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Re: Screen Reader Survey Results

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From: Noble,Stephen L.
Date: Jun 7, 2012 12:48PM

I would like to suggest that future surveys include something about access to non-literary text...primarily STEM content...especially mathematics. When I talk to screen-reader vendors about the need to support access to STEM content, especially content which contains Mathematical Markup Language (MathML), I receive rather cool responses. Typically, it is something akin to "we never hear from our customers" that users want to read such materials or that they never hear feedback from people that have problems trying to read math equations that aren't accessible. Therefore, it would very valuable to document both current practice (i.e., the number of users who read MathML content with screen-readers), as well as including inaccessible mathematics (e.g., the typical use of inaccessible gifs to present math) as one of the problematic items" in the list included in the survey.

--Steve Noble
<EMAIL REMOVED>
502-969-3088
http://louisville.academia.edu/SteveNoble

From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [ <EMAIL REMOVED> ] on behalf of Andrews, David B (DEED) [ <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 3:29 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Screen Reader Survey Results

I think the survey is valuable, especially over a period of time. One of the things that struck me was the number of persons who reported themselves as expert or intermediate screen reader/computer users.

I think this means one of two things -- the survey responses aren't an accurate reflection of the skill level in the general blindness community, or that people think they are better than they are.

As some of you know, I run a bunch of blindness-related mailing lists. So, I read questions, answers, discussions etc., each and every day -- hundreds of messages. And ... more than 5 percent of the community are beginners.

I suspect that the cream of the crop, so to speak were the majority of survey respondents. I say this as an observation -- not a criticism.

Dave