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
Podcasts from Tweeps: Universal Design, SitePoint, Heretech
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Some great recent podcasts from some great Tweeps (if you've been on Mars, that means users of Twitter).
- Universal design and Web Accessibility For Everyone — Great interview with Wendy Chisholm. Co-author of Universal Design for Web Applications, speaker, tweep (@wendyabc).
- SitePoint Podcast #20: YouTube Deep-sixes IE 6 — In addition to YouTube and IE6, topics include HTML5, web fonts, and the "DiggBar". Hosted by Patrick O’Keefe (@ifroggy), Stephan Segraves (@ssegraves), Brad Williams (@williamsba) and Kevin Yank (@sentience).
- The Heretech, episode 15: Cindy Alvarez on market development — Cindy Alvarez (a wonderful former co-worker) is a guest on this product management interview podcast. Cindy (@cindyalvarez) and host Tom Grant (@TomGrantForr) provide insightful conversation on design and user experience.
Labels: design, html5, podcast, twitter
Visit to Yahoo! Accessibility Testing Lab
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I was fortunate enough to get invited for a visit to Yahoo! Accessibility Testing Lab (in Sunnyvale, California). Victor Tsaran (@vick08) and Alan Brightman (@abrightman) were kind enough to spend about an hour and a half with me and several other computer professionals. Here are some notes from the meeting:- Learned a lot about Mac's accessibility features. You can find them under under System Preferences/System/Universal Settings. Apparently they've been present since 1985, but most people don't know they exist.
- Apple computers come with a screen reader VoiceOver, which is now on the iPhone. On the Mac, it displays the text which it's speaking; a great for blind person to work with a deaf person.
- The demo of alternative input devices and software (including switch devices, head tracking, and an alternative keyboard) really creates awareness of others' needs.
- Saw a demo of a braille output device. It was noted that this type of device is best for the deaf-blind. They are very expensive, and more popular in Europe as there tends to be more subsidy.
- Issues and features with mobile devices including screen magnifiers, speaking menus, camera-scanner-reader combo.
- Some excellent links:
- Origin Instruments - Assistive Technology Products
- AssistiveWare - assistive technology software
Labels: "assistive technology", input, mac, testing, yahoo
Article Headings, Please!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
This has become an issue for me of late, and it needs more attention. And that is lack of sub-headings in articles. Not just the page heading and/or article heading, but headings throughout an article to make it more accessible and usable. Especially so the longer an article is. (And of course, use proper markup! H1, H2, etc.)
Examples, Poor
Among many, I came across the following articles which could really use more headings. The articles are fairly long, and could no doubt be broken up into sections.- Accessibility: ‘Just The Right Thing To Do’
- Website accessibility is good for business
- Virginia Tech team tests vehicle for blind drivers
Why Headings?
Why are headings so important? First of all, it's part of accessibility guidelines such as WCAG 2.0; see section 2.4.6 Headings and Labels. The W3C points out that headings create meaning when read out of context. And they help people with limited short-term memory. In addition, headings provide:- Better navigation for screenreaders.
- Default formatting when CSS is not available.
- More semantic.
- Scanning more usable and readable document.
- SEO.
Examples, Good
Here are examples of articles with good use of headings:
- New Accessibility Guidelines A "Welcomed Update"
- Accessibility and Common Sense
- Constructing a POUR Website
- This web site (smiley)
Please use headings and sub-headings as it creates more web accessible and usable articles.
Labels: guidelines, heading, usability, wcag2
Accessible WordPress Themes?
Monday, July 06, 2009
I'm really on a quest to find some web accessible, standards-compliant WordPress theme. It's so disappointing that the platform is set up for web standards (and usability, accessibility) but nearly all custom themes break it. Ugh!
Last week, I did a search on Google, but wasn't happy with the results. Then on Twitter, I asked the question:
Can anyone recommend a few fully accessible, fully standards-complaint #WordPress themes (besides Sea Beast)
I received a few replies, but didn't get much further in my quest. Then I ran a few searches in the WordPress themes site, but didn't come up with much. This is what I've got so far:
- Sea Beast by Mike Cherim: the first theme to come to mind. Solid, but outdated.
- Puritan by Peter Krantz: didn't try it because it didn't install with the new version of WordPress, 2.8.
- Hybrid: Already had it installed , but still needs styling since it's a framework. And it requires joining a "club".
- Stardust: good, but still needs some tweaking.
Does anyone know of any other accessible WordPress themes available? Valid code and semantic markup sure wouldn't hurt either. Template options and widget-ready are good too! Not sure why this is so difficult. Guess I'll have to make time to build my own (hopefully late this summer!).
Web Accessibility News
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Latest goings-on in the web accessibility community. Found all on a valuable resource, Twitter!- Accessibility and the Law: from Practical eCommerce (from @joedolson)
- Drupal Developers: Build accessibility into themes (and in general) (from @pixeldiva)
- Working in Web Accessibility: (from @jared_w_smith)
- New accessibility features in Firefox 3.5 (from @MarcoZehe)
- Internet access as a human right (from @crgonzalez)
- The new Pogo Sketch - Persons with mobility impairments can now use the Pogo Sketch stylus with Blackberry Storm (from @berryaccess)
Labels: firefox, law, mobile, news, twitter
Usability (and Accessibility) Tweetup in Ann Arbor, July 18
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Ross and I are organizing a Usability (and Accessibility) Tweetup in Ann Arbor on Saturday evening, July 18th. Hope you can join us!
- What: “Usability Tweetup”
- When: 7pm, Saturday, July 18, 2009
- Where: Ann Arbor Brewing Company in downtown Ann Arbor [Google map]
- Why: To discuss web usability, web accessibility, Twitter; socialize; drink beer
Labels: event, twitter, usability
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Previous Posts
- Roundup 2: Accessibility Links on Twitter
- 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
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