Archives for “Areas of Focus”
Cats remember where their paws have been. Researchers from the Department of Physiology at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, report that cats can create memories of their environment without having to rely on vision. Stepping over and touching a physical obstacle with their forelegs creates a memory of the obstacle that persists for [...]
Another great project for technical communicators is happening right now over at WebAIM. As announced recently on the WebAIM blog, they have started a translation project for WAVE, WebAIM’s web accessibility evaluation tool. After all, who says web accessibility evaluation is only necessary in English! First stop is Spanish. The Center for Persons with Disabilities [...]
WebAIM has put together a survey of the preferences of screen reader users. Do you use a screen reader all the time due to a disability? part of the time due to a disability? often, but do not have a disability that requires a screen reader? occasionally to perform accessibility evaluation? If you fit one [...]
Yes, the long awaited version 2.0 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines was announced today! The news is being echoed all over Twitter, and our own SIG twitter account is chiming in. Read the W3C press release for the official news. Then start following the discussions that have started and will continue in the coming [...]
Follow a live webcast from the United Nations on Dec 3rd from 9:30 – 13:30 ET on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities! The event is “Implementing the Digital Accessibility Agenda of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities for Signatory States”. It is the Third Global Forum – [...]
The following is from an 8 May 2008 posting on http://www.consumeraffairs.com/. But travelers complain existing rules are often ignored May 8, 2008—Travelers with disabilities will be getting new protections against discrimination when they fly on a foreign airline flight that begins or ends in the United States, as well as on any flight operated by [...]
Did you know that Stanford University now has an Online Accessibility Program? They call it “SOAP” for Stanford Online Accessibility Program. I came across this today and thought you might be interested to see it: http://soap.stanford.edu/. The site offers resources and information; tips, tricks, and tutorials; a developers toolbox; and special program services for the [...]
In Digital Web Magazine last month, Leona Tomlinson of Agoo IT wrote a great article on understanding disabilities when designing a web site. While some of the information can be found in many places, Tomlinson distills a broad range of information in one article, making it ideal for sharing with those new to Web accessibility. [...]
You might be able to help. Member Whitney Quesenbery brought us the latest news about the Plain Language bill that we wrote about back in April this year. It is stuck in the Senate. Senator Bennett (R. Utah) has blocked the bill on the grounds that it would be a problem for the Federal Election [...]
Turn Firefox into a screen reader with Fire Vox, suggests Roger Johansson of 456 Berea St. He talks about his experience with Fire Vox, the free open-source screen reader extension for Firefox. He has successfully used it on his Mac (after a few unsuccessful attempts), but Fire Vox can also run on Windows and Linux. [...]
“Think Positive” is the theme for World Arthritis Day 2008. This theme acknowledges that the challenges associated with arthritis/rheumatism can also get you down emotionally, but that there are a number of positive things you can do to help you feel better in yourself and get more from your life. Our campaign for this year [...]
As Opera puts it, “Learning Web Standards just got easier.” Indeed it has! Opera has released “a complete course to teach you standards-based web development, including HTML, CSS, design principles and background theory, and JavaScript basics”. It is called the Web Standards Curriculum. This curriculum was released in association with the Yahoo! Developer Network and [...]
I was asked to prepare a persona on what users over the age of 50 may need to maximize their use of the STC Body of Knowledge portal. The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is currently developing a Body of Knowledge (BoK) portal where Technical Communicators can share their areas of expertise with each other. [...]
Are you interested in testing a new portal in the UK for disability related information? A trial one-stop-shop for disability related information and advice on the web has been created by Leonard Cheshire Disability, the largest voluntary sector provider of services to disabled people in the UK. The Disability Information Portal (DIP) is set to [...]
This should be an interesting series to follow. Matthew Paul Thomas will be posting updates in the coming months to his identification of 15 usability problems with free (open source) software "Why Free Software has poor usability, and how to improve it" that he posted on August 1. He plans to present an example for [...]
An example of free association is finding an unexpected gem while searching the Web for something else. While searching for photos of Washington, DC, I discovered a very interesting blog about psychology, neuroscience, vintage photos, Web-based testing, and lots more. The blog is called Dr. X’s Free Associations. Dr. X is a clinical psychologist who [...]
(This is an article reprinted here by kind permission from its author, Becky Morris.) Disabled student service providers and vocational rehabilitation counselors are on the ‘front line’ addressing the needs of hard of hearing individuals. You are the professionals who need to understand the communication obstacles, introduce technical solutions and other support services to hard [...]
The department of Personnel at the State of New Jersey provides a text-based mode to their Web content using Usablenet Assistive as part of their efforts to comply with the ADA and Section 504. Usablenet Assistive converts a web page into its text-only version on-the-fly by eliminating all page layout that is present in the [...]
By Kath Moonan, AbilityNet In this article Kath Moonan examines what Web 2.0 is and what implications it might have for disabled people who use the Web, particularly the use of Ajax for interactive web pages. Read the full article at http://www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk/web20andaccessibility
VIA Rail in Canada and Amtrak in the U.S. have excellent services for special needs. To be sure you receive the service you need, purchase your tickets over the telephone and let them know what you need. Services vary from train to train and station to station but if they know in advance what you [...]
There is an excellent blog by the owner of a woman-owned car dealership in California at AskPatty.com "Automotive Advice for Women". She supports and is the president of the United Spinal Association and her blog posts include many that relate to disabled drivers. "Transportation From a Different View Part II – Hand Controls Spell Freedom [...]
Press Release from the United Spinal Association, Release: Monday, June 18, 2007 Example of a disabled access minivan with left side ramp access that is blocked by a sedan parked illegally in the required access aisle. If you have wondered about the purpose of those blue diagonal-lined areas adjacent to, or between, accessible parking spaces [...]
Lori Gillen, incoming Co-Manager of the SIG, put together some useful tips for participants attending this year’s STC conference in Philadelphia. These tips can be used at any presentation, anywhere, of course! The tips are provided to help conference participants hear better and get much more out of their conference experience. Sit next to one [...]
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