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Re: PDF files and Section 508 Compliance

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From: Michael D. Roush
Date: May 16, 2005 1:06PM

Patrick H. Lauke wrote:
> How does the organisation currently handle applications by blind or
> visually impaired candidates?

Presently, the organization only uses printed paper applications,
distributed either through someone coming in and asking for one or
phoning/faxing/e-mailing to request one be mailed to them. As for the
visually-impaired individual filling out the application.... they would
most certainly have to have assistance from another person in filling
out the paper application. Providing them an 'only option' on the web
where they have to resort back to this on their own is one thing I want
to avoid. I think this is part of why they approached me about putting
the application on the Web in the first place, so that people with
certain disabilities could have an easier time acquiring, filling out,
and submitting applications.

>> It strikes me that I would need to provide some way for people using
>> an online form to go back and access information later to make changes
>> and such,
>
>
> Not necessarily. If a sighted user wants to make amendments, do they
> receive back a copy of their original application to make changes?

The foresightful ones might keep a paper copy of their filled-out
application and submit changes if needed. A paper application makes
that option available to them, but it would not be available to someone
using an online-only form that did not 'remember' their information.
This is a case where the online version does not offer something that
the 'print-only' version offers, and that's a textbook example of
inaccessible design. I'm not even sure that providing a
login/authentication system on the html form is any more than just a
goofy 'hack' that still really doesn't accomplish anything in regards to
making the situation better.

> But of course, an online, HTML based application process would be the
> most ideal.

I thought so too. I thought that providing several document formats
plus an html-forms version would 'cover it', but as I've already said,
it doesn't seem to.

Michael