WAVE
http://wave.webaim.org/
Check individual web pages by entering a URL or uploading a file. The page is re-created on their site with reminders of areas to check or hints on what is lacking for accessibility standards. Mouseovers of 'alert icons' provide more details on the potential problems. A great way to estimate a new design
Bobby Accessibility Checker
CAST no longer supports the Bobby accessiblity testing software. Bobby was sold to Watchfire in 2004 which, in turn, was acquired by IBM in 2007.Although Bobby is no longer available as a free service or standalone product, it is one of the tests included within the IBM Rational Policy Tester Accessibility Edition software, the comprehensive enterprise application for testing websites.
W3C List of Web Evaluation Tools
http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/tools/complete
Covers all sorts of very specific tools (web page reviews in step by step and review formats, pdf, color usage/contrast, flash) available for purchase or online.
Showing posts with label web design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label web design. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Review of Discussion Forums
There are many web sites and blogs discussing web design and disability usability
w3C WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) Interest Group
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/
You can subscribe to this mailing list, but its best to start with checking the web archives. Run 25 to 100+ messages a month, covering international news, conferences, latest tools, latest projects, requests for paper reviews, or specific design questions (recent included: complex data tables, the role of the H1 tag, pdfs and color contrast).
U ACCESS-L
http://trace.wisc.edu:8080/mailarchive/uaccess-l/
This mailing list covers accessibility in information technology. Recent posts showed accessibility in new technology (eyes-free access to android phones) and news such as recent FCC/FEMA standards for accessible mobile emergency alert standards, recent print stories on web accessibility.
Accessify Forum
http://www.accessifyforum.com/
This site is dedicated solely to accessibility and the web. It has several forums included one for beginners, another for site critiques, news and resources, legal issues/web standards, and site building and testing. There are also 5 general discuss forums, and two project specific forums. You can read through posts, but you must register in order to reply and take part in discussions.
That is it for today. A few resources for you to reach out and connect with people on specific questions or just keep up on the latest changes and news.
w3C WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) Interest Group
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/
You can subscribe to this mailing list, but its best to start with checking the web archives. Run 25 to 100+ messages a month, covering international news, conferences, latest tools, latest projects, requests for paper reviews, or specific design questions (recent included: complex data tables, the role of the H1 tag, pdfs and color contrast).
U ACCESS-L
http://trace.wisc.edu:8080/mailarchive/uaccess-l/
This mailing list covers accessibility in information technology. Recent posts showed accessibility in new technology (eyes-free access to android phones) and news such as recent FCC/FEMA standards for accessible mobile emergency alert standards, recent print stories on web accessibility.
Accessify Forum
http://www.accessifyforum.com/
This site is dedicated solely to accessibility and the web. It has several forums included one for beginners, another for site critiques, news and resources, legal issues/web standards, and site building and testing. There are also 5 general discuss forums, and two project specific forums. You can read through posts, but you must register in order to reply and take part in discussions.
That is it for today. A few resources for you to reach out and connect with people on specific questions or just keep up on the latest changes and news.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Review Blog: Joe Dolson 'Accessible Web Design Blog
Web Site: http://www.joedolson.com/
Blog: http://www.joedolson.com/articles/
Joe Dolson runs works as an accessible web designer and consultant and regularly blogs about the topic as well as writes articles for publication.
Joe's blog does a great job of an introduction to the field and what accessibility can do for your web site (like how accessibility can make your site more usable for all visitors), as well as accessibility-related articles at various levels (beginner DIY to advanced practitioners) which are published on his site and elsewhere on the web.
I particularly like the site for the information he provides on the basic benefits that can come from properly marking up a site for accessibility... and how that in turn can help with site marketing (web semantics article, blockquotes tag info), or can require a balance between accessibility and web site ranking (alt tag best practices). He also is well-versed in other areas of web development (articles on shorturl sites) and on the tools of his own specialty (sources of US disability statistics).
This site, while not extremely heavy on accessibility content, contains a breadth of information for the beginner and advanced user and covers many topics of interest to the average web designer. In short, he seems a web designer first with a deep knowledge of accesibility that he can bring to his work. This seems like something that most people looking for a web designer should appreciate.
Blog: http://www.joedolson.com/articles/
Joe Dolson runs works as an accessible web designer and consultant and regularly blogs about the topic as well as writes articles for publication.
Joe's blog does a great job of an introduction to the field and what accessibility can do for your web site (like how accessibility can make your site more usable for all visitors), as well as accessibility-related articles at various levels (beginner DIY to advanced practitioners) which are published on his site and elsewhere on the web.
I particularly like the site for the information he provides on the basic benefits that can come from properly marking up a site for accessibility... and how that in turn can help with site marketing (web semantics article, blockquotes tag info), or can require a balance between accessibility and web site ranking (alt tag best practices). He also is well-versed in other areas of web development (articles on shorturl sites) and on the tools of his own specialty (sources of US disability statistics).
This site, while not extremely heavy on accessibility content, contains a breadth of information for the beginner and advanced user and covers many topics of interest to the average web designer. In short, he seems a web designer first with a deep knowledge of accesibility that he can bring to his work. This seems like something that most people looking for a web designer should appreciate.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Section508.gov Overview
Content
The web site seems to primarily be an overview of "what is section 508" which covers the federal standard for web accessibility. There are several useful resources under "Accessibility Forum" and "FAQ" but these actually leave the Section 508 site and go to different sites. At first glance, this appears to be an informative site for people to understand what Section 508 is, but does not provide a lot of guidance on how to meet the section 508 standard.
There are some interesting pages such as the AT (Assistive Technology) Showcase that shows pictures and description of many of the devices used by various disabled users. Seeing braille printers, ergonomic keyboards, or a TTY machine can be the first look for many web designers, although details and video of these items in action aren't available.
Design
The site's design is a good example of a simple and highly accessible web site, although it is very spare and won't win any awards for visual appearance. It is simple and straight to the point. All links are simple text links, the logo is the only image. A 'site controls' box appears at the top right of each page, allowing changes to the font and text size.
Future?
The site has information on training and upcoming events, however the last event listed is January 2009. Hopefully the 'novelty' of Section 508 isn't falling off and making this site obselete. If anything, a greater push is necessary to ensure that web sites continue to be developed with universal accessibility in mind.
The web site seems to primarily be an overview of "what is section 508" which covers the federal standard for web accessibility. There are several useful resources under "Accessibility Forum" and "FAQ" but these actually leave the Section 508 site and go to different sites. At first glance, this appears to be an informative site for people to understand what Section 508 is, but does not provide a lot of guidance on how to meet the section 508 standard.
There are some interesting pages such as the AT (Assistive Technology) Showcase that shows pictures and description of many of the devices used by various disabled users. Seeing braille printers, ergonomic keyboards, or a TTY machine can be the first look for many web designers, although details and video of these items in action aren't available.
Design
The site's design is a good example of a simple and highly accessible web site, although it is very spare and won't win any awards for visual appearance. It is simple and straight to the point. All links are simple text links, the logo is the only image. A 'site controls' box appears at the top right of each page, allowing changes to the font and text size.
Future?
The site has information on training and upcoming events, however the last event listed is January 2009. Hopefully the 'novelty' of Section 508 isn't falling off and making this site obselete. If anything, a greater push is necessary to ensure that web sites continue to be developed with universal accessibility in mind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)