 (Priority 1)
• WCAG 2.0 Guideline 1.1.1 (Level 1)
• CastingWords (transcription service)
  
• MAGpie (captioning software)
  

Labels: accessibility, alt, image, podcast, text

posted by Dennis Lembree at 9:21 PM   0 comments

Seeking Accessible AJAX Expert

Monday, April 23, 2007

Web Axe is seeking an expert in accessible AJAX development for an interview. Please contact Dennis at 'web axe at gmail dot com' if you or someone you know fits the bill.

Labels: ajax, expert, interview

posted by Dennis Lembree at 11:54 AM   1 comments

Amazon.com and NFB

If you haven't heard yet, Amazon.com stated that they are now committed to making improvements to web site accessibility. After Amazon.com has been singled out for its lack of web accessibility, let's hope they can make up for it. The online retail giant will reportedly be working with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to make its web site more accessible.

• Amazon.com and National Federation of the Blind Join Forces to Develop and Promote Web Accessibility
• Amazon.com and NFB join forces

posted by Dennis Lembree at 11:50 AM   0 comments

Podcast #46: Web Site Analysis: Michigan.gov

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Dennis and Ross do an informal web accessibility/web standards analysis and critique of the Michigan.gov web site.

Download Web Axe Episode 46 (Web Site Analysis: Michigan.gov)

News Links:

• Refresh Detroit meetup Wednesday, April 25
  
• Lame excuses for not being a Web professional
• Adding vs. not removing accessibility
• Stop Writing Garbage Code
• clear floats with no markup

Labels: accessibility, critique, podcast

posted by Dennis Lembree at 10:37 PM   2 comments

IBM Helps Blind 'See' Web Video

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

The BBC reports on a new technology from IBM that helps visually impaired access content of web video. The tool is codenamed "A-Browser" and should release later this year. IBM hopes to make it free.

"Technology giant, IBM, is soon to launch a multimedia browser to make audio and video content accessible to people with vision impairments."

Labels: "assistive technology", accessibility, article, audio, impairment, video

posted by Dennis Lembree at 9:49 AM   0 comments

Web Axe Named Top 5 Podcasts!

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Web Axe has been named one of the Top 5 design podcasts for designers by Dustin Brewer. You can Digg the article here. Dustin is a graphic artist and web designer based out of Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Thanks for the mention, Dustin! In addition to the Web Axe, the other podcasts mentioned were:

• Rookie Designer
• .net magazine
• PhotoshopTV
• Boagworld

Labels: expert, list, podcast

posted by Dennis Lembree at 7:19 PM   0 comments

Podcast #45: Accessible popup windows

Monday, April 02, 2007

Dennis discuss the accessible popup window. What methods should be used--target attribute, JavaScript, a combination? Also, what methods to alert the user (title, icon, text) that a link is a pop-up.

Download Web Axe Episode 45 (Accessible popup window)

Code review:

• Very bad:
  <a href="javascript:openPopupWindow('page.htm');">hypertext</a>


• Deprecated:
  <a href="http://www2.blogger.com/page.htm" target="_blank">hypertext</a>


• Better:
  <a href="http://www2.blogger.com/page.htm" target="myNewWin" onclick="link_popup(this); return false">hypertext</a>


• Best:
  <a href="http://www2.blogger.com/page.htm" rel="external">hypertext</a>
  

WCAG 1.0 Guideline 10.1

10.1 Until user agents allow users to turn off spawned windows, do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and do not change the current window without informing the user. [Priority 2]

Related Links

• Accessible PopUp Links from A List Apart
  
• The Perfect Popup from Accessites
  
• window.open from Mozilla Development Center
  

Labels: accessibility, accessible, podcast, popups, window

posted by Dennis Lembree at 11:04 PM   1 comments

About the Hosts

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Previous Posts

• Writing for Accessibility Article
• WCAG 2.0 published as Candidate Recommendation
• Section 508 and Higher Education
• Podcast #63: Reviewing Accessible Ajax Recommendat...
• Why Captioning Sucks
• Cognitive Accessibility Survey
• Podcast #62: Web Accessibility News
• HTML 5 and Accessibility
• Most web design companies ignore disabled people
• Assistive technology for the disabled

Archives

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Sponsored by web design and development company CheckEngine USA, web site tune-ups and overhauls.

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