Thread Subject: Re: Web Gaps - keyboard operation

Note

This archival content is maintained by WebAIM and NCDAE on behalf of TEITAC and the U.S. Access Board . Additional details on the updates to section 508 and section 255 can be found at the Access Board web site.

From: Randy Marsden
Date: Thu, Jan 18 2007 7:25 PM

Here, here.

In these discussion, we tend to think a lot about computer access for blind
users, partly because it often presents the most difficult technical
challenges (plus, there are several people who are blind on the TEITAC
committee itself, who are providing excellent first-hand knowledge). But we
need to be careful to remember the other types of disabilities as well.

-Randy
>
> From: Sean Hayes < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Reply-To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee
> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 22:56:53 +0000
> To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Web Gaps - keyboard operation
>

> I'm sorry, I didn't think the intention of this was specific to blind users,
> but might include those with limited motor skills. I guess this illustrates
> the necessity of clarifying what this provision is actually about.
>
> Sean Hayes
> Standards and Policy Team
> Accessible Technology Group
> Microsoft
> Phone:
> mob +44 7977 455002
> office +44 117 9719730
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Barrett, Don
> Sent: 18 January 2007 21:54
> To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Web Gaps - keyboard operation
>
> In all my testing over the years, I have never come across a situation in
> which a blind persons's career was negatively affected because drawing
> capacity wasn't available from the keyboard. I will never use PhotoShop, and
> I don't know any blind person who will. I still haven't seen clear concise
> examples of what is wrong with textually discerned.
> For example, why are we just accepting the notion that freehand drawing must
> be accessible from the keyboard. I am not against the idea if it has
> practical merit, but I want to ensure that the standards provide practical
> guidance, not just satisfy an intellectual desire to codify that which isn't
> necessary.
>

WebAIM is an initiative of:
Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) Utah State University