Comments on: Albinism and Low Vision:Search and Accessibility http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/ Raising the awareness of Web Site Accessibility and Marketing. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:37:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: patrick h. lauke http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-42335 patrick h. lauke Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:09:50 +0000 http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-42335 <blockquote>I’d love to see the ability to store interface preferences in a cookie. I want to go to Google and automatically have it show up as light text on a dark background. I can do it through the OS, but in many applications, it is a hinderance. So If Google would let me do it, that would be great.</blockquote> this is one of those cases where i really wish browsers would implement native alternate stylesheet switchers with per-site preferences, as well as offering a nice interface/dialog for setting user styles that don't require a PhD in CSS. somebody needs to show lee that if she used a browser other than safari (i'm assuming that that's what she's using, as she only mentions OS X's screen magnifier), such as Opera or Camino, she could set her own foreground/background preferences to override the colours of most sites quite easily. this is really an area where i think the onus needs to be shared: browser developers need to make their tools more usable and the access options more obvious, site developers need to code to standards and not try to force their preferences onto users (i.e. respect their user settings), and users need to learn which tools/browsers are best suited for their particular situation and learn what options are available to them in those tools. simply shoving the onus purely on the website (developers) is not a sustainable model, in my humble opinion.

I’d love to see the ability to store interface preferences in a cookie. I want to go to Google and automatically have it show up as light text on a dark background. I can do it through the OS, but in many applications, it is a hinderance. So If Google would let me do it, that would be great.

this is one of those cases where i really wish browsers would implement native alternate stylesheet switchers with per-site preferences, as well as offering a nice interface/dialog for setting user styles that don’t require a PhD in CSS.

somebody needs to show lee that if she used a browser other than safari (i’m assuming that that’s what she’s using, as she only mentions OS X’s screen magnifier), such as Opera or Camino, she could set her own foreground/background preferences to override the colours of most sites quite easily. this is really an area where i think the onus needs to be shared: browser developers need to make their tools more usable and the access options more obvious, site developers need to code to standards and not try to force their preferences onto users (i.e. respect their user settings), and users need to learn which tools/browsers are best suited for their particular situation and learn what options are available to them in those tools. simply shoving the onus purely on the website (developers) is not a sustainable model, in my humble opinion.

]]> By: David Temple http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-24010 David Temple Fri, 16 Feb 2007 02:36:50 +0000 http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-24010 That was really enlightening. I read this awhile back and was glad to read it again. I was mostly surprised that she liked the black background with white or yellow text. I guess the contrast helps. Thanks for the post. That was really enlightening. I read this awhile back and was glad to read it again. I was mostly surprised that she liked the black background with white or yellow text. I guess the contrast helps. Thanks for the post.

]]> By: Cre8pc on Usability & Holistic SEO For Accessibility, Seeing is Believing » http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-21301 Cre8pc on Usability & Holistic SEO For Accessibility, Seeing is Believing » Wed, 17 Jan 2007 20:49:00 +0000 http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-21301 [...] I was thrilled to see Matt Bailey interview Lee Laughlin in his accessbility blog. I know Lee as well, and instantly liked her. She’s warm and funny, but in her role as an event planner, always professional, on top of everything, gracious to all her guests, and has a tough streak I admire. Do not ever tell Lee she can’t do something. [...] […] I was thrilled to see Matt Bailey interview Lee Laughlin in his accessbility blog. I know Lee as well, and instantly liked her. She’s warm and funny, but in her role as an event planner, always professional, on top of everything, gracious to all her guests, and has a tough streak I admire. Do not ever tell Lee she can’t do something. […]

]]> By: Matt Bailey http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-21237 Matt Bailey Wed, 17 Jan 2007 02:10:24 +0000 http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-21237 Yes, Melissa, I felt the same way as you, especially when I first met Lee. I thought I was doing well in my knowledge and practice of accessibility, and I fortunately met someone who broadened my thinking. Most of all, low vision is bigger than most people realize, and they all have different needs and preferences for viewing sites. Thanks for posting! Yes, Melissa, I felt the same way as you, especially when I first met Lee. I thought I was doing well in my knowledge and practice of accessibility, and I fortunately met someone who broadened my thinking. Most of all, low vision is bigger than most people realize, and they all have different needs and preferences for viewing sites.

Thanks for posting!

]]> By: Melissa McAvoy http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-21144 Melissa McAvoy Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:38:59 +0000 http://www.accessibilityblog.com/2007/01/16/albinism-and-lowvision/#comment-21144 Wow, I have to say that this article was enlightening for me as a web accessibility professional. I have been working in accessible web design for about 3 years and I have to agree with Lee about the fact that there is little connection to the albinism community and a lot less emphasis on providing accessibility to users other than the blind. I'm not sure whether this is a product of lobbying or simply a lack of knowledge. I know that there is a great shortage of knowledge about disability in the general public. I also found her comments on the use of layout and color interesting. We have a site called <a href="assistivetech.net">assistivetech.net</a> that uses several style sheets to allow users to set a preference, but I am not sure how prevalent or useful this is. Unfortunately, I feel like a lot of developers are discouraged from providing multiple interface options simply because of the time and energy it takes in addition to the current emphasis on creating inherently accessible sites. Website: <a href="http://catea.gatech.edu">catea.org</a>; <a href="http://georgiatechcatea.wordpress.com">georgiatechcatea.wordpress.com</a> Wow, I have to say that this article was enlightening for me as a web accessibility professional. I have been working in accessible web design for about 3 years and I have to agree with Lee about the fact that there is little connection to the albinism community and a lot less emphasis on providing accessibility to users other than the blind. I’m not sure whether this is a product of lobbying or simply a lack of knowledge. I know that there is a great shortage of knowledge about disability in the general public.

I also found her comments on the use of layout and color interesting. We have a site called assistivetech.net that uses several style sheets to allow users to set a preference, but I am not sure how prevalent or useful this is. Unfortunately, I feel like a lot of developers are discouraged from providing multiple interface options simply because of the time and energy it takes in addition to the current emphasis on creating inherently accessible sites.
Website: catea.org; georgiatechcatea.wordpress.com

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