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Re: Question regarding accessible badges or widgetsforFacebook and Twitter

for

From: Debra Cerda
Date: Feb 25, 2009 4:25PM

Hi, Randi!
I would recommend that you read Desiree's post about her experience with Facebook at this blogpost http://universallydesigned.net/uncategorized/facebook-the-good-bad-and-the-ugly/

As a sighted user who's also had some usability issues with Facebook, I would recommend your friend set it up and show you how to ignore applications requests that are difficult to manage.

Sincerely,
Debra

>>> Randi < <EMAIL REMOVED> > 2/25/2009 4:11 PM >>>
Hi all,

I just joined this list and the forum at webaim after stumbling across
webaim and emailing the webmaster. I'm in no way a web develper
yet...I've been blind for ten months now; it was hugely unexpected. I
was an avid web user before and am teaching myself VoiceOver and
Apple, having been a PC user before. I've just been lurking here, not
understanding much LOL.

The Facebook thing caught my attention however. I didn't use Facebook
before and actually have a friend coming over Monday to set me up
there. Am I hearing correctly that Facebook is not accessible? Or is
it simply the widgets and the so called follow me thing? I'm going to
be disappointed if I can't use it since I'm hoping to get back in
touch with friends.

I don't know if a newly blind chic is welcome to post and ask
questions here. I'm very interested in web advocacy since I have
experience in the web both sited and blind. I also am interested in
starting a forum for the blind and visually impaired since I haven't
found any cool ones.

If this list is just for experienced web developers, let me know and
I'll go back to lurking until I start my own site.

Sincerely,

Randi O.

On 2/25/09, Debra Cerda < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Hi,
> Thank you everyone for your responses, my apologies for not being more
> clear. I appreciate the additional information on the accessible twitter and
> FB. However, I'm on the content side of it, wanting to include a "Follow me
> on twitter" badge or link. Or a "Tweet the Facts" much like on the bottom of
> Charity: Water's http://www.charitywater.org/twestival/index.html , which
> appears to fail accessibility testing. Friend Feed was also recommended if
> we wanted to aggregate the non-profits FB and Twitter to their front page,
> but I also don't know how well that would meet accessibility requirements.
> Again, we want to help the non profit use social media tools to promote
> their mission, but need the content on their website to be accessible.
>
> Sincerely,
> Debra
>
>>>> "John E. Brandt" < <EMAIL REMOVED> > 2/19/2009 1:26 PM >>>
> I see someone already beat me to the answer regarding Accessible Twitter and
> Accessible Facebook. I've put the info on my blog
> http://www.jebswebs.net/blog/ - the Accessible Facebook appears to be a work
> in progress and I still can't find an actual application that can be used.
> The Twitter link is: http://www.accessibletwitter.com/ and though usable now
> is still being developed. BTW, one comment on Twitter from an screen reader
> user questioned why the need as apparently the plain ole Twitter site was
> pretty accessible.
>
> All that said, this is still a great question. We might broaden it to
> include all social networking systems including ones that you "build"
> yourself like NING and KickApps. My testing of both of these leaves me
> wondering if there are any out there that are accessible.
>
> BTW, I am experimenting with NING right now and it's accessibility problems
> do not seem as severe as KickApps. So, I will work with NING for now.
>
> I also have to mention at this point the caveat that you can create the most
> accessible web application in the world and it only takes one user to add
> inaccessible content to create an accessibility problem.
>
> Lastly, it is my understanding that JavaScript and Flash and even AIR can be
> made accessible, but that needs to be done early in the development cycle.
> We need to get our message to the developer community.
>
> ~j
>
> John E. Brandt
> Web Design, Development, Consultation
> Augusta, Maine USA
> www.jebswebs.com
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
> 207-622-7937
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Debra Cerda
> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 11:14 AM
> To: Discussion list for web and software accessibilityissues; WebAIM
> Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED>
> Subject: [WebAIM] Question regarding accessible badges or widgets for
> Facebook and Twitter
>
> Hi,
> Several of our agency staff are volunteering their time with the 2009
> Accessible Internet Rally (AIR) Interactive. Our team ("Ctrl Alt Delete or
> C.A.D.") is working with a wonderful local non-profit Anthropos Arts to
> improve the usability and accessibility of their web site. We've identified
> the goals of their web site are simply awareness, advocacy, and support. The
> objective of their web site is to share information about their organization
> and its programs with the community, and get people excited enough about
> their work support through donations. The challenge is that currently it's
> the executive director and founder who are the primary workhorses within
> this organization. We are encouraging them to use social media strategies to
> help them meet these goals.
>
> It would be greatly appreciated if we could get some input and
> recommendations from members of the accessibility community on Facebook
> widgets, Twitter badges (follow me on...), and ease/difficulty of Paypal
> donate button, regarding their placement on a web page. Please email me
> directly at dcerda I am aware of the inherent accessibility issues with
> Facebook and Twitter themselves, especially after reading posts on these
> topics on Knowbility blogs at http://universallydesigned.net/
>
> Anthropos Arts http://www.anthropos.org provides opportunities for
> educational, social, and personal growth to East Austin's under-served
> middle and high school students through free music education programs taught
> by professional musician-mentors from diverse genres.
>
> Thank you for your time and support!
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Debra Cerda
> Drinking Water Quality
> Public Drinking Water Section
> Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
>
> (512) 239-6045
>
> PPlease consider whether it is necessary to print this e-mail
>
>
>