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Thread: meeting collaboration tools
Number of posts in this thread: 9 (In chronological order)
From: Trafford, Logan
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 9:14AM
Subject: meeting collaboration tools
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Hi all.
I'm looking for unbiased opinions pertaining to the accessibility of online meeting solutions such as Adobe Connect, GoTo meeting etc. I'm particularly interested in comments from screen reader users.
In a nutshell, is there any one product that provides great features from a presenter perspective, but all full accessibility support from a meeting participant standpoint?
Thanks,
Logan
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From: Marc Solomon
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 10:01AM
Subject: Re: meeting collaboration tools
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In my experience, GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar have a number of accessibility issues that prevent full participation by users of screen readers (i.e. presenting or attending). Talking Communities is a fairly old solution but was designed to be fully accessible to those who use screen readers. And, Accessible Event from Serotek are two other options to consider. I look forward reading about other suggestions.
Best,
Marc
From: Jim Allan
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 10:20AM
Subject: Re: meeting collaboration tools
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I did a webinar on Adobe Connect accessibility a while back. this [1] is
the handout for that webinar explaining user tools, presenter tools, and
explaining the interface so attendees know what to expect.
1, http://www.tsbvi.edu/adobe-connect
On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 11:01 AM, Marc Solomon < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
wrote:
> In my experience, GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar have a number of
> accessibility issues that prevent full participation by users of screen
> readers (i.e. presenting or attending). Talking Communities is a fairly old
> solution but was designed to be fully accessible to those who use screen
> readers. And, Accessible Event from Serotek are two other options to
> consider. I look forward reading about other suggestions.
>
> Best,
> Marc
>
>
From: Zentz, Marlene
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 10:24AM
Subject: Re: meeting collaboration tools
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We're using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra<https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Administrator/Accessibility> and most features in this system are accessible to screen reader users (moderators and participants). Blackboard's Tech Preview team is currently working on improving the accessibility of features like the whiteboard and have accessibility integrated into their long term roadmap. We test with JAWS and provide feedback for the team.
Hope this is helpful,
Marlene Zentz
University of Montana
From: Moore,Michael (Accessibility) (HHSC)
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 10:26AM
Subject: Re: meeting collaboration tools
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We have tried both Accessible Event and Talking Communities and have had varied success. The primary problems were related to our network security settings preventing access to the servers hosting those services.
I have also had several discussions with representatives from Citrix about the accessibility issues with their GoToMeeting/Webinar/Training products. To make a long story short, accessibility is not a priority for their company.
Since we have not been able to identify a fully accessible product we have developed a process to ensure that people with disabilities can participate in our on-line meetings and webinars.
We provide access to all presentation materials in an accessible electronic format prior to the event.
We provide synchronized live captioning on request. (The opportunity to request captioning is provided at the time of the event announcement)
We run a simultaneous teleconference for people who cannot use the webinar service.
We have moderators who run the meeting software for the presenters and who provide access to discussion questions for everyone.
We allow submission of questions through the phone, email and the webinar chat system. The questions are repeated by either the presenter or the moderator.
Mike Moore
From: Diaz, Claudia
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 11:26AM
Subject: Re: meeting collaboration tools
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I have using Blackboard Collaborate v 12.5 and my staff member who uses JAWS can manage the entire event. He's follows ppt content via the blackboard activity window. He can keyboard navigate to different sections in the platform, chat, vote, etc. He can assign privileges even setup the captioner with the system. It is the most inclusive I've found but It has its drawbacks in that a screen reader user has to prepare his computer with the right setting prior to using the platform in order to have access to the accessibility features. Outside of accessibility issues, the system requires you to download a file which a lot of companies block for security purposes which limits who can access the system.
I was considering Adobe Connect but I found that they work with third party vendors who knew nothing of accessibility. They could not demonstrate how to keyboard navigate the platform and I found that the captioning pod was a plug-in from another entity. The captioning pod was not developed by Adobe so I was concerned about support and maintenance. Adobe was not easy to keyboard navigate, chat did not work for JAWS user without assistance from a sighted person and the power point content could not be read by screen reader.
This is my two cents and I hope it helps.
From: John E. Brandt
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 12:14PM
Subject: Re: meeting collaboration tools
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This is terrific, Jim. We use Adobe Connect all the time and this is the best resource I have seen.
~j
John E. Brandt
jebswebs.com
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
jebswebs.com
From: John E. Brandt
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 12:18PM
Subject: Re: meeting collaboration tools
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More great information, Mike.
We have a presenters guide book and a "standard operating procedures" manual and we will incorporate this information into them.
Many thanks.
~j
John E. Brandt
jebswebs.com
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
jebswebs.com
From: Maxability Accessibility for all
Date: Wed, Mar 02 2016 7:21PM
Subject: Re: meeting collaboration tools
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Any clue how Blackboard Collaborate v 12.5 is with NVDA?
Go To meeting is one I hate due to inaccessibility. Google Hangouts is what
I have liked most so far. Scheduling call, switching between video and
audio, sharing screen, and other standard functions are accessible.
HTH
Thanks & Regards
Rakesh
On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 12:48 AM, John E. Brandt < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> More great information, Mike.
>
> We have a presenters guide book and a "standard operating procedures"
> manual and we will incorporate this information into them.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> ~j
>
> John E. Brandt
> jebswebs.com
>
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> jebswebs.com
>
>
>
>