I had a recent inquiry from a deaf internet user (a potential student), something I can relate to. During school I only had 40% hearing. My hearing problems were picked up in junior school during a routine health check. Initially the examiner thought I was playing around. Only an operation would solve the problem, but I was too young and would have to wait until I was 17.

Right up to my leaving cert I had to struggle. The front row was for swots, one I was not. So I opted for the back row. Class mates thought I was mad – it appeared as if I always ignoring teachers’ requests and roll call. I was able to keep up and with a gentle nudge from a mate (Darren Woodings), I’d know when the teacher had called my name.

When teachers turned to write on the board, that was a whole different ball game, almost a black out. I could no longer make out what they were saying, as I couldn’t see them speak and I’d loose a huge chunk of the lesson. I got into a bit of trouble from time to time, with a few close calls of flying objects to get my attention. To quote one school report “Very smart, but in a world of his own”. I got by and it wasn’t until my final PTA did my mother break her silence about me being half deaf. That was my fault, I told her if anyone found out I’d get picked on and I’d never go back. The penny dropped with the teachers and one apologised for not picking up on it.

It’s now 2008, we have the Web and all the benefits it brings to people with special needs. A lot of people think accessibility is about helping the blind, but its not, there is more to it.

Below is an extract from a recent enquiry we received

I am deaf and I am heavy internet user. I am interested to apply for online MBA programs from either IE Business School or Thunderbird Business School. The challenge I am facing nowadays is that these schools are not compliance either with ADA or DDA given the fact that at least 20% to 50% of the learning method is based on live online participation and streaming videos. They do not come with Closed Captioned or with English subtitles. And thats provide an obstacles for me to learn.

What answer should we provide?

I suggested that he contacts each school and ask if they have anything in place to support his needs. We know they do not provide closed caption or English subtitles but maybe (and this would not be to difficult to implement) the school provides a hosted chat room to convey a live text transcript of the audio and live online participation. This would benefit not only deaf students but also users whose PCs don’t support audio, or those who are not in a noisy environment.

Another option as seen on TV (News) would be to provide a translator to do sign language. Signing for such is likely to be very tiring and they couldn’t support all online participation, but they could convey the really important stuff.

The school could also provide a post video download of each session and test transcripts. Although this is not the same as live participation – it would benefit not just users with special needs but also any student who may have missed a session.

If you have had a similar experience or know of an alternative school for a course supporting users with special needs, please leave a comment or email me directly.

Shawn Henry has posted a request to the WAI Interest Group to collect experiences, stories, and perspectives
on people with disabilities using the Web via mobile devices. See below:

Dear WAI Interest Group Participants,

We are interested in collecting experiences, stories, and perspectives
on people with disabilities using the Web via mobile devices. For
example: What are use cases of accessing the Web via a mobile device
that are particularly useful for a person with a disability? What are
unique issues accessing the Web via mobile device (versus desktop or
laptop) for people with disabilities?

We are also interested in similar information about Web access via
mobile device by “seniors”, older users who may have Web accessibility
needs related to aging. Are there cases when accessing the Web via a
mobile device is particularly useful for older users, or they have
unique issues using the Web via a mobile device?

Please note that we are limiting the scope of this query to *specific
accessibility issues using the Web*, and *not* more general hardware
issues, non-Web functionality, etc.

You can send your feedback to me, the WAI interest list or you can send them
to wai@w3.org.

The 2008 EDeAN Conference will take place on 12th & 13th of June, 2008 in León, Spain. Its is being hosted this year by the Spainish National Centre on Personal Autonomy and Technical Aids (CEAPAT).

“Training in Design for All: Innovative Experiences”.

This conference is an opportunity to exchange information regarding new training experiences and advances on the concept of Design for All. Specific sessions on users` experiences, good practices, programmes and polices related with training developed in Europe have been included in the conference programme. Speakers are professionals working in the industry, universities, gubernmental and European institutions – European Commission and the Council of Europe.

Conference details are available on the EDeAN website http://url.ie/f9h

I picked this up on Twitter this morning via Bohoe.  It is so good I just had to share it, enjoy

It seems like a life time since we have been in contact with our partners. After building the Partner Web site and promoting it, we kinda dipped back under the radar, focusing on W3C standards related work and R&D. Truth be told, we didn’t stop there, we haven’t forget about you. We’ve also been really busy in the kitchen cooking a nice Web application to allow you “our Partners” to certify and label all yours and your clients’ Web sites.

The first draft of the application design was only intended to support Web accessibility (WCAG) but we decided to keep going simply from the reaction of folks we told about the application. The result is you will be able to label Web sites to make claims about compliance to WCAG, MobileOk and Section 508.

It does not stop there. The application can also create content labels for Web Sites that use a Creative Commons license and we’ll be adding more standards and codes of conduct as they come down stream.

I spent the day on the phone to our partners, touching base to say Hi and that they can expect and update shortly. If I haven’t called you yet, don’t worry, I will. Feel free to get in touch anytime.

I was delighted to hear partners still being so positive towards Accessibility. We all know the many reason and benefits of why a Web site should be accessible and comply with Web Standards. We need to push it so that brand/product owners also understand those benefits.

We will be sending out an update very soon.

We currently have more than 50 partners across at least 10 countries and looking to scale this when we raise funding. To find out more about the programme and sign up to the Accessibility Partner Programme visit here.

From experience of past projects Web Accessibility is often considered to late in the development process.  In most cases the client or owner usually signs off the project on the visual design.  They are excited to see their idea becoming a reality and never consider the unpinning technologies used.

Its not uncommon for projects to land on our desk after the build is delivered.  We will conduct the accessibility audit and work directly with the developers to ensure all issues we identify are addressed.  However, this is the time when changes cost more.

Accessibility should be considered as early as the design stage.  Discussions should take place regarding layout and navigation and flow of an application before the build stages. Its a lot easier to over come issues while the project is still on paper.

From a developers stand point, they should be instructed on how to build, and what technologies to use instead of delivering an application that relies heavily on javascript.

The more effort made to put emphasis on accessibility equals the better chances of getting it right first time.  Even if that means you are the only person in the room who asks the question.

Build accessibility into your project, don’t try ad bolt it on.

WebAnywhere is a new screen reader (text-to-speech software) on the horizon. Available May 2008, this screen reader will be free. Like the name it can be accessed on any PC meaning it will provide more freedom and access to information for people who depend on such software. All they will need is access to a PC with a sound card, just as you might check your email on a friends PC or one at work or collage.

To avail of it you simply execute some keyboard commands to open the WebAnywhere home page and away you go.

WebAnywhere is a web-based screen reader. It requires no special software to be installed on the client machine and, therefore, enables blind people to access the web from any computer they happen to have access to that has a sound card.

Since this is a Web based application chances are it will support mobile phones but we’ll have to wait until its released to test that.

Below is a video demonstration of someone using WebAnywhere to check their email, project deadline and the bus time table.