WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Government site accessibility law

for

From: Margit Link-Rodrigue
Date: Sep 22, 2010 1:00PM

Randi,
It sounds to me that by applying for benefits, you had to access a web
application rather than a website, the difference being that you needed to
go through a data entry workflow.

Working on web applications myself, I know that often (even on federally
funded projects) the accessibility testing is very basic. These applications
are often programmed by subcontractors which are rarely held accountable
when it comes to accessibility. I know this is unacceptable, but
unfortunately a reality.

I am curious why you needed sighted assistance to get through the process.
Was it impossible for you to submit your application (maybe because it
required access to a lot of paperwork)? Or is it just easier and faster for
you to submit your application with the help of a sighted person? If the
latter is the case, then I don't think it's a big deal for the sighted user
to switch to Internet Explorer in order to assist you.

If you needed help because you found the application process inaccessible,
you should definitely report this to the agency you were dealing with. It
would not be acceptable if the application didn't meet the technical
requirements of your assistive technologies.

-Margit





On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 6:53 PM, Ro < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Hi accessibility experts,
>
> I am not versed in all the laws that govern the internet, and I need
> your help.
>
> All government sites are supposed to be accessible, right? Now, under
> that, do all web browsers and operating systems have to be able to use
> that site? For example, can a government site only be used with
> Internet Explorer, locking out users of Safari?
>
> Any help would be appreciated, as I encountered this today. I have to
> have sighted assistence to apply for benefits, and my friend had to
> open Internet Explorer, when she uses Firefox primarily.
>
> If this is not following guidelines, I'd sure like to know, because it
> totally locked me out of my own business.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Randi
>
> http://raynaadi.blogspot.com/
>
>