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carmin karasic

REQUIRED DISCUSSION: Increasing Awareness about Web Access Barriers - 47 views

sp12accessibility web2.0

started by carmin karasic on 19 Mar 12
  • carmin karasic
    #1 carmin karasic on 19 Mar 12
     
    Comment on something you learned from a classmate's bookmark about barriers that people with various disabilities face while they are online. Issues arise from various disabilities and/or language limitations.
  • Robert Fry
    #2 Robert Fry on 22 Mar 12
     
    Well for me, probably the most troubling thing I learned was from the interview of the accessibilty expert that Tina posted. I was under the impression that web accessibility issues were decreasing with new technology. But listening to the interview (and also what I read about) a new program called Ajax which is used by google apps, is not compatable with current accessiblity devices. Plus, the top social site, Facebook, is not accessible for disabled people. I guess I just thought that web accessiblity technology would keep pace with all the other technology but it does not seem to be. It was disturbing to listen to this expert not being hopeful that Web2.0 design would improve in regards to accessibility for the disabled.
  • Krystal Reagan
    #3 Krystal Reagan on 22 Mar 12
     
    I was shocked and saddened by the video that Tine posted. We all know that social networking is now an essential part of our society, so it's hard to think that people are being denied access to this amazing tool. You would think that you would want as many users as possible on a site, and would make it possible for all us to access your resource, but sadly as this video discussed this is far from the truth. Not only can users not utilize the social networking tools that were discussed in the video, they couldn't even signup because the registration process was inaccessible. Its hard to hear that this issue has gone unaddressed for so long that users are becoming feed up with trying to utilize a these tools.She makes a great point that this set s a bad example to the web community. If the most popular social networking sites won't address accessibility and they are still extremely popular, then who will? This makes you want to be active, but how do you do that when these sites are so popular? Sadly this is an issue that many individuals don't think about until it hits close to home. I will admit that I had a very narrow view and limited experience with accessibility in technology until I took the course through Lesley. I learned that there are many device such as the iPad that are trying to address accessibility needs through technology like Voice Over, but device technology is very limited when websites won't address accessibility needs as well. Thanks for sharing this great video Tina.
  • Tina Schmidt
    #4 Tina Schmidt on 23 Mar 12
     
    After looking at several different videos I noticed a common theme, the location of the videos, the United Kingdom (and the accents). From Erin's video I learned that in 2010, in the United Kingdom, a message was give for standards to be made for all accessibility. From here I wondered if the United States had such an idea. After a little research I did find recently documentation that the U.S. is also working on accessibility requirements for users with disabilities. The task force is called the W3C HTML5 Accessibility Task Force. The first draft of the document was presented on February 10, 2012.
  • Deanna Thyr
    #5 Deanna Thyr on 24 Mar 12
     
    I really enjoyed the video that Erin Sheehan posted. When the one lady was showing the accessibility options and it worked on that page, but when she went back to the original website, none of the settings were saved. I would be extremely frustrated if I depended on the accessibility settings and then it didn't work when I needed it. I also found it interesting that most disabled people depend more on the internet than others and yet they struggle trying to use it. I am surprised that with technology and what it is today, that there isn't a bigger push to make websites accessible to everyone.
  • Erin Sheehan
    #6 Erin Sheehan on 24 Mar 12
     
    I found Candace's article really informative. In my own research, I was impressed by the commitment of the UK to try to meet the needs of people with disabilities as well as the needs of the elderly, which can sometimes run parallel to each other. What I found really interesting was about the attitudes of people with disabilities about the internet.
    "A survey carried out for the US National Organization on Disability in 2000 found that 48 per cent of
    disabled people said that going online significantly increased their quality of life, compared with 27 per
    cent of non-disabled people. In the UK, a Leonard Cheshire study published in 2002 found that 54 per
    cent of disabled people sampled considered Internet access essential, compared with only 6 per cent
    in the general population. "
    The internet is a way to open the world up to people, and we need to make it as accessible for all people as possible.
  • Candace Robinson
    #7 Candace Robinson on 25 Mar 12
     
    I watched Tina's video about accessibility on social networking sites. I guess I have been oblivious because I assumed that applications such as Facebook with 800,000 + members would have either voluntarily or have been legally compelled to ensure that people with disabilities could use their product. In my narrow window of observation, I have seen Facebook and texting open the world up for my neice who is deaf. She used to have to rely on a telephone relay service to communicate with others who weren't in the room with her. Now she can readily communicate online and with texting. Life has opened right up for her. But, there are indeed other disabilities that should be addressed by these companies that are truly pillars in the social networking field.
  • karissa cochran
    #8 karissa cochran on 25 Mar 12
     
    I was very frustrated with Erin's video. First of all, I am thankful that I can read and see because I could not hear a thing. I had all the volume turned up to high and still had to lean into the speakers to be able to hear anything. I had to watch it a couple of times and rewind parts of it to read the subtitles that went too fast. They did, however, make many good points in the video about the importance of testing out websites. I did not know that 1 in 2 people will be disabled at one point in their life. Those are really good odds. The woman in the video brought up a great point about money. Meeting the needs of disabled people online is important not only to make it easier for them, but also because they are a large part of your audience and also income. She mentioned that disabled people will be more likely to shop online rather than go to the store. Making the website function properly is important for your pocketbook!
  • Mark Clark
    #9 Mark Clark on 25 Mar 12
     
    Cindy, I appreciate your site. I agree with you that I too do not always focus in on the unique and individualized accommodations that my students need. That is one of the reasons why I took technology because there is such a great wealth of tools and articles that would help our students. Your bookmark is the perfect example of free information online that special education teachers could to take advantage of.
  • Mark Clark
    #10 Mark Clark on 25 Mar 12
     
    Jessica: I appreciate your site on accessibility for math students. Historically, math is the subject area that is preventing students from getting a high school standard diploma. In my co-taught math class, we allow students to use calculators and students are allowed to send a text message if they are struggling on a concept. We have found that student are much more willing to handle higher math concepts because of the use of the calculator and shy students are much more willing to text a question to my co-teacher or me. Now that I've seen how podcast works, I will be incorporating that into my lesson.
  • Cindy Rotolo
    #11 Cindy Rotolo on 25 Mar 12
     
    Tracy: Sad that as a special ed teacher, I never thought about web accessibility until one of our previous Lesley classes. I would just tell the students to go on the computer and I never thought about how their disability might be a barrier. In this article researchers at the City University in the UK surveyed 196 people with disabilities and asked them what they would like the Web sites to have. I found it interesting that some of the same things they wanted for the web, are things we already do with their worksheets such as less cluttered pages, fewer graphics, and larger print. Since we are using more technology in our classrooms, it's about time we have accommodations and modifications not only for their paper and pencil work, but also for technology.
  • Cindy Rotolo
    #12 Cindy Rotolo on 25 Mar 12
     
    Deanna: Your article stated that although "There is plenty of guidance available, from legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Equality Duty and specific recommendations in the form of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and even an enforcing body, the Equality and Human Rights Commission" the majority of websites are not accessible to everyone with disabilities. I wonder at what point more laws will be made to make sure they are accessible especially with more and more technology being used in the classroom. My concerns are who will be responsible to make everything accessible? The gen ed teacher, special ed teacher, school district? Someday, a parent will sue, because her child was not able to have access to the same technology as everyone else.
  • Tracy Dunn
    #13 Tracy Dunn on 25 Mar 12
     
    Jessica, your article on "Making Math Accessible" hit a chord.
    This is such a powerful title, "When will they stop ignoring students with disabilities?"
    I feel the frustration. Students are entering my class at the middle school level deficient in all areas of vital math skills, such as knowledge of number properties and operations, measurement, basic geometry, data analysis, statistics, probability, and algebra as the website stated. It is alarming that no one mentions the fact that too many of the students with disabilities score at the bottom in math and science, since they are highly elated to each other, and rarely go on to get advanced degrees or go to college. I always felt that one of the major factors in keeping students with disabilities from math success was their lack of reading ability. It makes since that one critical issue which is overlooked is the fact that science and math educational materials in our schools are not accessible to students with disabilities. As a math teacher, this is something I will work harder on; making my notes and text information more accessible.
  • Mike Maki
    #14 Mike Maki on 25 Mar 12
     
    Erin Sheehan's posted article http://www.umich.edu/webaccess/best/caption.html is a topic that has been on my mind often ever since I learned about Universal Design. Captioning is very important for students with hearing impairments, language barriers, or who are easily distracted by class noises.
    One interesting thing that I did learn about captioning is how it can make your video more searchable and how viewers spend more time on a captioned video. Viewers are also more likely to watch a captioned video in its entirety. I have done a good job in my classes as far as presenting material in multiple ways, but I want to make better efforts towards language barriers. I would like to find some free resources that help me with this plan.
  • Tori Nelson
    #15 Tori Nelson on 25 Mar 12
     
    Erin's video blew me away! One in two people will become disabled in their lifetime? That's madness. And being the egocentric type that I am, I rarely take the time (unless Lesley finds a way to make me) to think about just how much disabled people miss out on. I was frustrated because I couldn't hear the video very well...made me feel like a jerk. I truly didn't realize that web accessibility for people with disabilities was decreasing like Tina's video pointed out.
  • l shuler
    #16 l shuler on 26 Mar 12
     
    When I watched Tina's post - I along with several of you could not believe that the biggest social network does not meet the accessibility standards for people with disabilities. These are the people that need a site like Facebook, to connect with their peers, friends and family. I did not know a lot about assistive technologies until one of the earlier Lesley courses. It helped me realized what I need to do in the computer lab to assist our students with disabilities.
    It is frustrating to think some of the largest technology progressive companies would not automatically build these
    assistive technologies into their format.
  • Gloria Braxton
    #17 Gloria Braxton on 26 Mar 12
     
    Again, this is truly a disservice to people with special needs. Facebook is supposed to be the big social network that has the voice of the world. I don't hear everyone's voice being represented based on Tina's video. Large scale companies do not always consider the smaller populations. The babyboomers are coming of age and there are quite a few of them to be considered as consumers and potential participants who may or may not have computer skills.

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