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
Petition Asks Yahoo to Fix Their CAPTCHA
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
The Blind Access Journal has a good blog post Petition Asks Yahoo to Tear Down "No Blind People Allowed" Sign.Read that, or just go straight to the Yahoo's Accessibility Improvement petition and sign it to support web accessibility! I'm #710.
You can also learn more about accessible CAPTCHA on the Web Axe podcast from a few months back.
Labels: captcha, hearing, impairment, visual
Podcast #53: Interview with Andrew Kirkpatrick
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Dennis and Ross speak to the renowned Andrew Kirkpatrick, a leader in accessibility and product development for Adobe.Download Web Axe Episode 53 (Interview with Andrew Kirkpatrick)
Andrew Kirkpatrick is An Event Apart speaker, technical editor for A List Apart, and he's co-authored a few books. Topics in the conversation include:
- the development of the MAGpie captioning program
- AIR-Boston and Knowbility
- Captioning in Flash
- books he's worked on
- his role at Adobe
- his experience web conferences
More Links
- Adobe Accessibility
- Adobe Accessibility Blog
- Timed Text (TT) Authoring Format 1.0 – Distribution Format Exchange Profile (DFXP)
- An Event Apart Speaker--Andrew Kirkpatrick
- Creating Accessible Flash Experiences (eSeminar)
News Links
Labels: accessibility, adobe, caption, expert, flash, podcast
Video--Introduction to Screen Magnifiers
Friday, July 27, 2007
Here's a video on Yahoo!'s YUI Blog that gives a good example of how screen magnifier tools are used. Karo Caran walks us through ZoomText 9.1.Karo Caran and Victor Tsaran: "Introduction to Screen Magnifiers"
Labels: "assistive technology", screen, video
Podcast #52: REL Attribute
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Dennis and Ross discuss several announcements and news items, then go into detail on how, why and when the REL attribute is used and its use for web accessibility.Download Web Axe Episode 52 (REL Attribute)
Uses of the REL attribute:
- Stylesheets linking
- RSS feed linking
- Browser-Based Navigation (next, prev, content, index, etc)
- Handle for Unobtrusive Javascript
- Nofollow to disallow robot "clickthrus"
- Shortcut icon
- More!
Links
- REL attribute from the W3C
- Link types from the W3C
- Changing the Scope of Link Relationships
- What is the proper use of the 'rel' attribute?
- Day 9: Providing additional navigation aids - Dive Into Accessibility
- Lightbox
News & Announcements:
- Accessibility Jobs at Yodlee
- A Video Interview with Shawn Henry, From California to Japan
- Flash Captioning Seminar
- Refresh Detroit
Tips for eCommerce Accessibility
Sunday, July 15, 2007
E-shop accessibility: from theory to reality is an article from Juicy Studio discussing issues and proposed solutions for web accessible e-commerce web sites.Here's a thoughtful response from Accessibility expert Joe Dolson in his post Accessible e-Commerce Tips.
Podcast #51: Option Groups (OptGroup)
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Option lists with many items may cause problems for users with assistive technology, such as screen readers. The solution is to use the Optgroup element to split options in the Select list into manageable groups. This also better practice for usability.Download Web Axe Episode 51 (Option Groups [OptGroup])
WCAG 1.0 says: Guideline 2.3 Divide large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate. [Priority 2]
Links
- The SELECT, OPTGROUP, and OPTION elements (W3C)
- Grouping Form Controls (W3C)
- Accessibility Conformance Tests, Further Improvements
- Accessible Forms from HTML Dog
Sample Code:
<select>
<option>No Country Affiliated</option>
<optgroup label="Europe">
<option>Germany</option>
<option>United Kingdom</option>
<optgroup label="North America">
<option>Canada</option>
<option>U.S.A.</option>
</optgroup>
<optgroup label="South America">
<option>Brazil</option>
<option>Peru</option>
</optgroup>
</select>News
- What is an on-screen keyboard?
- WCAG 2.0 Polishing the Rough Edges from Jared Smith at WebAIM
Labels: form, list, option, podcast
Improving accessibility for motor impaired users
Monday, July 02, 2007
Improving accessibility for motor impaired users is a great article from WebCredible.com.Topics include:
- Provide the largest possible area for links
- Use a focus state for links
- Provide a visible 'skip to content' link
- Have users opt in for audio
- What not to do
Labels: accessibility, article, motor
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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
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
About Dennis
Dennis Lembree is the founder of web development company Web Overhauls, which specializes in web usability, standards, and accessibility. Follow Dennis on Twitter: @dennisl
About Ross
Ross Johnson runs a web design company (3.7 Designs) that takes a wholistic view on the web and art of constructing pages. They strive to be creative and unique. Follow Ross on Twitter: @3pointross