WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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Re: Jaws and Window Eyes info needed

for

From: Geof Collis
Date: Nov 13, 2009 6:05PM

Hi All

The more I read of this thread the more its starting to tick me off.

People like myself who are on a limited budget and can barely afford
the screen reader software that connects me to the Internet and
allows me some semplance of accessibility have to rely on developers
who balk at the idea of paying for the same software so they can
develop programs that in the end aren't very accessible after all
is said and done because they dont use it day in and day out.

Problem is even if you did buy the software program you still cant
get it right because there are so many websites, applications and
software programs out there that are not accessible, some worse than
others, that it is quite clear that you dont have a clue how
to design for accessibility, or you dont really want to.

I give an example of IToons. I spent over an hour today trying to
create an access one of the most unusable initerfaces in order to
set up an account so I could buy music, in the end I gave up and now
Apple will not get my business, I spent over $500 last year on a much
simpler site and I have the most up to date screen reader and
browser. How long will it take for Adobe to get it right?

If I were to hazard a guess I would say that you do not really
incorporate screen reader users in your development because if you
did we would not have this problem, rather you would use these
demos and convince yourself that your are doing something for the
greater good just to save a buck, when you should be having on
staff a real screen reader user who can point out the problems from
real life experience, not 40 minutes with your screen turn off, life
as a screen reader is more complicated than that.

cheers

Geof

At 07:02 PM 11/13/2009, you wrote:
>You can always download the version of JAWS and use it for testing in the
>"Demo" mode where it runs for 40 minutes at a time and you can then restart
>your computer and use it in this mode for as long as you need to for each 40
>minute period.
>Chuck
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Randi" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>To: "WebAIM Discussion List" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 6:18 AM
>Subject: [WebAIM] Jaws and Window Eyes info needed
>
>
> > Hi folks,
> >
> > I will be doing accessibility testing for http://beyondmetrix.com/,
> > and since currently I use an Apple, we are looking to expand my work
> > station to include a Windows machine with Jaws and Window Eyes. As you
> > know, these programs are quite expensive. Does anyone have any
> > pointers for getting our hands on these programs? A vocational program
> > is out, because there is a freeze on services in my state, and there
> > are no grants.
> >
> > Also, beyond the financial aspect, I am curious to hear from other
> > blind or visually impaired folks who use multiple screen readers on
> > one machine. Is it possible to switch between Jaws and Window Eyes
> > with no sighted assistance?
> >
> > Any tips and experiences on this issue would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > I am so excited to have this opportunity, and don't want them to have
> > to break the bank to get these Windows readers ;)
> >
> > Much appreciated,
> >
> > -Randi
> >
> > I'm not disabled, my eyes are.
> > http://raynaadi.blogspot.com/
> >
> >