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

[Laura Eaves]

Back when I was still using the lynx browser (lynx the cat, not links the 
newer browser) on a unix system, it was true that javascript was 
inaccessible, but now even text based browsers on unix/linux are able to use 
javascript.  I used to make the same complaint about websites using 
javascript; now I write it myself as most all the browsers, with the 
exception of lynx which is still around but falling in popularity,  do 
handle javascript.

So either the author needs to be informed of this, or the author is implying 
that somewhere there are still people using lynx who haven't heard of much 
better solutions.
Javascript is just a client side scripting language.  As long as it is used 
for graphics only, it is not accessible, but it can be made accessible and 
indeed has many more uses than simply putting up eye-candy on a website.

Cheers.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Pattison" <srp at internode.on.net>
To: "GUI Talk" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>; "Access-L" <access-l at access-l.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 8:34 AM
Subject: [gui-talk] Fwd: Article: Disabled Deprived of Access to Many Top 
Web Sites



>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
_______________________________________________
gui-talk mailing list
gui-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gui-talk