The Accessibility Policy.
Web content should always be developed that allows anyone
regardless of disability to effectively use, interpret and apply any
Web content including its ease of use for the Web user.
Barriers need removed, enhancements made, understanding acquired and
better skills developed to help all people access Web
content that suits their individual needs. This includes compatibility
of Web content with a wide range of access technologies such as screen
readers, screen magnifiers, voice recognition software and alternative
keyboard devices.
No one should be denied access and ability to use
Internet content because of any physical, social, geographic or economic
limitation. This policy's purpose is to express commitment to the
development of content that is accessible to everyone, regardless of
disabilities.
Overall Accessibility Design
Consideration.
There are many very good text to speech applications available. These
applications will render a well designed standards compliant Web page
efficiently. There is significant difference in visually reading Web
content versus that of listening to the content. From the design of the
content, visual cues are present. Well designed accessible content will
replace these visual cues with hidden audio and text cues. For example,
the use of punctuation that will eliminate the sound of run-on sentences,
audio/text cues that indicate titles of sections of content or cues that
identify menu navigation areas are just a few of the methods used
that help in communicating the Web content.
More detailed explanation and specific issues about how the Web content
uses various techniques to meet accessibility standards is available on the
Web
Site Structure Content Page[ND].
General Disability Classifications.
Any content should be designed with the following types of
disabilities in mind. As stated several times, there exists no logical
reason on why content should not be accessible. It benefits all users of
Web content.
All ancillary content, including audio files, text files,
PDF files, video files,
Flash content, et al., should be designed to accommodate all users.
Vision Impairment.
People that are blind or have low vision use a variety of assistive technology
to interpret content from the screen, including screen readers, Braille displays, screen
magnifiers, and even some combination of these. Color blindness is also a vision
impairment that requires awareness and testing of images and design by any content
developer.
Mobility Impairment.
Mobility challenges range from having no use of the hands at all to difficulties
with fine motor control. Various hardware solutions include modified mice and keyboards,
single-button "switches," foot pedals, head wands, blow tubes and joysticks, while software
solutions range from full voice recognition to face tracking to simple keyboard macros.
Auditory Impairment.
Auditory impairments may seem to have little to no impact on how people use the Web,
as most content is text and images. A person who has never been able to hear, however,
may process language completely differently than a hearing person or someone with hearing
loss that occurred later. There are requirements for captioning for multimedia and audio
files to make this type of media accessible to everyone.
Cognitive Impairment.
Cognitive impairments, which involve memory, reading comprehension, mathematical processing,
visual comprehension, problem solving, and attention, are the least understood of the various
accessibility issues. Although there is not a large body of literature and research available,
the common advice is to focus on simplicity and clarity to help address some of these issues.
Thinking this way also helps make the Web pages, sites, and applications more readily
understood by everyone.
Other Impairment.
Photosensitive epilepsy falls into this category. Flashing graphics, elements
and rapidly repeating content can cause epileptic seizures. For the vast majority
of Web site visitors, these types of elements are agitating at best.
If you have any questions regarding any issues or questions
concerning accessibility, please
e-Mail that boinkin guy.
End of the Policy Main Content.
.
Design and Accessibility.
Web design includes visual cues of layout, navigation and placement
of content. Part of the function of accessibility is translate these
visual cues to provide orientation to compensate for sight impairment.
Often times, replacing these visual cues, such as column location,
requires the use of text that announces the column. One method to
accomplish this is to use hidden text. Use of hidden text is too often
discouraged by major search engines because it can be used to hide text
to trick search engines to erroneously assign a higher engine rank for
the Web content. Hidden text within content is interpreted by search engine
algorithms and Web content may be penalized for its use.
When accessibility and search engine ranking are at stake, usability
and accessibility should never be dictated by a desire to achieve higher
rank within these engines. Accessibility should always take precedence.
Accessibility and the
Internet.
I am often asked what fires my intensity regarding accessible Internet
content. To explain, accessible Internet content is content that has
been intentionally designed so that those with disabilities have the ability
to use and interpret the Web content.
This includes the availability, for those who need it, of affordable hardware
and software that meets that need. Too often, an individual with a disability,
those recovering from or adapting to a disability, are economically disadvantaged.
They cannot afford those tools.
Years ago, I bought into the concept and practice of “Leave no man
behind”. Part of that responsibility and commitment is to create truly
accessible content and to provide, whenever possible, tools for those who cannot
afford them.
No disabled combat veteran, young child going blind from childhood
diabetes, not a single soul deserves to be denied the tremendous benefits of the
Internet because of a disability, either physical or economic.
In short, get off your ass and do the right thing.
Sort of a Modern Beach Boys
Video — Well, Maybe Not.
Educational.
Music Video | Smily
Otsuka Ai | Japanese Pop | 2003
Flash | Done
[D] Accessibility Long Description for the video..
Adobe
Flash Player 9 [External] is required for viewing.
So what if an old grumpy bastard happens to like this video.