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Re: Screen readers usage and support

for

From: Bryan Garaventa
Date: Mar 6, 2012 2:21PM

I have to say that this is only true when ARIA is viewed as a 'catch all'
solution, which it isn't.

ARIA should only be added after full keyboard support is already built into
the feature or application. I agree that the general discussions often focus
on screen reader support as being the top priority, but ensuring keyboard
support before adding ARIA will accomplish both.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan Hemphill" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
To: "WebAIM Discussion List" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 12:37 PM
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Screen readers usage and support


> I'd also like to point out that many people coding out there do not
> realize
> that ARIA only takes care of Screen Reader users. While this is not part
> of 508 compliance at all, it has been a general trend in accessibility
> focus with regard to online research and blogging.
>
> Simply put, many supposedly accessible solutions are really not taking of
> of anyone else except blind users. I'm just backing up Gary's point here.
> It's very easy to find the accessibility rules for the blind, but it's
> only a piece of the pie.
>
> Ryan
>
> On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 3:22 PM, Morin, Gary (NIH/OD) [E] <
> <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> Keep in mind the following
>> 1. EIT products conform to Section 508
>> 2. Federal agencies comply (or not) with Section 508
>> 3. JAWS or any screen reader-compatible software does not equal
>> Section 508 conformant nor does it equal accessible to oh so many other
>> people with other disabilities.
>> 4. Accessible does not always equal Section 508-conformant
>> 5. Section 508-conformant does not always equal accessible (except
>> when the Functional Performance Criteria are taken seriously)
>> 6. Accessible for a (fill in the blank) does not necessarily mean
>> Accessible for any other (fill in the blank) - using either disabilities
>> for each blank or assistive technologies for each blank.
>> Is your Assistive Technology testing being done by real-life users of
>> that
>> AT or by non-disabled users who really aren't fluent in the AT?
>> Is your Assistive Technology testing being done in addition to manual
>> testing based on the formal Section 508 standards from the US Access
>> Board?
>> What company are you with?
>> Gary M. Morin, Program Analyst
>>
>> WHAT IF THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASKED WAS, "WHAT IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT THIS
>> SITUATION THAT IT JUSTIFIES EXCLUSION? INSTEAD OF, "HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
>> TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE?"
>>
>>