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Re: Web development; How to identify if a screen reader is in use

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From: Jonathan Avila
Date: May 11, 2017 10:15AM

> Even if it comes from good intentions, I am loathe to support an idea that results in a "separate, but equal" experience.

Any technology has the capacity to be mis-used -- telephones are mis-used everyday to spam or harass callers. However, overlooking the benefits of a potential technology must be considered. Any intention to identify user behaviors has benefits. For example, scripts already exist to identify high contrast users in order to provide them with equivalent information when background images are turned off. Responsive websites are used every day and adjust to the users viewport width which is based on factors including low vision users using the zoom feature in your browsers. So I would urge people to consider this not as a means to track people with disabilities to better understand how users are interacting with your website and provide adaptability and flexibility to those users.

Jonathan

Jonathan Avila
Chief Accessibility Officer
SSB BART Group 
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703.637.8957 (Office)
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