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Re: App development group for A11y and/or UX?

for

From: Mike Bicknell
Date: Mar 29, 2016 2:25PM

Hi Mike,

Yes, I'm happy to share the resources. I'll post the info for everyone.
Maybe others are interested or can point out a deficiency in my research.
Below is what I sent to our group. If you'd prefer a Word or Pages doc
with headings and such, let me know.

"Xcode Accessibility Debugger:

This feature is a developer-facing one, but I'm including it here because
it's so cool. I first learned about it while listening to episode 124 of
John Gruber's podcast, The Talk Show
<http://daringfireball.net/thetalkshow/2015/06/20/ep-124>;, during which
Gruber and guest Guy English talk briefly about Apple's efforts in
supporting accessibility.

With the new Accessibility Debugger in Xcode, developers are now able to
debug, in real time, problems with their app's accessibility. For example,
a developer using VoiceOver can now make sure that text labels and images
in their app work properly with VoiceOver. If problems are found,
developers can fix them right away. (A similar, but not new, feature is
Xcode's Accessibility Inspector, which also helps in gauging app
accessibility.)
While bugs are inevitable and beta testers valuable, the addition of the
accessibility debugger is huge insofar that Apple is giving developers
another tool with which to best support accessibility. In the grand
scheme, such a tool only benefits users, as more apps will be open (read:
accessible) to those with special needs." (Article from the iMore site:
http://www.imore.com/what-you-need-know-about-accessibility-ios-9)

Note: Xcode is the IDE (Integrated Development Environment) where the
developers can work on their iOS apps. It kind of functions how Adobe
Dreamweaver operates for web development. Anyway. So, programmers can use
the Xcode IDE to write an iOS app using Swift or Objective C languages. I
recently broke this process down for one of our teachers and a student,
who is interested in creating apps. If you're interested I can send that
along too.

For iOS developers

* Apple resources for developers and iOS accessibility:
https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/ios/
* Apple accessibility for developers:
https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/
* Apple, more for developers:
https://www.apple.com/support/accessibility/developer/
* A blog post from 2012 on testing iOS apps for accessibility:
http://www.rosiesherry.com/2012/09/02/ios-accessibility-a-useful-guide-for-
testing/
* AppleVis (likely a bit older):
http://www.applevis.com/information-app-developers
* AppleVis for programming iOS:
http://www.applevis.com/guides/programming-ios
* TechCrunch article on the WWDC:
http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/14/wwdc-puts-accessibility-on-the-radar-for-d
evelopers/
* CSU PD for Accessible Tech (2012?):
http://teachingcommons.cdl.edu/access/resources/MobileDeveloperResources.sh
tml
* Universal Mind blog post:
http://www.universalmind.com/blog/user-experience/apps-for-everyone-part-2-
strategies-for-accessibility-in-ios/
* A course from SSB BART Group on "iOS Mobile Accessibility for
Developers":
http://info.ssbbartgroup.com/MobileAccessibilityCurriculum-iOSForDevelopers
.html
* W3 on Mobile Accessibility:
https://www.w3.org/WAI/RD/wiki/Mobile_Accessibility
* MediaWiki ­ Accessibility Guide for Developers:
https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Accessibility_guide_for_developers


General iOS accessibility:

Note: Look here for features you want included in your app design.
Accommodations for other disabilities, not just visual, are listed as well.

* Apple: http://www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/
* Apple http://www.apple.com/ios/accessibility-tips/
* Apple ­ Use Accessibility Features :
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204390
* Apple ­ What's new in iOS: http://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/

* Applevis
http://www.applevis.com/guides/ios-miscellaneous-voiceover/intro-ios-access
ibility-blind-and-low-vision-users
* AppleVis and iOS 9 Accessibility:
http://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-assistive-technology-braille-ios-news-op
inion/what-s-new-and-changed-ios-9-accessibility
* iOS Access for All book: http://www.iosaccessbook.com
<http://www.iosaccessbook.com/>;/
* iOS 9 and Accessibility blog post:
https://www.macstories.net/stories/ios-9-and-accessibility-my-5-favorite-de
tails/
* Interactive Accessibility:
http://www.interactiveaccessibility.com/blog/ios-accessibility
* Interactive Accessibility ­ iOS & Android Screen Reader Gesture Cheat
sheet (very cool cheat sheets):
http://www.interactiveaccessibility.com/blog/mobile-screen-reader-gestures#
.VvVmZHCUmyC

If you'd like further assistance, please let me know. I'm happy to do what
I can. And, truthfully, I'm not a coder (I have web dev experience), but
I'm curious about it myself.

Mike Bicknell




On 3/29/16, 1:05 PM, "WebAIM-Forum on behalf of Mike Barlow"
< <EMAIL REMOVED> on behalf of <EMAIL REMOVED> >
wrote:

>Mike, while I'm not in a position to be of any assistance to you in this
>process, I would like to get a copy of the list of "resources for
>developers and end-users regarding iOS accessibility" that you put
>together.
>
>Which brings up another point (that's probably best for another thread,
>but
>while I've go the thought here), does anyone know of a similar list for
>Android development?
>
>*Mike Barlow*
>Web Application Developer
>Web Accessibility/Section 508 SME
>
>Lancaster, Pa 17601
>Office: 732.784.3047
>Cell: 732.682.8226
>e-mail: <EMAIL REMOVED>
>
>On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 3:43 PM, Mike Bicknell < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>wrote:
>
>> Hi Kelly,
>>
>> Thanks for your response. We are involved with another school in
>>creating
>> the specs (an RFP or a bid) for the creation of an app. The app will be
>> used by teachers of the visually impaired, some of whom will have
>> disabilities including blindness, visual impairment, and deaf-blindness.
>> Essentially, we don¹t want to end up with an app that isn¹t so
>>accessible
>> and not so user-friendly.
>>
>> A non-profit would be great. I believe the final bid will be
>> crowd-sourced, so a private company might not want to invest a lot of
>>time
>> in talking with us. If that makes sense. (If a company (with an a11y and
>> UX focus) wants to say hello outside of this listserv, that¹s fine. Who
>> knows what will be needed in the future?)
>>
>> I did find lots of resources for developers and end-users regarding iOS
>> accessibility, which I passed on. Unfortunately, I did not find a
>> non-profit that guided the conversation or that hosted a listserv.
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> On 3/29/16, 12:13 PM, "WebAIM-Forum on behalf of Kelly Lupo"
>> < <EMAIL REMOVED> on behalf of <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >I can forward this request to a friend of mine (co-owns a
>>website/mobile
>> >app development company and is working with at least one client in the
>> >accessibility field), but can I ask what you're looking to do so I have
>> >some idea of what to tell him?
>> >
>> >Kelly
>> >
>> >On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 1:53 PM, Mike Bicknell
>>< <EMAIL REMOVED>
>> >
>> >wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hello -
>> >>
>> >> Does anyone know of one or more accessibility and/or a usability
>>groups
>> >> for app development? Something like WebAIM, but for apps? Currently,
>>iOS
>> >> app development is our focus, but groups with a broader focus would
>>be
>> >> helpful.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >> Mike
>> >>
>> >> Mike Bicknell
>> >> Digital Research and Development Coordinator
>> >> Washington State School for the Blind
>> >> Office: 360-947-3331
>> >> Main: 360-947-3300
>> >> Email: <EMAIL REMOVED>
>> >> WSSB Distance Learning:
>> >> http://www.wssb.wa.gov/Content/offcampus/DistanceLearning.asp
>> >> EPIQ 2016: http://quorumlanguage.com/epiq.php
>> >> National Distance Learning Collaborative for BVIDB (Live Binder
>>site):
>> >> http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id22216#anchor
>> >>
>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
>> >>> >>> >>> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>
>>>>