WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Webmail suggestions

for

From: Kynn Bartlett
Date: Mar 13, 2006 3:30PM

On 3/13/06, Michael D. Roush < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> Still looking for any other suggestions though... isn't there *anyone*
> who has had to deal with webmail for the staff of an organization that
> necessarily or voluntarily meets various accessibility standards?
>

I think that one of the reasons for poor response on this topic (not only on
the list, but from web mail developers as well) is that by and large, access
to email isn't that big of a problem because most email providers supply
alternate access means that allow users to bring their own solutions.

In other words, email programs -- non-web-based -- are pretty ubiquitous and
well-understood applications. Most email providers allow POP3 and/or IMAP
access, which means someone simply needs to hook up her email-ready
assistive technology and it works, without having to go through the extra
layer of a web-based interface and a browser interface which may not be as
accessible as simply using a BrailleNote with email client (or whatever).

That said, of course webmail needs to be accessible -- but for many cases,
simply allowing POP3 access may be at least as good, and often better, than
making an accessible email application.

(PS: There's a non-AJAX version of Googlemail, and a mobile devices version
as well. The latter seems the most accessible, but is simplified -- but it
does provide a good example of a reasonably accessible webmail interface.)

--Kynn