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Re: sample ADA statement for website?

for

From: Whitney Quesenbery
Date: Mar 25, 2015 6:05AM

Michelle, As someone has already said "Structure the whole page for
scanning and comprehension." is talking about how someone quickly looks
through the page (scans) and understands what it says (comprehension).

Although scanning is usually thought of a visual activity, people using
screen readers can also effectively scan the page, if it is designed and
written to make it easy to jump from chunk to chunk of text quickly
understanding the gist of each one. As an example, headings should have
both a good visual presentation that not only makes them distinct but also
promotes reading as well as appropriate semantic markup.

On the visual point, the design of headings can fail when they are too
similar to the rest of the text, but also when they err in the other
direction: hard-to-read fonts, type that is too large, all capitals, and
other typgraphic styling can "suggest" that they are just decorative
elements and not important text, meant to support users in scanning the
page for meaning.

Whitney

On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 5:15 PM Cliff Tyllick < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Mike, I think that's a great idea. Definitely do put it somewhere that's
> easy for the students to find. They will appreciate it—and I'll bet your
> products will stand out from all the others in that respect.
>
> Cliff
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> Although its spellcheck often saves me, all goofs in sent messages are its
> fault.
>
> On Mar 24, 2015, at 1:51 PM, Mike Warner < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> Thanks, Cliff and Whitney. Sorry for my delayed response. I was out and
> then working on our VPAT.
>
> That text and email link are on our corporate site, which is generally
> only seen by partners/re-sellers. That's why is sounds, well, so
> corporate. Given that we sell online courses, and the vast majority of
> students never see our corp or retail sites, should I put this info in the
> course system somewhere where the students can find it? Maybe a link to a
> student-friendly version of it in the footer after the copyright? I would
> put it on the login page, but we integrate tightly with partner course
> systems, so the bulk of our students never see the login page.
>
> Mike
>
>
> Mike Warner
> Director of IT Services
> MindEdge, Inc.
>
> 2015-03-22 7:29 GMT-04:00 Whitney Quesenbery < <EMAIL REMOVED> >:
>
>> Cheers to Cliff for bringing up the style and tone of the conversation
>> and how important plain language is for so many people.
>>
>> The principles for accessible UX (from A Web for Everyone) on this topic
>> are:
>>
>> Plain Language: Creates a conversation:
>> People can read, understand, and use the information.
>>
>> - Write for your audience.
>> - Follow plain language guidelines for writing content.
>> - Write sentences and paragraphs for easy scanning.
>> - Support users through their tasks.
>> - Structure the whole page for scanning and comprehension.
>> - Write helpful links.
>> - Use language your audience is familiar with, or provide definitions.
>> - Provide plain language summaries of complex content.
>> - Don't rely on readability formulas.
>> - Usability test your content.
>>
>> I've done a number of presentations on the topic, including at CSUN and
>> the Accessibility Summit. They tend to be tailored for the audience, so
>> content examples differ, but this presentation has the basics.
>> http://www.slideshare.net/whitneyq/content-for-everyone-20599326
>>
>> And, I'm teaching sessions on accessible content, plain language and
>> writing great alt text at AccessU this May, along with a great lineup of
>> instructors: http://www.knowbility.org/v/john-slatin-accessu/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 21, 2015 at 2:27 PM Cliff Tyllick via WebAIM-Forum <
>> <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, Mike!
>>>
>>> Yes, it's an excellent feature to have the e-mail address immediately
>>> available, but one of the more important points I hoped to make is that
>>> your statement will more favorably impress more people if you take a few
>>> minutes to review it using the principles of plain language.
>>>
>>> In other words, write as if you were speaking directly to a good friend.
>>> You wouldn't tell a chum who was struggling with a tutorial how complaints
>>> can be made—you'd say, "If you run into trouble, call me."
>>>
>>> Or words to that effect—but, most of all, with simpler words and in that
>>> direct, active voice.
>>>
>>> Why? Because it's clearer, so people who are distracted by their
>>> frustration with the experience will still be able to get your message
>>> quickly.
>>>
>>> And because this more personal approach makes the point that you added
>>> this message because you care about me, the person who has run into a
>>> barrier.
>>>
>>> In third person, passive voice, and big words, the same message seems to
>>> be there because "Legal thinks this wording reduces corporate risk, so they
>>> made us put it here."
>>>
>>> I'm sure you're doing this because you care, so why not make it come
>>> across that way?
>>>
>>> Cliff Tyllick
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> Although its spellcheck often saves me, all goofs in sent messages are
>>> its fault.
>>>
>>> > On Mar 20, 2015, at 3:59 PM, Mike Warner via WebAIM-Forum <
>>> <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Thanks for the feedback. We do have a sentence following that paragraph
>>> > with contact instructions:
>>> >
>>> > Feedback and questions regarding accessibility in the MindEdge LMS and
>>> > courses can be directed to <EMAIL REMOVED> .
>>> >
>>> > Sorry, I forgot to include that in my original message. I'm working
>>> on a
>>> > VPAT now to link to from that same page.
>>> >
>>> > Mike Warner
>>> > Director of IT Services
>>> > MindEdge, Inc.
>>> >
>>> > 2015-03-20 11:17 GMT-04:00 Mike Warner < <EMAIL REMOVED> >:
>>> >
>>> >> Hi all,
>>> >>
>>> >> I'm looking for a few sample ADA statements to make sure that we've
>>> got
>>> >> enough info in ours. I tried section508.gov, but the sample's
>>> download
>>> >> link is broken. We test every new course and feature first using JAWS
>>> >> ourselves, then we have a blind consultant re-test. We haven't had any
>>> >> complaints from any of the visually impaired students we've enrolled.
>>> >> We've actually received praise from a couple of students.
>>> >>
>>> >> Here is our current ADA statement:
>>> >> MindEdge, Inc. is committed to the principle of equal access for
>>> learners
>>> >> with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
>>> Act
>>> >> (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. We have accessibility
>>> >> experts on staff who thoroughly test our courses and new features for
>>> >> learner experience and compatibility with the most commonly used
>>> assistive
>>> >> technologies. Learners are able to contact us through a variety of
>>> methods
>>> >> within the course regarding any accessibility issues.
>>> >>
>>> >> Does that need any more detail, or is it fine as it is?
>>> >>
>>> >> Thank you,
>>> >>
>>> >> Mike Warner
>>> >> Director of IT Services
>>> >> MindEdge, Inc.
>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> >>> >>> >>>
>>
>