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Re: Gmail and accessibility

for

From: Marc Grossman
Date: Sep 18, 2007 1:00PM


As a JAWS user, I can say that I have used G mail in the HTML mode and I
found it to be fairly accessible but I did not enjoy its user interface.
Particularly, the concept of having the reply fields located on the same
page and trying to follow a particular "conversation." As with all web
based applications, each user is going to have its preference when it
comes to navigation. For example, Google arranging its search results
by headings and Yahoo using lists. I don't like navigating in G mail
with the keyboard commands.

Some of the people have mentioned using Outlook or Outlook Express to
access G mail as a Pop account, in which case I am not sure what benefit
G mail offers over its rivals.

I believe that Google has not yet made all of its calendar functions
accessible to screen reading software but it has been a while since I
checked.
-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Robert
Erichsen
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 11:06 AM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: [WebAIM] Gmail and accessibility



My university is considering moving student email accounts to Gmail for
a variety of reasons. Before we do this, we want to make sure that it
meets accessibility requirements. Does anyone have any experiences or
knowledge to share about how Gmail rates in this area?



I found some resources online at
http://gmail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=64950 but I'm
wondering if there are more independent and current reviews out there.



Best,





Robert Erichsen, M.A.

Assistive and Instructional Technology Specialist

Cal State University San Marcos

Academic Technology Services

760/750-8649 <EMAIL REMOVED>