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Thread: Section 508(m) question
Number of posts in this thread: 5 (In chronological order)
From: Mark Guisinger
Date: Thu, Apr 29 2010 2:54PM
Subject: Section 508(m) question
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So, Section 508(m)
says – “When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application
be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must
provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with §1194.21(a) through
(l).” Since most of the browsers have built in capabilities to view flash and
pdfs, do we need to include links to those on the pages that use those
capabilities to be Section 508 compliant? How are others handling this?
Mark
From: John E. Brandt
Date: Thu, Apr 29 2010 3:36PM
Subject: Re: Section 508(m) question
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I don't believe it is completely correct to say that "browsers have built in capabilities to view Flash and PDFs."
I think universally - in all Oss and all browsers, Flash is still a plug-in that has to be installed.
The Mac OS has Preview which will allow you to view PDFs. I recall having to install Flash to work in Safari and FireFox.
Not sure about Win7 (IE8) since I installed CS4 immediately when I setup my new PC computer and Acrobat was installed including the plugins for the browsers. I believe the Flash plugin may have also been installed then too.
I do recall that on my Ubuntu/Linux setup I had to install plugins to view Flash and PDF using FireFox.
I had to also install Adobe AIR on my PC and Mac computers in order to use certain applications.
Then of course there is the whole issue of Mr. Jobs, Flash, iPhone, iPads and iPods....making the news today!
But in fairness, I think you have a valid point about the need to provide a link. If the plugin is not installed on your computer, and you encounter content that requires it, you are likely to get either a message on the page, or a pop-up warning in the browser (or both) indicating the need for the plugin AND by merely clicking on the warning, brought to the location where the plugin is available and in some cases, the same script will automatically install the plugin.
I suspect this is to be addressed in the Section 508 revisions.
John E. Brandt
jebswebs.com
Augusta, ME USA
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
www.jebswebs.com
From: Bevi Chagnon | PubCom
Date: Thu, Apr 29 2010 3:48PM
Subject: Re: Section 508(m) question
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Just want to second what John Brandt stated below.
Do not assume that browsers have the correct Flash or Acrobat Reader plug installed.
And if they are installed, do not assume that the plug-ins are the correct version to match the website, either.
So, therefore, always provide a link to install the plug-in.
And re: Flash, a link to a non-Flashy version of the content for 508 users, too.
--Bevi Chagnon
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
Bevi Chagnon | PubCom | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = | 301-585-8805
Government publishing specialists, trainers, consultants | print, press, web, Acrobat PDF & 508
PublishingDC Group Co-Moderator | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PublishingDC
From: ckrugman
Date: Thu, Apr 29 2010 11:06PM
Subject: Re: Section 508(m) question
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Taking this in to account when plug ins for format such as Flash are
available that still does not mean that the content will be accessible for
screen reader users if the content is only presented in images or unlabeled
graphics. An example of this that I encounter occurs when visiting internet
survey sites that present choices to select in graphic equivalents without
check boxes or dropdown menus clearly delineated. Unfortunately, many
developers think that creating content in these formats is cute and visually
appealing and the functionality is forgotten or not considered. an example
would be in such a site being asked to review a product concept presented in
an image or a product label is shown as it might appear on a package and I
would suspect that it came from a scanned picture of a product package.
Chuck
----- Original Message -----
From: "John E. Brandt" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: "'WebAIM Discussion List'" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Section 508(m) question
>I don't believe it is completely correct to say that "browsers have built
>in capabilities to view Flash and PDFs."
>
> I think universally - in all Oss and all browsers, Flash is still a
> plug-in that has to be installed.
>
> The Mac OS has Preview which will allow you to view PDFs. I recall having
> to install Flash to work in Safari and FireFox.
>
> Not sure about Win7 (IE8) since I installed CS4 immediately when I setup
> my new PC computer and Acrobat was installed including the plugins for the
> browsers. I believe the Flash plugin may have also been installed then
> too.
>
> I do recall that on my Ubuntu/Linux setup I had to install plugins to view
> Flash and PDF using FireFox.
>
> I had to also install Adobe AIR on my PC and Mac computers in order to use
> certain applications.
>
> Then of course there is the whole issue of Mr. Jobs, Flash, iPhone, iPads
> and iPods....making the news today!
>
> But in fairness, I think you have a valid point about the need to provide
> a link. If the plugin is not installed on your computer, and you encounter
> content that requires it, you are likely to get either a message on the
> page, or a pop-up warning in the browser (or both) indicating the need for
> the plugin AND by merely clicking on the warning, brought to the location
> where the plugin is available and in some cases, the same script will
> automatically install the plugin.
>
> I suspect this is to be addressed in the Section 508 revisions.
>
> John E. Brandt
> jebswebs.com
> Augusta, ME USA
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> www.jebswebs.com
>
>
From: Hoffman, Allen
Date: Mon, May 03 2010 2:12PM
Subject: Re: Section 508(m) question
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I would think that if its an add-on to the browser base, it would require the link.