WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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From: Robinson, Norman B - Washington, DC
Date: Feb 4, 2005 10:02AM

Mike,

Thanks for the reality check; my point wasn't on topic to
alternate print versions using style sheets.

My point was that by blocking all the distracting advertising,
removing unwanted/unneeded content from the page, you increase the
usability to people with learning disabilities. Being easily distracted,
including something as common as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), makes
it hard to read the primary content with it interweaved between other
non-relevant content, both text and image based.

And to try to stay on topic, "Would an AT user ever use
printer-friendly pages?" I can say yes. We have people that use
magnification tools that makes it difficult to read DESIRED CONTENT when
other advertising, site navigation, and sizes are used. I am
specifically speaking to something like a CSS print version that is
aligned for printing, removing all but the content and URL information.
This would be both via the computer using a software screen magnifier
and via a giant magnifier (think overhead projector/microfiche like
device) when the content is printed out.

I will note, that considering CSS, this could also be simply
stating that PRINT versions are potentially more accessible than the
regular web page. Noting prevents you from creating a style sheet
tailored for a particular audience, such as screen readers. Just a
thought.

Regards,

Norman


Immediate uses (beyond just
> making me
happy) for the
> technology includes 1) Removing animation images (gifs, flash,
> embedded
'movies') that have
> extreme flashing or screen changes known to contribute to epileptic
seizures, and 2) Assisting
> people with learning disabilities to focus on the information they
> want to
receive. (This is a
> concern voiced, but not necessarily addressed by the US Rehabilitation

> Act,
Section 508).

Must be Friday, 'cause I can't see what point you are trying to make
here. If it in favour of alternate print versions, (as opposed to print
stylesheets) then I think that you have got it wrong.
WCAG 11.4 states: "If, after best efforts, you cannot create an
accessible page, provide a link to an alternative page..." That point
alone goes against the provision of Print Versions. Your refernce to
users with learning impairments is weak as well - if they can't handle
the page as is, how are they supposed to learn to look for a 'Print'
button/icon when they want to get rid of the distracting images etc.?


Mike