WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Jaws and Window Eyes info needed

for

From: Geof Collis
Date: Nov 14, 2009 8:00AM

Hi Birkir

I tried System Access to go and while it is a very useful tool I did
not find it as good as JAWS so I wouldn't go as far as to say that if
a page works fine with it then it'll work with other screen readers.

Also, screen readers have very much to do with web accessibility. :O)

cheers

Geof

At 09:09 AM 11/14/2009, you wrote:
>Keep in mind both System Access from www.satogo.com and NVDA (Non Visual
>Desktop Access) from www.nvda-project.org are free screen readers that can
>be used while testing accessibility. If a page works with these two they
>will work fine with Jaws and the more expensive alternatives (a disclaimer
>that NVDA is designed for FireFox and its IE support has been very minimal,
>however I see in their latest update they are adding IE support).
>NVDA is open source whilst Serotek has provided this free accessibility
>solution for mobile users and, I suspect, partly for people wanting to test
>accessibility.
>I hope I am not seeing a representative portion of this list as I very
>recently subscribed. I was hoping to see discussions on web accessibility
>problems, not the usual screen reader bashing, however justified.
>Cheers
>-B
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
>[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Samantha Mignano
>Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 5:35 AM
>To: WebAIM Discussion List
>Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Jaws and Window Eyes info needed
>
>I would just like to add that we as a company are fully intending
>buying the full version of Jaws and Windows Eyes for Randi, at our own
>expense - not hers, along with a computer to run these on.
>We discussed about trial versions as we thought this might help Randi
>evaluate the products beforehand, and also help her to get to grips
>with how much training she feels she might need, so that we can also
>budget for that too.
>
>I advise all of my clients to have testing done on all websites,
>whether we have developed them or not, with our own team of testers
>who have a range of disabilities or browsing methods.
>We have testers who have mobility and/or motor skills impairments,
>testers who have partial sight, testers with dyslexia, testers with
>long term pain problems that cause attention and concentration issues
>for them and more.
>I am committed to testing with people who have actual requirements,
>rather than trying to test with the technology alone as I do not feel
>this works well enough. Like Geoff said, the site or interface needs
>to be tested by someone who has full knowledge of the barriers he or
>she encounters for the testing and solutions to be effective.
>
>It is not always easy to sell this testing service in to clients as
>other companies try and say that they have tested the site with a
>screen reader and some automated tool and think that ticks all the
>boxes. They seem happy to then deem the product or service accessible
>- and some clients think that is enough.
>It does bite me when I hear this as I know there is a very long way to
>go towards getting sites accessible. We are currently re-doing our own
>company site and it is going through the same testing with our team
>before launch to ensure that we are practising what we preach.
>
>Samantha Mignano
>
>Beyond Metrix Ltd ~ evolving business online ~ http://www.beyondmetrix.com
>
>Independent website audits, web strategy, web design & development,
>usability, accessibility, SEO & online marketing.
>
>Need help with your website? Call us now for a free website audit
>consultation. 08456 44 88 54
>
>A UK registered limited company. Company Registration Number: 5734561.
>VAT registration number 891 2460 17
>
>On 14 Nov 2009, at 02:01, Randi wrote:
>
> > Oh also, yeah, iTunes is a total pain, but with some doing, I was able
> > to figure it out and its been wonderful. I found forums of other
> > Voiceover users to help, so maybe there are other screen reader users
> > who have figured out the craziness who could help too. Its worth
> > figuring out if at all possible with Windows readers, because iTunes
> > is implementing descriptive audio into their videos. It took me days
> > of playing to figure it out, and then after an update, things changed
> > and I wanted to hurl the laptop out the window, but thats another
> > story...
> >
> > Please feel free to email me off list if you want to chat, or just
> > vent about how inaccessible the net can be.
> >
> > ~Randi
> >
> > http://raynaadi.blogspot.com/
> >
> >