Archive for “Access Counts”

The following entries were made in the “Access Counts” category.


Views From a Screen Reader User

Posted March 25th, 2008 by Mike Cherim

As it concerns using lists and other non-form structural elements to lay out web forms, my feelings have been known. They haven’t changed, but after interviewing an experienced screen reader user about this very subject recently, I do have new insights into it — his perspective anyway. It was a revealing interview. Offering without a doubt relief to some, and probably disappointment to others. Any earned responses will likely determine that.

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A WCAG 2.0 Implementation Site

Posted March 11th, 2008 by Mike Cherim

Over the past month I made mentiontwice — of a site I was creating that was specifically meant to serve as a practical example of what an accessible web site is supposed to be like and serve the needs of its owner. Since I don’t create anything but accessible sites as a rule, this project wasn’t really that different than any other project. Initially that was. At first it was a typical Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, WCAG 1.0 build, with a focus on meeting all of the priority 2 checkpoints, “AA,” but once word got out, the owner and some of those behind the WCAG 2.0 requested that I take it further.

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The Four Principles of Web Accessibility

Posted February 28th, 2008 by Mike Cherim

I have been fortunate to have had an opportunity to create a web site that is going to be showcased by the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Editors as an early and exemplary implementation of the now nearly complete working draft of the WCAG 2.0 (more on this and the WCAG 2.0 later — expect relevant articles). In this article I will introduce and expound slightly upon the Understanding [of] the Four Principles of Accessibility.

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Are Lists Becoming the New Tables?

Posted February 15th, 2008 by Mike Cherim

Misusing specific elements in a way not intended, especially for presentational purposes, while creative and admirable on many levels, simply isn’t right.

A number of years ago some members of the scientific community and the United States government were involved in a new way to share text and data documents over phone lines. This became the Internet. It didn’t take long for people, call them web designers, to adopt and subsequently exploit this technology by using and even misusing the use-specific elements interpreted and rendered by “web browsers.”

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Inaccessible Label-Wrapped Form Inputs

Posted February 8th, 2008 by Mike Cherim

Not too long ago I wrote an article on keeping forms accessible. That was in September of ‘07. It’s an okay article, mostly accurate and helpful. I’ll stand behind its recommendations (it’s not that old), but one of those recommendations, an allowance actually, is seriously flawed. I am compelled and obligated to correct this. You see, I learned that a normal form-building practice of mine — wrapping a form input with its label — can seriously impact the accessibility and usability of a web form. Like hiding an input under a blanket.

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The New Accessigooglability

Posted January 20th, 2008 by Mike Cherim

If you told someone they could lose weight if they quit smoking, would they be in the wrong or, worse, be a bad person, to quit smoking for the sole purpose of losing weight? Let’s examine: Losing excess weight is a good thing, and so is quitting smoking, right? So does their motivation leave something to be desired? I strongly suspect most of you wouldn’t care one way or the other. The net result will be the same, the benefits will be realized regardless of their reasoning, and nobody will be hurt by their choice. It’s seems that the motivation is actually sort of irrelevant.

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Accessible Web Developers on Facebook

Posted January 10th, 2008 by Mike Cherim

Facebook isn’t exactly an icon of web accessibility, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for Accessible Web Developers, and that’s exactly the reason for this post. A couple of days ago I started an accessible web developers group — borrowing the name from my top-ten Ma.gnolia group — and I’m inviting you to join. And I’m also asking that you extend the invitation to your like-minded friends and colleagues. Already there’s an all-star membership, so you’ll be in good company.

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Hiding Content for Screen Reader Users

Posted January 7th, 2008 by Mike Cherim

This practice, while it does carry risks, like most things we do, can be successful, but it must be used intelligently and in moderation.

My friend and colleague, Mel Pedley, brought up a point recently — as we were discussing a site being graded at Accessites — about hiding text for screen reader users using an “offset class,” where one uses absolute positioning to send the element outside the viewport, usually by thousands of pixels. Our grading discussions are under lock and key, available to the team members and site submitter only, so there’s no sense providing a link, but here’s an excerpt:

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Secure and Accessible Contact Form v3

Posted January 1st, 2008 by Mike Cherim

GBCF-vs Demo Site) I’m happy to announce the availability of version three of my GBCF-v3 Secure and Accessible Contact Form. It offers a ton of improvements over version two in the areas of perfected error management, easy language adaptability, passive set-up validation assistance — so the script can be tested before putting it on your site — security, usability, powerful flexibility, and enhanced accessibility. On this last front two notable features include: the form’s ability to automatically adapt to the user’s preferences maintaining the semantics and accessibility and; the form’s refined usage of labels and legends to make the experience of using the form a smart one for screen reader users.

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