oz: the blog of glenda sims ( the goodwitch)
Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.
I recently had an hour long (very intense) debate with one of my web designers over accessibility. He knows I’m the “self-appointed accessibility goddess at UTâ€â€¦and yet, he still thought accessibility was optional on a specific project he was doing for me.
He thought, “no blind person will ever use this content†and it made him really angry that I would require him to add alt.
Imagine a web where everyone has access… regardless of their physical or mental ability. This is the vision behind the Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR) a friendly and fun competition that pairs web developers with local non-profits to create accessible websites. Even before the AIR awards ceremony, web developers win by receiving valuable technical accessibility training; Non-Profits win by getting a new and accessible web presence and we all win by moving forward on the path of web access for all.
A collegue is conducting research on the digital divide…if you happen to know of any efforts that fit the following description…could you please share?
I am currently conducting research into the digital divide and how this affects disadvantaged people including individuals with disabilities.
Specifically, I am interested in initiatives that have found ways to encourage disadvantaged people to use the Internet, particularly e-government services. Put differently, I’m looking for initiatives and projects (at any level) that have used creative and innovative ways of introducing the Internet to people who might not have had the opportunity of using it.
In the midst of this far from perfect world, there is so very much to be grateful for. Today, I learned that Walgreens is actively seeking employees with disabilities for their new distribution centers. They have developed a site called Walgreens Outreach with accessibility in mind. Their goal is to have at least one-third of… Continue reading Walgreens Outreach – Outstanding!
I’m all about universal accessibility. I get a real jolt when I can break down barriers between people and information. But a collegue asked me a question today that has me perplexed.
How do I caption a work of art that is a video?
Many of you have been touched by the wonderful work of Dr. John Slatin, accessibility expert extraordinaire. He has been my mentor and dear friend since I first met him in 2000. My passion for accessibility was inspired by him and his incredible attitude. And I’ll admit, that last year when he was diagnosed with… Continue reading Leukemia Letters
In this world of data overload, it is refreshing to find a site that gives you focused and useful information. Let me introduce you to, Bite Size Standards, one of my new favorites for concise web development tutorials.
What are you doing May 11-12? I hope you are attending Access U in Austin, Texas! What is Access U? A two-day accessibility conference for webmasters to teach you both the how and the why of creating web sites that meet federal, state, and industry mandates for accessibility.
Attend AccessU for: