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Thread: What makes this site such an accessibility trainwreck?
Number of posts in this thread: 8 (In chronological order)
From: Carin Headrick
Date: Fri, Sep 24 2010 7:42AM
Subject: What makes this site such an accessibility trainwreck?
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Hi. You know, all I want to know is when services are held for my brother's
childhood friend at this site
http://www.thomsonfuneralhome.com/runtime.php?SiteId=21408&;NavigatorId=125991
and I can't do a darn thing. The links appear to be clickable but you can't
click 'em. When I try to look at the source, I see there's a whole lotta
PHP...I think...but I know PHP isn't problematic. What is making this site
such a thorn in my side?
A funeral home...should be simple. But apparently there's a way to screw up
a bleepin' funeral home's website! I did call them, but they said the best
way to keep updated on when a service in my area was going to happen would
be to check this website. Ug.
Thanks for any help. If I can learn from this, then something good will come
out of it.
Carin
From: Karlen Communications
Date: Fri, Sep 24 2010 7:57AM
Subject: Re: What makes this site such an accessibility train wreck?
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Carin:
I went to the section on Maps and Directions for the first person on this
page:
http://www.thomsonfuneralhome.com/runtime.php?SiteId=21408&;NavigatorId=12599
1&ListType=current&start=0 which is view current services.
This opened a book of memories for Robert... in a new tab:
http://thomsoncollinsfh.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/21408/runtime.php?SiteId21408&;NavigatorId=125991&viewOpt=dpaneOnly&ItemId=528333&op=tributeMemorialC
andles&jumpop=moreinfo
I then went to the link for service details which took me to another page
http://thomsoncollinsfh.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/21408/runtime.php?SiteId21408&;NavigatorId=125991&ItemId=528333&op=moreinfo&viewOpt=dpaneOnly
Which is full of blank lines but it does have the service details if you are
patient and move through them. I did this using JAWS and trying to figure
out which links in the list of links would be most appropriate.
Is this the information you are trying to find? It is a bit of a dog's
breakfast of design. Might not be the right person but the breadcrumbs might
work. They also have a link to a Help Desk from the last page I've
referenced. :-)
Cheers, Karen
From: Carin Headrick
Date: Fri, Sep 24 2010 8:03AM
Subject: Re: What makes this site such an accessibility train wreck?
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There are two roberts. Robert Mask is what I want. Sometimes I wind up in
Robert Howard! I have seen the book of memories, I never see the service
details. Sometimes I click on obituary and end up in book of memories, and
sometimes the wrong guy's book of memories. I cannot right click a link and
copy shortcut, and I don't see service details. What is it below? I see lots
of messages, but no service details.
Carin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karlen Communications" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: "'WebAIM Discussion List'" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 9:53 AM
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] What makes this site such an accessibility train
wreck?
Carin:
I went to the section on Maps and Directions for the first person on this
page:
http://www.thomsonfuneralhome.com/runtime.php?SiteId=21408&;NavigatorId=12599
1&ListType=current&start=0 which is view current services.
This opened a book of memories for Robert... in a new tab:
http://thomsoncollinsfh.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/21408/runtime.php?SiteId21408&;NavigatorId=125991&viewOpt=dpaneOnly&ItemId=528333&op=tributeMemorialC
andles&jumpop=moreinfo
I then went to the link for service details which took me to another page
http://thomsoncollinsfh.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/21408/runtime.php?SiteId21408&;NavigatorId=125991&ItemId=528333&op=moreinfo&viewOpt=dpaneOnly
Which is full of blank lines but it does have the service details if you are
patient and move through them. I did this using JAWS and trying to figure
out which links in the list of links would be most appropriate.
Is this the information you are trying to find? It is a bit of a dog's
breakfast of design. Might not be the right person but the breadcrumbs might
work. They also have a link to a Help Desk from the last page I've
referenced. :-)
Cheers, Karen
From: Shawn Lawler
Date: Fri, Sep 24 2010 8:09AM
Subject: Re: What makes this site such an accessibility trainwreck?
← Previous message | Next message →
Carin,
Took a quick look at the site--
That code you noticed on the page is Javascript. Using Javascript isn't
inherently inaccessible, but if used in a certain way the results can
present obstacles for some users.
In particular this site uses JS to write the entire menu markup to the
DOM (no JS in the browser? you won't see the menu...yikes!). And the
markup used for each menu item, DOESN'T include an HTML anchor tag, so
you can't tab through the menu items with your keyboard (again...yikes!).
I hope that info helps.
Shawn
On 9/24/2010 8:40 AM, Carin Headrick wrote:
> Hi. You know, all I want to know is when services are held for my brother's
> childhood friend at this site
> http://www.thomsonfuneralhome.com/runtime.php?SiteId=21408&;NavigatorId=125991
> and I can't do a darn thing. The links appear to be clickable but you can't
> click 'em. When I try to look at the source, I see there's a whole lotta
> PHP...I think...but I know PHP isn't problematic. What is making this site
> such a thorn in my side?
>
> A funeral home...should be simple. But apparently there's a way to screw up
> a bleepin' funeral home's website! I did call them, but they said the best
> way to keep updated on when a service in my area was going to happen would
> be to check this website. Ug.
>
> Thanks for any help. If I can learn from this, then something good will come
> out of it.
>
> Carin
>
>
From: Carin Headrick
Date: Fri, Sep 24 2010 8:15AM
Subject: Re: What makes this site such an accessibility trainwreck?
← Previous message | Next message →
Thank you. When the dust settles, I may pass your info on to the funeral
home folks...sans the yikes's, of course, *smile*.
Thanks for understanding why I can't use this blinkin' page.
Carin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shawn Lawler" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 10:05 AM
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] What makes this site such an accessibility trainwreck?
Carin,
Took a quick look at the site--
That code you noticed on the page is Javascript. Using Javascript isn't
inherently inaccessible, but if used in a certain way the results can
present obstacles for some users.
In particular this site uses JS to write the entire menu markup to the
DOM (no JS in the browser? you won't see the menu...yikes!). And the
markup used for each menu item, DOESN'T include an HTML anchor tag, so
you can't tab through the menu items with your keyboard (again...yikes!).
I hope that info helps.
Shawn
On 9/24/2010 8:40 AM, Carin Headrick wrote:
> Hi. You know, all I want to know is when services are held for my
> brother's
> childhood friend at this site
> http://www.thomsonfuneralhome.com/runtime.php?SiteId=21408&;NavigatorId=125991
> and I can't do a darn thing. The links appear to be clickable but you
> can't
> click 'em. When I try to look at the source, I see there's a whole lotta
> PHP...I think...but I know PHP isn't problematic. What is making this site
> such a thorn in my side?
>
> A funeral home...should be simple. But apparently there's a way to screw
> up
> a bleepin' funeral home's website! I did call them, but they said the best
> way to keep updated on when a service in my area was going to happen would
> be to check this website. Ug.
>
> Thanks for any help. If I can learn from this, then something good will
> come
> out of it.
>
> Carin
>
>
From: Bevi Chagnon | PubCom
Date: Fri, Sep 24 2010 8:27AM
Subject: Re: What makes this site such an accessibility train wreck?
← Previous message | Next message →
From a web developer's viewpoint, this is a poorly coded website:
- Redundant code (e.g., multiple links to the same CSS).
- CSS/HTML code is commented out, rather than just removed.
- Both tables and DIV tags are used for layout.
- Lots of ridiculous code fragments that don't do anything (like an empty
form tag).
- 5,385,291 scripts are running on the page. OK, so I exaggerated a bit!
And I haven't even gotten to the accessibility issues yet.
Carin, I would suggest you call them but the phone number is in a graphic
rather than as live, A.T.-readable text.
It appears to be a website generated by a template from a web hosting
company, and their copyright date is 2006, which is pretty old in terms of
how we now code websites, especially regarding accessibility.
I want to thank you for giving me such an excellent example for my students
<grin>. It's what they shouldn't do! Although its visual design is
attractive, the code is terrible.
-Bevi Chagnon
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
Bevi Chagnon | PubCom | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = | 301-585-8805
Government publishing specialists, trainers, consultants | print, press,
web, Acrobat PDF & 508
Online at the blog: It's 2010. Where's your career heading?
www.pubcom.com/newsletter
From: Carin Headrick
Date: Fri, Sep 24 2010 8:33AM
Subject: Re: What makes this site such an accessibility train wreck?
← Previous message | Next message →
Well, glad it could be of help somehow. I googled out their phone number.
They'll be getting daily calls for updates since I can't use their blasted
site and I don't feel like missing his funeral.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bevi Chagnon | PubCom" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: "'WebAIM Discussion List'" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 10:21 AM
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] What makes this site such an accessibility train
wreck?
From a web developer's viewpoint, this is a poorly coded website:
- Redundant code (e.g., multiple links to the same CSS).
- CSS/HTML code is commented out, rather than just removed.
- Both tables and DIV tags are used for layout.
- Lots of ridiculous code fragments that don't do anything (like an empty
form tag).
- 5,385,291 scripts are running on the page. OK, so I exaggerated a bit!
And I haven't even gotten to the accessibility issues yet.
Carin, I would suggest you call them but the phone number is in a graphic
rather than as live, A.T.-readable text.
It appears to be a website generated by a template from a web hosting
company, and their copyright date is 2006, which is pretty old in terms of
how we now code websites, especially regarding accessibility.
I want to thank you for giving me such an excellent example for my students
<grin>. It's what they shouldn't do! Although its visual design is
attractive, the code is terrible.
-Bevi Chagnon
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
Bevi Chagnon | PubCom | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = | 301-585-8805
Government publishing specialists, trainers, consultants | print, press,
web, Acrobat PDF & 508
Online at the blog: It's 2010. Where's your career heading?
www.pubcom.com/newsletter
From: ckrugman
Date: Tue, Sep 28 2010 10:24AM
Subject: Re: What makes this site such an accessibility trainwreck?
← Previous message | No next message
Hi Karen, When using Jaws 11 and Ie8 I first found that the links did not
work although it said they were visited. However, I then clicked the link by
using "shift enter" and the link opened in a new window and all of the
ifnormation was readable. Hope this helps.
Chuck
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carin Headrick" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: "WebAIM Discussion List" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 6:40 AM
Subject: [WebAIM] What makes this site such an accessibility trainwreck?
> Hi. You know, all I want to know is when services are held for my
> brother's
> childhood friend at this site
> http://www.thomsonfuneralhome.com/runtime.php?SiteId=21408&;NavigatorId=125991
> and I can't do a darn thing. The links appear to be clickable but you
> can't
> click 'em. When I try to look at the source, I see there's a whole lotta
> PHP...I think...but I know PHP isn't problematic. What is making this site
> such a thorn in my side?
>
> A funeral home...should be simple. But apparently there's a way to screw
> up
> a bleepin' funeral home's website! I did call them, but they said the best
> way to keep updated on when a service in my area was going to happen would
> be to check this website. Ug.
>
> Thanks for any help. If I can learn from this, then something good will
> come
> out of it.
>
> Carin
>
>