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

Web Accessibility Video

Monday, April 27, 2009

I'm not sure of the motivation or sincerity of this video on YouTube, but it does outline three valid points on why your web site should be web accessible.

1. Ethics; it's the right thing to do.
2. Enlarges your audience; competitive advantage.
   
3. It's the law (possibly, depending on country/state).

I'll add a number 4, which the video mentions, and that's Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Not sure if this company even realizes that better accessibility usually translates to better SEO.

Also, the video is illogically named "Documentation Usability Tips" 'Website Usability', which itself is not accessible since it doesn't correctly describe the content of the video.

Labels: law, video

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Podcast #70: Lots of News & Events

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Download Web Axe Episode 70 (Lots of News & Events)

Chatter

• Web Axe over 2,000 subscribers, thank you followers!
• Phone call from Web Axe listener (from last podcast on Recovery.gov site review).
• Accessible Twitter updates.
• Dennis changed the name of his freelance company to Web Overhauls.
• Refresh Detroit:
• Noel Jackson from Automattic (wordpress) presented on transitioning from print design to web design.
• Tuesday we have a panel discussing writing for the web

In the News

• Petition to make the Kindle 2 Fully Accessible - Web Axe signature number for this petition is 713.
• An Open Letter To Game Developers - "Game Accessibility. It's a loaded phrase and I know that it scares the hell out of many developers."
• The Jodi Awards For Excellence In Accessible Cultural Websites And Digital Media - Word files without proper headings and alt text.
• 9 Reasons Why Accessibility Matters
• 10 Accessibility Tips for RSS Feeds - Mmm...No different than regular web accessibility?!
• Ways to understand AT- Making accessibility more real
  
• Facebook Commits To Making Social Networking More Accessible For Visually Challenged Users
• ouTube launches CaptionTube: A caption editor
• WaSP InterAct Curriculum - Great resource!

Events/Conferences

• Attended Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco
• @feather registration: Ajax/Accessibility workshop in Ottawa: http://furtherahead.com/workshops/ottawa2009/ promo code fatwitter $100 off
• The Access U 2009 Conference is coming up fast! It will be held at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, on Monday May 11 and Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (with post-conference sessions on May 13). Pricing and registration information.
• Accessibility in Technical Communication and the Workplace (June 13, 14, Churchill College Cambridge, England)

Labels: "assistive technology", caption, conference, event, podcast

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IBM interviews Judy Brewer on WCAG 2.0

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

IBM interviews Judy Brewer in WCAG 2.0 and the future of Web accessibility: Q and A (Part 1).

In the article, Judy explains:

• The primary differences between WCAG 1.0 and WCAG 2.0.
• some of the challenges your Working Group faced in developing the new standard.

The article is published under the IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center, an excellent source of information for computer-related accessibility in general.

Labels: expert, interview, wcag, wcag2

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Access U 2009 Conference

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

The Access U 2009 Conference is coming up fast! It will be held at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, on Monday May 11 and Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (with post-conference sessions on May 13). Pricing and registration information.

Here's a summary of the event:

In addition to two-days of the best hands-on accessibility classes, you will hear keynote presentations, attend a captioned and audio described movie, participate in communities of practice sessions where you can share experiences, and meet hundreds of others who share your passion for accessible IT. From absolute beginners to advanced practitioners you can customize your learning to meet your specific needs.

Labels: conference

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Screen Reader Survey and New WAVE

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Can't go too long without mentioning WebAIM. They've recently made two more important announcements.

Screen Reader Survey

Survey of Preferences of Screen Readers Users
Here are a couple quotes from the article which sum up all the excellent data from the survey:

Perhaps the most significant conclusion we can make from these survey results is that there is no typical screen reader user.

In general, these results suggest that following accessibility guidelines and standards, using technologies that support high levels of accessibility, and providing users with options is of the highest importance.

New WAVE (not the music!)

WAVE (web accessibility evaluation tool) is updated. Below is a brief summary of changes. For more, visit New WAVE Version Released.

• Simplified and streamlined user interface.
• Significantly re-engineered back-end framework.
• Support for internationalization. Initial translations will be provided in coming months.
• Several new WAVE rule

PS: A WAVE Firefox toolbar is also available.

Labels: screenreader, testing, toolbar, webaim

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Keyboard Access for Google Maps

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Google Maps is awesome, but it is not keyboard accessible. Patrick H. Lauke provides a solution by retrofitting keyboard access into google maps. Brilliant article. (Obviously JavaScript is still required.)

Also, Google Maps provides a text-only option, which is nice for those using assistive devices, mobile devices, low or costly bandwidth, etc.

Labels: expert, google, keyboard, text

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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

Archives

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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.