Author Archives: Robyn

by | March 15, 2011 · 9:05 am

Real world testing for web accessibility

You’ve carefully read and tried to tick the boxes for most of those irritating government web accessibility standards, and the W3C accessibility Standards, and still the pesky ‘crips and blindies’ complain about your web site not being accessible to them. What to do?

Sadly all the box ticking in the world won’t guarantee an accessible web site. Accessibility is not all about a score on a list of standards, although of course standards provide the basis for best practice, and they are certainly a necessary foundation for accessibility. But adherence to standards alone will not guarantee the accessibility of your site.

Real world testing is an essential element of web accessibility. By that I mean testing by a variety of disabled users with their regular technology and in their regular everyday situations so the real problems they as users experience can be revealed, and solved.

In ten years experience we have discovered that there are some critical aspects of accessibility that will only be discovered by real disabled testers. Alternative text for images is an example. Only a human tester can tell if it adds real meaning to the information on the page for them.

Nothing about us without us!

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Filed under Disability Issues, Disability Rights, Information Accessibility, Web Accessibility

by | March 3, 2011 · 9:43 pm

Ten things you should know about people with low vision

Many people misunderstand vision loss. They assume that you are either blind or you can see reasonably well. The truth is quite different. This is my attempt at clarification.

  1. Low vision is very different from blindness, although they both exist on a vision continuum. If you have low or impaired vision, it will probably affect your; clarity of vision (visual acuity), ability to differentiate colours, and/or range of vision (visual fields).
  2. Low vision does not mean we are all the same. Low vision can affect each person differently. This has significant implications for information accessibility and real world testing of web sites.
  3. Making things big will not always help, although it might in some situations. We also need clarity and definition
  4. We don’t all need identical colour contrast although we will need good contrast
  5. While we may look at you while you direct us, we might not have a clue where you are pointing. You might need to describe more. It is not funny to make us try and guess who you are if we don’t immediately recognise you in the street.
  6. It you ask us how much we can see you may not get a sensible answer. You are asking for a comparison between what you and I can see.
  7. We may have other impairments which may present different issues in different situations
  8. We won’t all wear glasses and we don’t all use screen readers or Jaws, canes or guide dogs.
  9. There are a lot more of than you think. Over 80,000 New Zealanders are blind or live with a sight limitation that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Of this number, only 11,500 are completely blind. Numbers will grow as our population ages.
  10. Like all disabled people, when we state our needs we are not being a nuisance or demanding – we need these things. We really need clear makings of the edges of steps for example. If you aren’t sure just ask, respectfully.

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Filed under Disability Issues, Disability Rights, Inclusion, Information Accessibility, Web Accessibility

by | February 7, 2011 · 10:25 am

Reflecting on Waitangi Day

Many Pakeha New Zealanders seem to feel confused about Waitangi, and that constrains our ability to wholeheartedly celebrate it as our national day. We are confused about the ‘one nation, two people’ thing, and there is maybe some misplaced guilt and anger about the past, and about Maori assertions of their rights under the Treaty.

For those Pakeha who think it is relevant only to Maori, we need to remember that it is the Treaty that gives us our place here.

Unity in diversity is healthy. It is also productive and creative. The Treaty of Waitangi, with all its flaws is our Treaty too. I, for one, enjoy exploring and learning about our history, especially as the version I was taught was neither accurate nor helpful in increasing my general understanding. The reality was much meatier and more challenging and interesting.

A visit to Waitangi, especially on Waitangi Day is one we should all make at least once in a lifetime. I treasure the visits I have made, both on Waitangi Day and on several other occasions.

On Waitangi Day I believe we should celebrate the things we have gained together, and acknowledge and explore the things we have still to do. We should treasure our uniqueness as a nation of Maori, Pakeha and everyone else who has chosen to make Aotearoa New Zealand their home.

I also think Waitangi Day should be ‘Mondayised,’ to use that ugly word. It is after all our National Day and should be accorded due respect.

It is rather ironic that Waitangi Day seems to be celebrated more wholeheartedly by our compatriots abroad than at home.

I can’t resist adding that it is shame the Waitangi Trust web site has fallen prey to the “greying of the Internet.” Perhaps trustees should remember that Waitangi Day is for all of us, and all includes disabled and older people of all ethnicities who may struggle to read grey text on an important site. After all Ink on the internet is free.

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Filed under Disability Issues, Disability Rights, Miscellaneous, Travel

by | December 23, 2010 · 3:30 pm

Wrapping up 2010

As we approach the end of the usual Lemming-like rush towards Christmas and the holiday season we begin to take stock of the year that was. In my household that process has been disrupted by a flood from an apartment two floors above, resulting in the appearance of two large, loud and breezy driers in our hallway. Trying to work in my office was like being on a long-haul flight with the gale inside the plane.

Still we are dry and quiet now and I can belatedly reflect on the events of 2010. This year saw the end of my eight year term as a human rights commissioner with responsibility for disability issues. A wrench to stop doing something I love but I still retain connections and I am delighted that a fulltime disability human rights commissioner will be appointed.

This year has seen a raft of reports and research around disability rights and social welfare, and the beginnings of the Improving Attitudes and Behaviour towards Disabled People campaign. It will be interesting to see it develop and to measure its achievements in my daily life as a disabled person.

I was relieved that none of my family or friends were injured or lost their homes or livelihoods in the frightening earthquake in Canterbury.

We have seen the passing of disabled friends, colleagues and activists and mourned our loss while giving thanks for their enormous and valuable contribution to the disability community.

New beginnings are also evident. We travelled south for a (freezing) midwinter family wedding and our daughter came home from the UK summer to share the celebrations lasting a whole delightful weekend.

At AccEase we are broadening our scope of disability work, and I have relished developing new products and establishing collaborative relationships including some with international organisations..

I wish readers and friends a very happy Christmas, if you celebrate it, and a pleasant, safe and restful holiday with a resurgence of energy for the work still to be done. Our beautiful pohutukawa trees are in full bloom in the sunny summer this year. I hope they are a good omen for us all, bringing a prosperous, rights based and peaceful 2011.

Red pohutukawa flower with leaf. NZ Christmas tree.

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Filed under Disability Issues, Disability Rights, Information Accessibility, Miscellaneous