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Thread: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
Number of posts in this thread: 10 (In chronological order)
From: Bevi Chagnon
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 8:08AM
Subject: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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For those on the list who must educate others about accessibility, here's a
website that shows how not to choose colors wisely.
I'm fully sighted and can barely read the small body text in light green.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120403_2451.php
And to think: this commercial website is a news service to the U.S. Federal
government. I wonder if their webmasters have heard about Section 508 yet
<grin>.
--
Bevi Chagnon | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
PubCom - Trainers, consultants, designers, and developers
Print, Web, Acrobat, XML, eBooks, and Federal Section 508
--
* It's our 30th Year! *
From: Jared Smith
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 8:20AM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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> http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120403_2451.php
A few thoughts:
There is nothing in Section 508 that requires adequate contrast or
that discourages the use of hard-to-read colors. It only requires that
"information conveyed with color is also available without color". The
text colors used on this site are Section 508 compliant.
Nextgov.com is, as you note, a corporate entity and is not
governmental, so Section 508 would not apply to them anyway.
This doesn't excuse their inaccessibility, but if one were to beat
them with a stick, the Section 508 stick is about the worst one to
use.
Jared
From: Elle
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 8:49AM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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Another point, too. Usually the webmaster doesn't get to define the colors
used on a website for corporations. So, I rather feel sorry for those who
are forced to create inaccessible websites due to lack of awareness/concern
from their leadership.
Cheers!
~Elle
On Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 10:20 AM, Jared Smith < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> > http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120403_2451.php
>
> A few thoughts:
>
> There is nothing in Section 508 that requires adequate contrast or
> that discourages the use of hard-to-read colors. It only requires that
> "information conveyed with color is also available without color". The
> text colors used on this site are Section 508 compliant.
>
> Nextgov.com is, as you note, a corporate entity and is not
> governmental, so Section 508 would not apply to them anyway.
>
> This doesn't excuse their inaccessibility, but if one were to beat
> them with a stick, the Section 508 stick is about the worst one to
> use.
>
> Jared
> > > >
--
If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the people to gather wood,
divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast
and endless sea.
- Antoine De Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
From: Bevi Chagnon
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 9:32AM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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True, being a corporate entity, Sec. 508 doesn't apply to their website.
I meant to say "I wonder if their webmasters have heard about WCAG2 yet" but
my coffee's caffeine hadn't kicked in when I sent the email. <g>
But it's not wise for a business that caters to the Federal government to
create not only inaccessible text, but nearly unreadable text for sighted
viewers, too.
--Bevi
--
Bevi Chagnon | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
PubCom - Trainers, consultants, designers, and developers
Print, Web, Acrobat, XML, eBooks, and Federal Section 508
--
* It's our 30th Year! *
From: Bevi Chagnon
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 9:44AM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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Yes and no. The majority of corporate webmasters work directly in (or at
least very closely with) the marketing department. Because web development
spans both marketing and IT, this issue should have been addressed by
someone right from the start.
At the very least, a webmaster should be able to work with the graphic
design team/marketing department about problems with colors like this one.
I'm sure there are places and situations where this isn't possible, which is
a shame.
Maybe we need to reach out more to graphic designers, marketing departments,
and others who control a corporation's branding. In this example, it seems
like a lot of people missed the problem.
--Bevi
--
Bevi Chagnon | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
PubCom - Trainers, consultants, designers, and developers
Print, Web, Acrobat, XML, eBooks, and Federal Section 508
--
* It's our 30th Year! *
From: Elle
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 9:53AM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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Bevi:
I could not agree with you more about reaching out and educating marketing,
design, and leadership teams at organizations. In my experience, if it's a
brand color, that conversation usually starts way at the top and doesn't
always consider online channels first. Few of them are even aware that
color matters for accessibility. So, when webmasters are given brand
colors to render online, that's when I've seen huge issues with
accessibility.
I'd love to see the accessibility community find a way to engage in these
conversations to promote cross-educational awareness of disabled users'
needs.
Cheers,
Elle
On Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 11:44 AM, Bevi Chagnon < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Yes and no. The majority of corporate webmasters work directly in (or at
> least very closely with) the marketing department. Because web development
> spans both marketing and IT, this issue should have been addressed by
> someone right from the start.
>
> At the very least, a webmaster should be able to work with the graphic
> design team/marketing department about problems with colors like this one.
> I'm sure there are places and situations where this isn't possible, which
> is
> a shame.
>
> Maybe we need to reach out more to graphic designers, marketing
> departments,
> and others who control a corporation's branding. In this example, it seems
> like a lot of people missed the problem.
>
> --Bevi
>
> --
> Bevi Chagnon | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> PubCom - Trainers, consultants, designers, and developers
> Print, Web, Acrobat, XML, eBooks, and Federal Section 508
> --
> * It's our 30th Year! *
>
>
>
From: Angela French
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 10:11AM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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I am always flabbergasted when I see standard color blue links on black backgrounds - which I occasionally do even on newer sites.
Angela French
>I'm fully sighted and can barely read the small body text in light green.
>
>http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120403_2451.php
>
>And to think: this commercial website is a news service to the U.S. Federal
>government. I wonder if their webmasters have heard about Section 508 yet
><grin>.
>
>
>
>--
>
>Bevi Chagnon | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>
>PubCom - Trainers, consultants, designers, and developers
>
>Print, Web, Acrobat, XML, eBooks, and Federal Section 508
>
>--
>
>* It's our 30th Year! *
>
>
>
>>>messages to = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 1:10PM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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This type of thing always reminds me of the time I was asked to submit a request for a large order of software. I was supposed to include the business case along with all the other pertinent information. I wrote (to me) what seemed to be a masterpiece and proof-read it to perfection. Then I submitted it for approval to a director.
What I did not realize (since I was using a screen reader) is that the foreground and background colour of the text and document was white. I received back a note "WTH, Harshbarger? What is this?" I responded "An example of an inaccessible document?"
The lesson learned.... Just because you can read it doesn't mean everyone else can.
I have determined that the only reason I make mistakes is so that others can learn from them. At least, that is the story I am going to stick with. Now, back to creating more learning opportunities for others.
From: Lucy Greco
Date: Wed, Apr 04 2012 1:13PM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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That one is the best one yet thanks for making my offal day better
Lucy Greco
Assistive Technology Specialist
Disabled Student's Program UC Berkeley
(510) 643-7591
http://attlc.berkeley.edu
http://webaccess.berkeley.edu
From: Jablonski, James (LNI)
Date: Thu, Apr 05 2012 10:45AM
Subject: Re: Example of poor website colors for accessibility
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Hey Tim,
As a sited support guy, I was told by one of my blind customers that I
had a visual impairment and that was the reason I was having some
difficulty providing that session's customer support. She walked me
through the problem with a screen reader and only then powered on the
monitor so I could see what I needed to perceive. She referred to the
monitor as an assistive technology that some people need. It was a
delightful and most excellent lesson for me! I think these perceptual
reversals are a good and healthy thing.