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Re: Accessible Content Management Systems

for

From: John E Brandt
Date: Sep 24, 2014 12:42PM

Ditto to everything Jennifer shared.

For those who are interested...most of the major CMS (Drupal, Joomla,
WordPress) are very accessible "out of the box," meaning if you use the
basic installation and the default theme/template, they will work just fine
with screen readers and AT devices of all sorts for both the front-end
(public side) and the back end (tech side). The first problem with all of
these CMSs is the templates/themes and the plugin/add-ons/widgets that
people install. There are few "certified" templates/themes...you have to
search of them and/or you may need to use a "framework" and develop it to
meet your style needs. There is currently no process for vetting plugins -
let the installer beware!

Second, the most accessible CMSs (out of the box) is only as accessible as
the content being created for it. The first person who adds content can make
the site inaccessible because they lack training and an understanding of
accessible content creation. Make sure you put lots of training in your
budget if you are planning to convert to a new CMS or from a static site to
a CMS.

[Opinion] If I were choosing a CMS, I would recommend WordPress at this
point in time because they have the largest development community. And,
there is a very active, very committed and very knowledgeable core of
volunteer developers who are passionate about accessibility and WordPress.
See Jennifer's references FMI...[/opinion]

There are pockets of accessibility folks in the Drupal and Joomla
development communities, but since WP is now the "number one" CMS on the
planet, there are lots of developers and users flocking to WP and away from
these other CMSs.

~j

John E. Brandt
jebswebs: accessible and universal web design,
development and consultation
<EMAIL REMOVED>
207-622-7937
Augusta, Maine, USA

@jebswebs

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Jennifer Sutton
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 12:21 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List; WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accessible Content Management Systems

Greetings,

There's a lot going on in this space. Here are links that should get you
started.

Make WordPress Accessibility
http://make.wordpress.org/accessibility/


WordPress > Theme Accessibility Guide for Reviewers < Make WordPress
Accessible
http://make.wordpress.org/accessibility/theme-accessibility-guide-for-review
ers/

Joe Dolson Accessible Web Design -- posts tagged with WordPress
http://www.joedolson.com/articles/category/wordpress/

Joe Dolson Accessibility Ready - Theming for a Larger Audience WordPress.tv
http://wordpress.tv/2014/07/23/joe-dolson-accessibility-ready-theming-for-a-
larger-audience/

How to improve your WordPress theme's accessibility
http://getflywheel.com/accessibility-in-wordpress/

Introducing Accessible Zen An Accessible WordPress Theme David A. Kennedy's
Blog
http://davidakennedy.com/2013/accessible-zen-an-accessible-wordpress-theme/
[and other posts on his blog.]

Posts tagged with WordPress Coolfields Consulting
http://www.coolfields.co.uk/category/wordpress/

WordPress Accessibility Resources > Practical Ecommerce
http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/61516-WordPress-Accessibility-Res
ources

And for those of you who want to contribute to the effort by developing
fixes:
WordPress Trac -- accessibility component
http://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=accepted&;status=assigned&status=
closed&status=new&status=reopened&status=reviewing&component=Accessibility&g
roup=component&order=priority

At 08:04 AM 9/24/2014, Schafer, Carmen wrote:
>Does anyone know about the accessibility of using WordPress as a CMS?
>
>With appreciation,
>
>Carmen Schafer
>Univ of MO | Division of IT | ACT Center http://actcenter.missouri.edu
>(573)882-8838
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
>[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Lucy Greco
>Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 4:00 PM
>To: WebAIM Discussion List
>Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accessible Content Management Systems
>
>we use drupele and find it vary good. they are also making great strides
>on access over all. the admen interface is a little complex but
>learning it gets pass that and is well worth the learning curb
>
>
>
>--
>Lucia Greco
>Web Accessibility Evangelist
>IST - Architecture, Platforms, and Integration
>University of California, Berkeley
>(510) 289-6008 skype: lucia1-greco
>http://webaccess.berkeley.edu
>Follow me on twitter @accessaces
>
>
>On Fri, Sep 19, 2014 at 10:29 AM, Michael
>Bullis, Executive Director, The IMAGE Center of
>Maryland < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> > Here at the IMAGE Center we're beginning a very large web project
> > involving tens of thousands of videos,
> forums, blogs and a back-room database.
> >
> > I'm wondering if those of you who know far more than I can tell me
> > what the most accessible cms is out there, what are its shortcomings
> > and strong points, Etc.
> >
> >
> >
> > Our goal is to hire blind people and people with other disabilities
> > and we want to make sure we are starting out with the most accessible
> > product on the market, even if we have to make modifications.
> >
> > Michael Bullis
> >
> > Executive Director,
> >
> > Independent Marylanders Achieving Growth Through Empowerment, Inc.
> >
> > The IMAGE Center
> >
> > 300 E. Joppa Road, STE 312
> >
> > Towson MD 21286
> >
> > Office Phone: 443-275-9394
> >
> > Cell: 443-286-9001
> >
> > Email: <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> > <EMAIL REMOVED>
> >
> > Website: <http://www.imagemd.org>; www.imagemd.org
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > > > list messages to <EMAIL REMOVED>
> >
>>>http://list.webaim.org/ <EMAIL REMOVED>
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