Explaining it to the sighted world

Greetings! I'm Scott Savoy, managing editor at
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca. Guess what! January is sort of over or
almost so and February is almost here. Just one more week to go!
It's a gorgeous winter's weekend shaping up and today, I am delighted to
present you with a weekly editorial by our president Donna Jodhan.
I wish you a great day.

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Explaining it to the sighted world
By Donna J. Jodhan

It is never a wise assumption when it comes to assuming that the sighted
world will understand when we tell them that we are unable to access
websites because they are inaccessible. We need to be more explicit in
order to get them to understand and that's just fine with me. I'd like to
take a few moments to paint the picture for a sighted person.

When a sighted person visits a website, they can use their eyes to choose
which link they wish to click on in order to get where they are going. In
most instances, these links are represented by images, icons, and pictures.
They use a mouse to click on their desired choice.

When a blind person visits a website, they use a screen reader that enables
them to find the links and content that they are looking for but when the
links and/or content is depicted in the form of images, icons, or pictures,
the screen reader is unable to decipher what it is. A screen reader is
software that speaks what is on a screen; it is unable to speak or describe
something that does not have text to describe it.

In other words, think of it like this:
If you place a picture in front of a blind person, they will not know what
it is unless you tell them what it is. In like manner, if there is no text
to describe what the picture, image, or icon is on a website, then the
screen reader will not be able to tell the blind person what it is and what
it means.

The technology does not exist whereby there is software that can accurately
describe the meaning of images, icons, or pictures. A screen reader will
only speak what it is able to decipher and this does not include images,
icons, and pictures.

It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words; but no two
persons can ever describe a picture in the same way. If textual
descriptions are used to describe icons, images, and pictures, it would make
life so much easier for a magnitude of
persons that include: The Blind and vision impaired, those who are unable
to read print, those with learning disabilities, and those whose first
language is not English.

It is relatively easy and cost effective to provide textual descriptions to
icons, images, and pictures. Blind persons cannot use a mouse to click on
images, icons, and pictures, because they are unable to see where to point
and click. It is a lot cheaper to provide textual descriptions than it is
to carry out time consuming research to find ways to make it possible for a
screen reader to read pictures, images, and icons.

In like manner, it is relatively easy to design a form that can be accessed
by a blind person online. If however the form needs to be downloaded and
printed in order to be completed, then a blind person will have to ask for
sighted assistance to do so. They will not be able to complete and sign a
printed form because they are unable to see to read and sign.

These are just a few explanations that are most common to help the sighted
world understand more clearly.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would
be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna's blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com
a weekly feature on important answers to consumers concerns
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly blogs for language professionals and accessibility consultants
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca