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Re: Facebook accessibility

for

From: ramya sethuraman
Date: Nov 1, 2012 6:27PM

We are definitely considering other real-life disabilities besides visual impairment. The headings (h5) problem is an interesting one to solve. It would not make sense to announce the whole status update as a heading but at the same time if we just announce the visible 'heading' (which is usually the person that posted the update), there is obviously repetition and the screen reader user would have to down arrow (if using Jaws) to read the actual update to get more context.

Thanks for bringing up these issues, we are certainly listening.

Ramya


On Nov 1, 2012, at 3:44 AM, Srinivasu Chakravarthula < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Hi All,
> I did some off-line conversation with the accessibility team at Facebook
> and they are pretty responsive and in fact, carefully looking at the issues
> reproduced. I just forwarded them the below feedback too.
>
> I'm certainly hopeful, they do their best to make FB accessible to all
> users and not just to a set of users such as screen reader users. I think,
> since now, there is a good team in place, it would be good to send the
> feedback on their way.
>
> Best wishes,
> -Vasu
>
> On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 12:11 AM, Payne,Susan N (DARS) <
> <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> I just did a few quick checks and found some problems.
>>
>> Clicking through to our agency's page without being logged into my account
>> launched a pop-up window asking me to sign in or register. Using the
>> keyboard only, I was unable to bring focus to that window so couldn't close
>> it or enter anything. The focus remained on the FB page I was trying to get
>> to and I could see myself tabbing through fields and links but most of the
>> page was blocked from view by that pop-up.
>>
>> On the page itself every status had the name of our agency (being the
>> poster of the status) as an H5. If I was trying to navigate via headings in
>> a screen reader, hearing "DARS-Texas Department of Assistive and
>> Rehabilitative Services" 33 times would not be helpful.
>>
>> The font size could not be enlarged via browser settings and the color
>> contrast ratio was insufficient in several spots.
>>
>> Susan Payne
>> Accessibility Specialist
>> DARS - Center for Policy and External Relations
>> <EMAIL REMOVED> 512-377-0366
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Morin, Gary (NIH/OD) [E] [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 2:03 PM
>> To: WebAIM Discussion List
>> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Facebook accessibility
>>
>> Accessible to who (whom?)? Is it for the real-life diversity of
>> disabilities, functional limitations and assistive technologies? Or, just
>> to screen readers and persons with sight impairments, which is the usual
>> reality for most "accessibility" efforts?
>> >> From: Len Burns [ <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 01:40 PM
>> To: WebAIM Discussion List
>> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Facebook accessibility
>>
>> I applaud the direction, and deeply hope that it becomes their standard
>> practice. Historically it has been three steps forward and two back with
>> FB. For now I will hold to the belief that this time will be different.
>>
>> -Len
>>
>> On 10/30/2012 8:13 AM, Bourne, Sarah (ITD) wrote:
>>> While I was on Twitter yesterday (OK, I was obsessively following storm
>> reports. I'm better now.) James Teh, screen reader user and so-lead
>> developer of NVDA, sent out a tweet that took me completely by surprise:
>> "Oh wow! The main Facebook site became accessible! I am quite impressed."
>>>
>>> Wow, indeed. A few friends have confirmed that Facebook has made
>> significant improvements. There are still some snags here and there, but
>> apparently more annoyances than barriers. Another friend mentioned that he
>> has found the (new-ish) accessibility team to be very responsive to problem
>> reports.
>>>
>>> You can report issues specific to accessibility and assistive
>>> technology at
>>> https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/?id9372943117927
>>>
>>> Sb
>>>
>>> Sarah E. Bourne
>>> Director of Assistive Technology &
>>> Mass.Gov Chief Technology Strategist
>>> Information Technology Division
>>> Commonwealth of Massachusetts
>>> 1 Ashburton Pl. rm 1601 Boston MA 02108
>>> 617-626-4502
>>> <EMAIL REMOVED> <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>>> http://www.mass.gov/itd
>>>
>>> >>> >>> list messages to <EMAIL REMOVED>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >> >> >>
>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Srinivasu Chakravarthula - Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/VasuTweets
> Website: http://www.srinivasu.org | http://www.learnaccessibility.org
>
> Let's create an inclusive web!
> > >