The web access software dilemma
Greetings! I'm Christian Robicheau, assistant editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Ah yes! March is just humming along and soon it will be time to welcome April.
I hope that everyone has had a great March and today I am delighted to share an editorial by our president Donna Jodhan. This week, Donna discusses a great concern of hers; the web access software dilemma. I invite you now to read on.
Enjoy your weekend!
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The web access software dilemma
There used to be a time not too long ago when it was so difficult to find any company willing to develop web access software that could be used by blind and partially sighted persons to surf the Internet without sighted assistance. Within the last few years however, this picture seems to have changed and within the last few months alone I have had both sighted as well as blind and partially sighted persons telling me that more companies seem to be developing software that would make it possible for us to be more independent surfers.
On the surface, this appears to be a huge step forward but wait! I believe that this picture is not very accurate and for the following reasons. However, before I fill in the gaps, allow me to tell you that I am not going to name specific names for fear that someone would not be too happy with me so indeed, I have to tread very cautiously here. Yes it is true that there are more companies venturing into the web access software arena and they are promoting their software to be the latest and greatest Saviors of independence for accessibility but alas! Most of them have and continue to fall woefully short of fulfilling the needs and requirements for blind and partially sighted surfers.
To clarify this picture: There is one particular software company that emphatically states that their software package is user friendly to blind and partially sighted persons but sadly enough, this is not the case. It is a piece of software that only works if the website in question has been exactly coded to work with it. It does not respect the navigational structure that is vital for blind persons plus more. In short, it is not suitable for a blind person. Even after the website has been coded to work with it, many access features still need to be included in the development of a website.
In the case of another software package, the company in question has developed a product that does cater to the needs of much of the disabled persons community but it is not accommodating to blind and partially sighted persons. A step in the right direction, yes! However there are concerns with this particular company’s marketing strategies. They have somehow managed to convince some very high profile North American companies that they are the answer to accessibility development but at the same time, they are also aware that their product does not fulfill the needs of blind and partially sighted persons.
There is a growing concern among accessibility experts that if this trend is allowed to continue, blind and partially sighted persons are going to be shut out and we need to find ways to stop this before it becomes a very bad and unbreakable habit. It is one thing to develop glitzy software that promises quick and easy solutions for accessibility but quite another when these solutions do not fulfill their promises or to put it in another way; they are bordering on false advertising and expectations. I urge any organization and company wishing to become accessible compliant to take the extra time to ensure that they are going to get what they pay for. That is, a software package that is the real thing and not just a quick and dirty solution.
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
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca
Ah yes! March is just humming along and soon it will be time to welcome April.
I hope that everyone has had a great March and today I am delighted to share an editorial by our president Donna Jodhan. This week, Donna discusses a great concern of hers; the web access software dilemma. I invite you now to read on.
Enjoy your weekend!
+++++++++++++++
The web access software dilemma
There used to be a time not too long ago when it was so difficult to find any company willing to develop web access software that could be used by blind and partially sighted persons to surf the Internet without sighted assistance. Within the last few years however, this picture seems to have changed and within the last few months alone I have had both sighted as well as blind and partially sighted persons telling me that more companies seem to be developing software that would make it possible for us to be more independent surfers.
On the surface, this appears to be a huge step forward but wait! I believe that this picture is not very accurate and for the following reasons. However, before I fill in the gaps, allow me to tell you that I am not going to name specific names for fear that someone would not be too happy with me so indeed, I have to tread very cautiously here. Yes it is true that there are more companies venturing into the web access software arena and they are promoting their software to be the latest and greatest Saviors of independence for accessibility but alas! Most of them have and continue to fall woefully short of fulfilling the needs and requirements for blind and partially sighted surfers.
To clarify this picture: There is one particular software company that emphatically states that their software package is user friendly to blind and partially sighted persons but sadly enough, this is not the case. It is a piece of software that only works if the website in question has been exactly coded to work with it. It does not respect the navigational structure that is vital for blind persons plus more. In short, it is not suitable for a blind person. Even after the website has been coded to work with it, many access features still need to be included in the development of a website.
In the case of another software package, the company in question has developed a product that does cater to the needs of much of the disabled persons community but it is not accommodating to blind and partially sighted persons. A step in the right direction, yes! However there are concerns with this particular company’s marketing strategies. They have somehow managed to convince some very high profile North American companies that they are the answer to accessibility development but at the same time, they are also aware that their product does not fulfill the needs of blind and partially sighted persons.
There is a growing concern among accessibility experts that if this trend is allowed to continue, blind and partially sighted persons are going to be shut out and we need to find ways to stop this before it becomes a very bad and unbreakable habit. It is one thing to develop glitzy software that promises quick and easy solutions for accessibility but quite another when these solutions do not fulfill their promises or to put it in another way; they are bordering on false advertising and expectations. I urge any organization and company wishing to become accessible compliant to take the extra time to ensure that they are going to get what they pay for. That is, a software package that is the real thing and not just a quick and dirty solution.
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
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca
posted by Editor at
3:57 AM
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