Practical Web Accessibility news

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Facebook Timeline: overcoming accessibility barriers

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Over the past month Facebook has been rolling out its new Timeline feature, drastically changing how it presents information on personal profiles and brand pages. Our own tests and feedback from assistive technology users has indicated that this feature is a backward step for Facebook’s accessibility. Here we guide users through navigation of the Timeline’s basic functions.

Information is placed to the left and right of the timeline which sits in the centre of the page. Each activity, such as a new like or status update, is positioned on this timeline. The Timeline feature presents a number of unique challenges for users with a disability, including poor navigation, poor colour contrast and confusing functionality. However, there are some methods which users can employ to make navigating the Timeline as painless as possible.

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Web accessibility built in a day

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The winners of the 14th annual Accessibility Internet Rally that was held in February have been awarded for their effort in helping non-profit organisations create accessible websites at the 2012 Dewey Ceremony and AIR-Interactive Awards. Contestants from development and design were given just a day to take a website and make it as accessible as possible.

The Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR), run by the non-profit organisation Knowbility, is an eight-hour competition where volunteer web designers and developers come together to help non-profit organisations build accessible websites.


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Guides bridge the social media divide

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Today we’ve launched our guide to social media for people with a disability. The SociABILITY report is designed to help ensure that the one in five Australians who have a disability are not left on the wrong side of the digital divide.

Funded by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network grants scheme, the report explains the current state of social media accessibility and guides users through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Skype and blogging.

Media Access Australia researcher, Dr Scott Hollier, conducted an eight month qualitative study among people with a sensory or mobility impairment. Through this research, social media users with disabilities were able to share their tips and tricks so that others can gain access.

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5 good news stories from CSUN 2012

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Dr Scott Hollier, Project Manager at Media Access Australia, has recently returned from the CSUN 27th Annual international Technology & Persons With Disabilities conference held in San Diego, California. Here are five things that Scott is excited about.

1. Change comes from letting people know about accessibility issues

A key theme running through talks on web accessibility, disability-related employment initiatives, education services and social media resources is that an organisation that has technology-related accessibility issues is likely to try and address them if enough people let them know there’s a problem. Many of the talks focused on providing information on how to raise accessibility issues with organisations, and in turn get accessibility issues addressed.


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