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Re: mouseover/hover and keyboard accessible expandablemenu?

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From: deblist@suberic.net
Date: Nov 6, 2009 10:30AM

On Fri, 6 Nov 2009, Jared Smith wrote:
> The key here is getting users to the content in an efficient and
> effective way. We shouldn't try to force the same menu experience on
> them no more than we drag wheelchairs up the stairs in order to give
> them the same experience of getting to the second floor.


I have figured out why I had such a strong response to this
analogy. I understand you were just speaking for flavor, but the
fact is not only do you not drag wheelchairs up the stairs, but
you also don't shove them into elevators. You build the stairs,
and you build the elevator, and then you let the person who uses
a wheelchair DECIDE how she wants to get upstairs. If she wants
to find a way to get her wheelchair up the stairs, more power to
her. Part of our job building accessible websites is adding
things like handrails to the stairwell, and making sure all the
stairwells have corners that are wide enough. We provide the
tools, we don't force the path.

Here's another example which isn't in web programming. In my
building where I work, if I want access to automatic door openers
(which I need), I can only navigate the building through
wheelchair-accessible routes. Side doors and stairwells haven't
taken this need into account, because the idea is that if you
provide that physical access for everyone all at once, then you
have at least made one physically-accessible path through the
building. But lots of people (including me) might not need
elevators and ramps but might need that other level of physical
assistance: handrails, automatic door openers, etc. Leaving aside
the greater problem (that there is only one wheelchair-accessible
path through a very large building), it is only just barely
adequate accessibility to say "we have provided physical
accessibility as long as you go out of your way". That's not the
spirit of accessibility, that's just the minimum required to
provide it.

-deborah