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From: Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design
Date: Thu, Feb 03 2022 3:36AM
Subject: Best website plugin/embedded accessibility tool to read out text, change contrast etc?
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Hi,

I have been asked to install a website accessibility tool that visitors can use to have the text read out to them (and change contrast, text size etc). Regardless of whether these tools are a good idea or not, what would you say are the best of the bunch?

Thanks,
Jim

From: Ryan E. Benson
Date: Thu, Feb 03 2022 4:35AM
Subject: Re: Best website plugin/embedded accessibility tool to read out text, change contrast etc?
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Is this a demand and if you don't, find a new job, or can you talk to them
about the risks?

--
Ryan E. Benson

On Thu, Feb 3, 2022, 5:36 AM Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have been asked to install a website accessibility tool that visitors
> can use to have the text read out to them (and change contrast, text size
> etc). Regardless of whether these tools are a good idea or not, what would
> you say are the best of the bunch?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
>
>
>
>
>
> > > > >

From: Andrews, David B (DEED)
Date: Thu, Feb 03 2022 7:58AM
Subject: Re: Best website plugin/embedded accessibility tool to read out text, change contrast etc?
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You may be confusing so-called "overlays," that promise to make a web site accessible with the insertion of a line of Javascript, with various tools that allow the end-user to change things like read aloud or text size. The second category is not necessarily bad, and shouldn't be summarily dismissed.

Dave

From: Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design
Date: Thu, Feb 03 2022 8:05AM
Subject: Re: Best website plugin/embedded accessibility tool to read out text, change contrast etc?
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Hi,

I spoke to them on numerous occasions advising against it and in fact had convinced the manager that it was not advisable. However, they have a management committee of volunteers (and one particular insistent member) - who says they must have it because their target group will not be able to access the site without it. That fact that their old website which has been online for over 10 years has never had it, is 'neither here nor there'.

Thanks.

Jim

> On 3 Feb 2022, at 11:35, Ryan E. Benson < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Ant
> Is this a demand and if you don't, find a new job, or can you talk to them
> about the risks?
>
> --
> Ryan E. Benson
>
> On Thu, Feb 3, 2022, 5:36 AM Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design <
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have been asked to install a website accessibility tool that visitors
>> can use to have the text read out to them (and change contrast, text size
>> etc). Regardless of whether these tools are a good idea or not, what would
>> you say are the best of the bunch?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jim
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >> >> >> >>
> > > > About Jim Byrne
With over two decades of experience Jim Byrne is one of the UK's most experienced practitioners in the area of accessible web design. Jim provided feedback during the development of WCAG 2 as part of the Guild of Accessible Website Designers. He is the author of a number of technical books, training courses and accessibility guides. Jim was a winner of the equal access category of the Global Bangemann Challenge.

Jim Byrne: Specialist in Accessible Website Design.

Web: http://www.jimbyrne.co.uk

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jimbyrnewebdev

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirdsectorwebsitedevelopment

From: Jim Byrne Accessible Web Design
Date: Thu, Feb 03 2022 8:11AM
Subject: Re: Best website plugin/embedded accessibility tool to read out text, change contrast etc?
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Hi Dave,

It is good to have a competing view. So thanks for you input. I guess it's a trade-off. I've never been a fan of plugins that can potentially get in the way of the access tools that people already use. They may well help some people but hinder others.

Jim

> On 3 Feb 2022, at 14:58, Andrews, David B (DEED) < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> You may be confusing so-called "overlays," that promise to make a web site accessible with the insertion of a line of Javascript, with various tools that allow the end-user to change things like read aloud or text size. The second category is not necessarily bad, and shouldn't be summarily dismissed.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>

From: Andrews, David B (DEED)
Date: Thu, Feb 03 2022 8:23AM
Subject: Re: Best website plugin/embedded accessibility tool to read out text, change contrast etc?
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This is true, but the kind of thing you are talking about is in control of the end-user, so she can use it or not!

Dave

From: Hayman, Douglass
Date: Thu, Feb 03 2022 9:17AM
Subject: Re: - Best website plugin/embedded accessibility tool to read out text, change contrast etc?
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I'd avoid installing such a tool and instead have information on the page, perhaps in the footer regarding accessibility which might then link to information on how to carry out such modifications at the user end like:

1. Use control/command(macOS) plus and minus keys for text resizing if needed.
2. Use built-in tools to make a default Cascading Style Sheet that went with them throughout the web and not just on your page.
3. Share links to free or low cost tools to read your page and all other sites they visit with text to speech.

Doug Hayman
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Information Technology
Olympic College
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
(360) 475-7632 (currently working remotely and don't have access to this phone)

From: Geethavani.Shamanna
Date: Thu, Feb 03 2022 9:43AM
Subject: Re: Best website plugin/embedded accessibility tool to read out text, change contrast etc?
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Hi Jim,

Recite Me is one such plugin which is used here in the UK:
https://reciteme.com/

I am not a fan of such plugins, but was asked to test one in my previous role.

As for Recite Me, it does read aloud the content of the web page, but only when the content to be read out is selected using a mouse. So a screen reader user won't be able to get it to read any content. Then again, this is probably not meant for screen reader users. When Recite Me is activated, it tends to clutter the page with all the options it offers if one forgets to close it, so not ideal at all.

You can see it in action here:
https://reciteme.com/case-study/university-of-london

Geetha