RE: Adjacent Links (Full Version)

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jaybee -> RE: Adjacent Links (1/22/2007 17:42:03)

Yes Jaws and co are expensive but you have to take into account, and I believe most of them have this, the cost covers installation and training. They don't, as I understand it, just send a CD out to a blind person and let them get on with it.

It's quite possible that Mozilla could develop an OS reader along the lines of OV but uptake on it wouldn't be huge for some considerable time. People with readers get used to them and tend to stick with the version they have for years, they don't upgrade every couple of years like we do.

You also need to remember that another reader is yet another combination of things that work in one and differently in another.



rubyaim -> RE: Adjacent Links (1/22/2007 17:53:17)

quote:

I think it's unfair that those who need a screen reader have to pay so much for them, on top of their computer, ISP fees etc.

Me too. An acquaintance has a daughter who is legally blind, though she does have some vision. Apparently she only uses the tools that come with Windows.

Anyway, I've teed it up for her to come into work with me on day in the next lot of school holidays and do some testing on my pages, and show me how to use the Windows tools properly.

Am really looking forward to this [:)]



jaybee -> RE: Adjacent Links (1/22/2007 18:32:32)

Good on you Sally.

Word of warning, expect the worst. If she's not using speech tools then it won't be as bad but get ready for a surprise. The worse her sight is the worse the feedback will be. Take notes while she works with it.



rubyaim -> RE: Adjacent Links (1/22/2007 18:53:02)

I will take notes, and report back if people are interested. I'm not actually sure what specific tools she uses.

It won't be until the Easter School Holidays here (Australia). She is 14 years old and I think it's great she will help me out with this.

I do have to worry about dyslexia, English not a first language, non-mouse users, those who prefer visual examples rather than reading etc, so it will be very interesting to see if I'm even close to the mark with anything else.



jaybee -> RE: Adjacent Links (1/23/2007 8:45:53)

Dyslexia is pretty straight forward. Don't use jargon, keep text left aligned, if possible make the line-height 1.5 rather than 1. Use a clean font. Don't wrap text around both sides of images.

ESOL just stick with plain English. Using one of the readers helps here. Get it to read through your contents and listen. You'll be surprised how badly worded lines stick out.

Keyboard users you can check yourself, try going through your site using Tab and Enter and see how far you get.

Those who cannot read you have more of a problem. It was once suggested to me that I should put the text in an image for them. Duh! I don't see how you can sort this. You could try instructions to get Opera and OV so they can listen but they can't read the instructions so that's out. If you're determined to provide for anyone who is illiterate then I suggest you contact an expert on the subject and see what they suggest. There really is only so far you can go and providing for those who have no choice is my limit.

Come to think of it, if it's vital then you could record yourself reading the site and have it streaming with access to it via an icon with a speaker or something. Don't use an ear as that's the international sign for deaf. Not sure what you would do about links though. I suppose you could make it a Flash presentation with links built in saying click on the xxx picture below.



Donkey -> RE: Adjacent Links (1/23/2007 13:20:19)

I think making websites for the illiterate is accessibility gorn mad!

What next, books for the illiterate with just pictures? War and Piece would be a bit heavy going.

I suppose you could say youtube is for the illiterate but they have to be able to read a little bit to use the search facility.

After the illiterate who's next? The stupid? Those with "attention deficit disorder" ...

A line must be drawn.



rubyaim -> RE: Adjacent Links (1/23/2007 16:22:11)

Jaybee, fortunately I have real users to test on with regards to accessibility and dyslexia, esl, non-mouse etc - none of whom are backwards in coming forward if I muck something up [:D]

quote:

Those who cannot read you have more of a problem. It was once suggested to me that I should put the text in an image for them.

Funnily enough I do use this solution in certain areas - text like "Don't walk in front of a forklift" can easily have an image of someone walking in front of a forklift with one of those red-circles-with-a-line-across-it things.

Donkey
quote:

I think making websites for the illiterate is accessibility gorn mad!

I'm on an Intranet - don't really think I have any users who are truly illiterate but do have those who have trouble reading and those who have English as a second language and find the written word confusing. Simple English with lots of illustrations and diagrams seems to work for them.



rubyaim -> RE: Adjacent Links (1/23/2007 20:05:53)

quote:

Actually I'm looking for a table that shows what the different screen readers actually read.

Nicole, I found this
http://www.access-matters.com/screen-reader-test-results/




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