[gui-talk] Fwd: Article: Disabled Deprived of Access to Many Top Web Sites

[Steve Pattison]

>From: Susan Thompson susan at sthompson.net
>To: VIP-L vip-l at softspeak.com.au
>
>Disabled deprived of access to many top Web sites By Irwin Arieff
>
>Wed Dec 6, 4:05 AM ET
>
>Many Web sites around the world are beyond the reach of disabled persons but
>could easily be improved to meet international accessibility standards, a
>survey commissioned by the United Nations found on Tuesday.
>
>The study, conducted for the world body by British technology firm Nomensa,
>looked at 100 popular sites in 20 countries and found the vast majority
>failed to meet international standards of accessibility.
>
>"We've clearly got some obstacles to overcome," Nomensa's Leonie Watson, who
>is blind, told a news conference at U.N. headquarters.
>
>While many sites have taken steps toward wider accessibility, they need to
>do more to become fully available to people who cannot use a computer mouse,
>have low-vision disabilities or are blind, she said.
>
>Among the most common problems encountered in the survey were the use of a
>common scripting language called JavaScript and of graphics unaccompanied by
>explanatory text, she said.
>
>A heavy reliance on JavaScript makes it impossible for about 10 percent of
>Internet users to access key information because they lack the needed
>software to do so, she said.
>
>Textual descriptions of graphics enable individuals who are blind to "see"
>them by using screen reader software that converts the text into electronic
>speech, she said.
>
>Another problem turned up by the survey was the use of poorly contrasting
>color combinations, making Web pages difficult to read for people with mild
>visual impairment like color blindness.
>
>The survey looked at popular travel, finance, media, government and retail
>sites in countries with relatively well-developed Internet infrastructure.
>
>The study found that three of the 100 sites evaluated met the basic
>accessibility criteria -- those of the German chancellor
>(http://www.bundeskanzlerin.de), the Spanish government
>(http://www.la-moncloa.es/default.htm) and the British prime minister
>(http://www.primeminister.gov.uk).

Regards Steve
Email:  srp at internode.on.net
Skype:  steve1963
MSN Messenger:  internetuser383 at hotmail.com