Author Archives: Robyn

by | March 9, 2009 · 3:19 pm

Beat the recession with accessible information

Three ways to beat the recession with accessible information

It is important in tough times to make the most of the market.
Accessible information can help you make money by increasing your market reach. Not everyone is the same – 20% of people in NZ have disabilities. Our population is ageing, with numbers of people over 65 approaching 14% of the population. There are increasing numbers of people for whom English is a second language

You will save money by careful planning to provide multiple sources of information. An accessible web site can mean fewer calls to call centres. If I can’t use a site easily I will use the phone to find the information I want. This will cost the information provider more.

You will prevent waste. If people have access to clear and understandable information they will be able to use products and services properly and minimise waste. In the health services people need clear, understandable and accessible information so they can make the most of their medication and treatment.

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Filed under Information Accessibility, Web Accessibility

by | March 2, 2009 · 9:57 am

Screen Reader user survey

Webaim has released its Survey of Preferences of Screen Readers Users conducted December 2008 through January 2009  It makes interesting if somewhat frustrating reading. While 1121 responses were received we are not told where they came from – I know some kiwi users responded – that might make a difference as different countries have different access to resources for users to have up to date technology.

The survey covered preferences in the following areas:

The conclusions the survey draws are hardly surprising.
“What it tells us is that there is no typical screen reader user.”
It goes on to say “This survey emphasizes that screen reader accessibility is about real people – and people that have diverse abilities and preferences. As developers, we must do our best to accommodate the needs of this diverse group.”

“In general, these results suggest that following accessibility guidelines and standards, using technologies that support high levels of accessibility, and providing users with options is of the highest importance.”

There was a wide range of responses to the survey so it was difficult to make any hard and fast recommendations Webaim said.

One thing I found particularly interesting was the number of respondents who had more than one impairment, 118 respondents (10.4%) reported multiple disabilities.  Perhaps since the respondents were self-selected people with more than one impairment are more likely to experience accessibility barriers and therefore more likely to respond. Developers might take this into account.

It is worth a read, and I recommend it to developers in particular. It is also worth noting that of course screen reader users are not the only people who experience web site accessibility barriers.

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Filed under Web Accessibility

by | February 23, 2009 · 1:39 pm

New Blogs on the block

The blogosphere is like the Universe in the Monty Python song which “keeps on expanding and expanding in all of the directions it can whiz.” I could spend 24 hours a day or more and still never read even all the blogs which might interest me, never mind those which would give me apoplexy, but there are two which I have recently found which might interest readers.

Those of us who are keen on making information accessible talk a lot naturally about accessible web sites. But what about blogs?
How accessible is your blog? All Access Blogging is a blog generally devoted to…well…accessible blogs. What more can I say. It is worth a visit.

In these grim times it is encouraging to see the EEO Commissioner in her National Conversation about Work instituting a new blog on disabled people at work.

Those of us who care about employment issues need to get involved in the process so our voices are heard and our issues included.

On that note I do hope disability interests will be heard at the Employment Summit on 27th. There will be a representative there from DPA so good luck, especially if you are the only one!

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Filed under Disability Issues, Disability Rights, Web Accessibility

by | February 9, 2009 · 1:22 pm

Eamon Daly 1969 – 2009

One of the very hard things about being part of the disability community is that many people in it do not live to make old bones. We must mourn for people before they nay have finished their life’s work, or before their potential is fully realised, or simply before they reach a proper old age.

Just a few days ago in Christchurch a large number of people from all over New Zealand gathered to celebrate the life of Eamon Daly, who had recently been elected president of DPA among his many other community and social activities. He was close to completing his PHD and lived life to the full, as you would expect from someone who was barely forty.

Sometimes we learn more about someone when they die than we knew about them in life. I had been looking forward to getting to know Eamon better, and working with him in his role as DPA president.

Eamon still had a great deal to give in all aspects of life. He will be sadly missed by many.

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Filed under Disability Rights