“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”
—Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website accessibility lawsuits are appearing in the news more than ever before. We’ve seen large corporations, colleges, musicians, small businesses, and more involved in these recent suits. They claim that their websites aren’t accessible to people with disabilities who rely on assistive technology. And, legal experts predict that the number of lawsuits will continue to rise in 2019.

With so many lawsuits, businesses might be nervous about their own sites. Some companies are taking extreme measures like removing all downloadable content. Some are even shutting websites down altogether. This attempt to avoid a lawsuit could’ve been averted with some planning. Also, steps like these are too little too late.

What’s a company to do?

Removing content or your entire website isn’t going to help your company. And, in the 21st century, it’s not considered a solid business practice. However, there’s an alternative for people struggling with ADA compliance.

First, you’ll want to understand all accessibility laws. This knowledge will better prepare you to make an accessibility plan. It’ll also help you properly convey your plan to the team involved in keeping your website accessible.

Next, you should review how your company manages ADA-related requests. Hint: If you don’t receive any requests, it might actually mean your company lacks compliance because people may be unable to make requests. This also puts your organization at risk for an ADA violation.

Once you understand the ADA basics and how your company handles them, you’ll be equipped to form a plan and timeline for accessibility.

Your Accessibility Plan

A well-thought-out plan shows awareness of potential issues and a strong effort to be ADA compliant.

Did you know that businesses must provide alternative formats to printed materials when a customer requests them? As part of your plan, you’ll need to have a way to provide alternatives to your standard print documents. The ADA says that these compliant alternatives are braille, large print, and audio. You’ll want to make sure there’s an easy way for your customers to request these formats on your website.

Also, you’ll need to design an accessibility statement that’ll be available on your website. This statement should include information such as your commitment to follow all federal, state, and local laws. It should also include the name of your company’s assigned ADA Compliance Coordinator. And, it’s important to have contact information in your statement. You should have the contact information for both your ADA Compliance Coordinator and a way for requesting ADA compliant materials and services.

Help assistive technology understand your site

Next, you’ll want to decide how you’ll remediate all of your website’s downloadable content so it’s ADA compliant and accessible. You’ll want to plan for ways to keep any future downloadable content accessible, too. We recommend hiring professionals to handle this. They’ll quickly and accurately remediate your documents and provide a better experience to your customers using assistive technology. We also suggest that you keep the original content on your website while it’s being remediated. Offer a hard-copy alternative in the meantime. But, be sure to swap out inaccessible files for their accessible counterparts as soon as possible.

Lastly, you’ll need to optimize your website so it’s accessible to anyone who visits. Though the Department of Justice (DOJ) hasn’t defined rules for making websites accessible, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provides an excellent roadmap for you. Following these guidelines makes your overall website experience better for all of your customers; not just those using assistive technology. A team of professionals is also the best way to accomplish this. They’ll review your website, provide a detailed analysis of the issues and offer solutions.

Extra Perks

Having a website that everyone can access and enjoy is a great perk in itself. But, there are other benefits to having an ADA compliant website.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) best sums it up: “There is also a strong business case for accessibility. Accessibility overlaps with other best practices such as mobile web design, device independence, multi-modal interaction, usability, design for older users, and search engine optimization (SEO). Case studies show that accessible websites have better search results, reduced maintenance costs, and increased audience reach, among other benefits.“

This means every user will have a better overall experience when interacting with your website. You’ll also rank better with search engines like Google and Bing. And, by providing an accessible website, you’ll reach a market segment that accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars in spending power each year. Lastly, since accessible websites have reduced maintenance costs, you’ll have more money to grow your business. All of these are excellent perks that benefit your company.

Now is the Time

With a little bit of understanding, wisdom, and empathy, you’ll be on your way to providing a website that everyone can enjoy. Now that you know, it’s time to create a plan for the best online customer experience possible!

The post Tackle Website Compliance Today appeared first on Braille Works.

The internet is calling January a trial period, and while we think that’s hilarious, we realize the benefit in having a trial period. Trial periods are nice because they give you room to make big goals and then see what your willpower is like, identify your shortcomings, and then see how practical the new process falls into the old routine. Your 30-days free buy-in began on January 1st, but even if accessibility is not on the list of company resolutions, we’re here to tell you it’s not too late. In fact, we want to see you succeed at this. So much so, we created a checklist of goals that if completed, can help see you and your team through one of your most accessible years yet.

1. Have an accessibility statement and display it proudly on your website. It’s just as important as your “About Us”, “Resources”, and “Contact Us”, as it tells visitors your commitment to serve all people, and how they can get into contact with or give accessibility feedback to an accessibility specialist at your business.
2. Share news that’s accessible. Here in our marketing department, we’ve decided our standard is 20 accessibility errors or less. If a social story has more than 20 errors in a website accessibility tool extension, and we can’t find that same story accessible elsewhere on the world wide web, then we just won’t share that story.
3. Don’t get sued and don’t wait to get sued. I know you’re thinking “well, duh, that’s the goal right?” But we’ve heard of people waiting to get compliant after they’re sued. It’s not about your budget. You need to be compliant so that who you say you are and what you are lines up. Don’t create your own crisis.
4. Choose a content management system (WordPress, Wix, etc.) that supports accessibility. Opt for a theme/template, plugins, or widgets that are accessible. Content management systems are important because they take on the bulk of content, blog posting, responsive design, and the way the website appears to visitors. For editing toolbars and video players, make sure that the system you commit to supports creating accessible content.
   • Make WordPress Accessible
   • Wix – Make Your Site Accessible
   • Drupal – Accessibility
5. Videos should include closed captioning and video transcripts for the hearing-impaired. Transcripts are different from captions. Captions appear onscreen in time with the audio and video. Moreover, one can’t reference it outside of the video. A transcript is the spoken content typed out as a separate document. Both allow access to content from alternate format and adds to its accessibility.
6. Screen reader users can use the heading structure to navigate content. By using headings correctly, the content of your website will be organized and easily interpreted by screen readers. Good heading structure is great for accessibility. Be sure to stick to the correct order of headings, and not pick a header just because it looks good. You should only use one H1 on each webpage – usually as the page title. The page title is generally the big, bold text typically at the beginning of the content that describes what users can expect to find in your content. You can do this by starting with subheadings H2, then H3, followed by H4.
7. Include alternative text for images and logos. Alt text shows screen reader users information in place of the images they cannot see. Every image that conveys content or has a function on your web site should be given alternative text. Describe the visual content by inserting the text as an attribute of the image. Users see it by hovering over the image, and screen readers say it aloud to tell the user. This is especially helpful when all of your media isn’t loading for some reason.
8. When including links in your content, use text that properly describes where the link will go. Using “click here” is not descriptive, and is ineffective for a screen reader. In order to provide better information and orientate the user, use “Contact us here” instead of “Click here”.
9. Be sure to also distinguish blocks of content from one another using whitespace, lines, or borders. People with cognitive disabilities, such as dyslexia, benefit from white space between headings, paragraphs, tables, etc. Long paragraphs can be more difficult and more overwhelming to read than shorter paragraphs.
   

   We’re halfway there…

10. Color contrast matters. There are several tools you can use to evaluate color contrast to make your information usable to people with low vision or color blindness. Avoid using colors where the shades are too similar. Choose colors carefully and make sure you create contrast between the text content (foreground) and its background. You’re creating content for the millions of people who are not able to distinguish between colors and shades.
11. Websites commonly have forms like logins, mailing list subscriptions, and site search. The point of putting your forms online is that it speeds up the intake process, and gets the information to the public. Forms are intended to be useful–if designed carefully. Make sure each field is clearly labeled near their associated fields. It shouldn’t be a guessing game to decide what type of content should go into the form field. Have you ever tried to fill out a form on your phone that wasn’t responsive so it did not resize correctly and you had to guess where your first name, last name, and personal information went? While a sighted user can match a label to the corresponding field, this may not be obvious for someone using a screen reader. And, while we’re at it– CAPTCHA is inaccessible. So, if you need to verify that the user is authentic and not a bot, try any one of these alternatives for your form.
12. Use tables for data, not for layout/lists purposes. We understand the temptation to throw content in a table so that its all lined up correctly. Unfortunately, content put in a table doesn’t read in the order that matches its visual display.
13. Long pages with lots of content, like your pillar page, should be broken up with anchor links (jump text), allowing keyboard-only users to skip to relevant portions of the page without having to negotiate through other content.
14. If your site or social post contains a slideshow, make sure that each photo has alt text. For those using any unique tools like Hubspot for posting your social and images, make sure to include the alt text in the social post or the image description.
15. The best way to fully understand and assess your website is to see an actual person access your site with assistive technologies (i.e., screen reader, magnification software, speech input device). If you don’t know of a person with a disability on your team, turn off your monitor and unplug your mouse.
16. For a website to be accessible, it must work without a mouse because assistive technologies rely on keyboard-only navigation. So, use your own site without a mouse and try keyboard navigation with the Tab key. If you find that you can’t access parts of your website or that navigating is difficult, write those issues down and address them.
17. With a number of ways that users access the web, creating highly-accessible designs with multiple viewing possibilities is critical to the success of a website. Offer multiple access points by removing the obstacles.
18. WOAOYA. Acronyms are great if you speak the same language and you know what it means. Otherwise, it can feel a lot like listening to young people speak and having to search urbandictionary.com for the meanings. WOAOYA – Write out all of your acronyms. It keeps everyone in the loop, reduces communication barriers, and is a must if you’re in industries like ours that are inundated with legal language, jargon, and the like.
19. Ensure that video players or pop-ups do not auto-play, and can be stopped with a keyboard. Automatically-playing music or videos that starts when a page loads is not only startling, but an issue for accessibility.  Avoid media or subscription requests that start without the user’s prompt and can’t be closed with the ‘Esc’ key. Otherwise, the user will have to close out on the entire webpage and miss out on your information altogether.

The post 19 Things You Can Do for 2019 appeared first on Braille Works.

What is the 21st Century IDEA?

The 21st Century IDEA pertains to public-facing websites and digital materials for all federal agencies. It is designed to reduce the use of paper by digitizing all forms and information. The intention is to streamline processes, create a better user experience, reduce costs, provide a secure system, and permit users to interact in a personal manner. The 21st Century IDEA also compliments Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, for Americans with Disabilities, by ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities.

The law is appropriately titled, as it will bring federal agencies into the 21st century. HR 5759 has all Americans in mind, including those with disabilities. It is related to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the requirements far exceed what Section 508 requires. It only requires equal access and does not include security, personalization, ease of use, or uniformity among all agencies.

How and When Will The 21st Century IDEA Be Implemented?

Agencies have 180 days from the signing of the Act to form a plan and get relevant sites up and running. Then, full implementation, uniformity, and integration are expected by December 2020.

The timeline is tight for federal agencies, but considerations could be given based on all agencies working together for implementation. The Chief Information Technology person of each agency will oversee the application, oversight, and interdepartmental communications.

The focus in the first year is to have all pertinent information in a digital and accessible format. The ease of use, cost to implement and maintain, and uniformity will also be worked on in the first year. The second year will focus on the interaction for the user, including a way for people to digitally sign documents and fill out forms. A two-year time period for complete implementation seems like a lofty goal. Representative Ratcliffe shares, the technology exists, “Why’s this such a big issue? Because it’s hurting our ability to ensure folks get timely and efficient help from agencies like the IRS or VA. Moreover, even though the technology we need to mitigate this problem is already available-we aren’t using it. However, as times change, and as citizens’ needs transform, it’s our job to ensure we evolve the services we provide.”

What Does This Mean Overall?

The result of The 21st Century IDEA will have all government forms digitized. The current Section 508 Standards of accessibility will apply, so these digital forms will need to be accessible to people with disabilities. These all seem like positive expected outcomes, but are they too good to be true? Time will tell as situations arise.

Cutting down on forms, paper, expense, and time is all well and good, but what about people who cannot access a computer? Will a non-digital format be available?

We do not know what will change over time, but we, at Braille Works, will keep you informed.

The 21st Century IDEA will be positive for many Americans, by providing streamlined, uniform, secure, and equal access across all agencies. These improvements will help people who have visual, cognitive, or neurological disabilities. The US Government is leading by example, and the route to accessibility will benefit all Americans. When you design a program with everyone in mind, you include everyone. We are hopeful that 2019 will be the year for Disability Rights and Accessibility.

How Did The 21st Century IDEA Come to Be?

Representative Ro Khanna (D) presented HR 5759 in the House on May 5, 2018. The bill was co-sponsored by Twelve Republicans and 7 Democrats in the US House of Representatives. On November 29, 2018, there was unanimous support in the House for the 21st Century IDEA.

Senator Perdue (R) presented it to the Senate, and after asking for unanimous support was granted, without changes, on December 11, 2018. Senator Rob Portman (R) was pleased with the passing of The 21st Century IDEA, “This bill will modernize the way the federal government delivers services online, increase efficiency, and reduce costs for taxpayers, and I’m pleased it passed the Senate unanimously.” Senator Portman introduced a similar piece of legislation in June of 2018.

In addition to the support of the executive and legislative branches, the following organizations and corporations also support the 21st Century IDEA: Information Technology Industry Council; The Software Alliance; Adobe; Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; Software & Information Industry Association; ServiceNow; CompTIA; and Microsoft.

In Their Words:

Representative Khanna (D)

“It’s time our government agencies adopt the innovative technologies of the 21st Century. Government exists to serve citizens, and this bill ensures government leverages available technology to provide the cohesive, user-friendly online service that people around this country expect and deserve.”

Representative Comer (R)

“I rise today in support of H.R. 5759 introduced by Congressman Khanna of California. The U.S. Federal Customer Experience Index measures citizen interactions with the Federal Government. The 2018 index gave Federal agencies failing scores. Citizens deserve and expect better from their government.”

Statement from the White House

“H.R. 5759, the “21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act” or the “21st Century IDEA,” which requires executive agencies to comply with modernization requirements for new Federal websites and digital services, requires OMB to identify candidates for service digitization, and requires executive agencies to develop plans to accelerate the use of electronic signatures.”

Sources

• Senate Passes Portman’s 21st Century IDEA Act, Now Headed for President’s Signature
• 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act
• H.R.5759 – 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act
• Bill Announcement

The post Hope Beyond the Government Shutdown through Bipartisan Legislation appeared first on Braille Works.

It wasn’t until I was having lunch with a handful of millennials in the medical, banking, marketing, and digital media industries that I realized how far accessibility has come. When asked about my chosen industry, over a plate of salsa and chips, I said, “I work in the marketing department for an accessibility company”. That’s when an analyst at one of the top Big Four banks of the United States said, “Man, accessibility is such a big deal! Right now I’m programming ADA-approved features into one of our solutions for people with disabilities.” Funny enough, he didn’t know anything about this industry a year ago.

But he’s right. Access to information is a big deal.

Last year, Braille Works called 2018 the Year of Accessibility, and we were right. We’re hearing people talk about accessibility and they know their stuff. It excites us that there are so many informed developers, business owners, and decision-makers who are enhancing independence for the millions of people with visual, motor, auditory, speech, or cognitive disabilities.

How Did We Turn Up the Volume on Accessibility?

First, we tackled the knowledge gap and many of the myths concerning accessibility. Let’s just say there were A LOT of preconceived notions. For one, there’s a myth that making a website accessible is always difficult and expensive. The truth is it doesn’t have to be, and it’s a lot less expensive than a lawsuit. Next, we combatted myths that accessibility was not for small businesses; i.e., mom and pop shops. A few months ago we ended up as part of the topic of a Reddit thread for accessible menus. We had a blast reading through the dialogue, hearing people with disabilities advocate for themselves, and watching restaurant owners of all sizes chime in to say, “Okay, I’m interested! Where can I get braille and large print menus?”.

From Novice to Knowledgeable

Second, we wrote blogs and published a monthly newsletter chock-full of accessibility tips and compliance industry news. Our materials were also published on Medium.com where over 60 million of their unique monthly readers could learn more about accessibility. We did this because it’s important to better understand how communication barriers affect someone’s experience and what still needs to be done to create inclusive websites, apps, software, and spaces. We watched as accessibility moved from an afterthought to a key element of the design and implementation process. And, since the U.S. Access Board published a final rule updating accessibility requirements in January 2018, and the Department of Justice recently reaffirmed that Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act does apply to websites, we’ll continue to answer your time-sensitive questions and Google searches, because #AccessibilityMatters.

Lastly, we have a new team member. He’s Large, Loud, Lumpy and Legal!  Meet Seymour.

But what does a camel have to do with accessibility? Well . . . He’s Large (for large print), He’s Loud (for audio), He’s Lumpy (for braille) and He’s Legal (for accessible PDF’s)

You might see him at your local library using a screen magnifier, ordering from a braille menu, or giving shout outs for companies that are accessible. Seymour will not only get you over your compliance humps, but he’ll lead the way! His goal is to help the world see more, hear more, feel more, and do more.

From all of us here at Braille Works, thank you for a memorable and accessible 2018. We may not know what to expect in 2019 but we know it will be a very good year for accessibility. We’ll even say that 2019 will be Large, Loud, Lumpy, and Legal!

Did you know?

• Braille Works published 33 original blogs on accessibility in 2018?
• Forbes covered 32 blogs on accessibility in 2018?
• Even Medium has an extensive repertoire of blogs on accessibility!

To wrap up the year, we thought we’d share some facts on 2018’s accessibility accomplishments.

• Google, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Skype, Airbnb, eBay, Lyft, and Amazon Alexa became more accessible.
• Video gaming got more inclusive. Check out the Accessibility Revolution in the gaming industry!
• Universities continued to make websites, online courses, and documents meet web accessibility standards. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility even shared the results of tests run to check the accessibility of a handful of school websites.
• Since the lack of accessible clothing is a barrier to greater independence, and being unable to dress one’s self is a big part of the independence lost to disability. Designers created clothes that are fashionable, functional, and accessible.
• The UK held its first ever accessible shopping day, Purple Tuesday, where hundreds of retailers focused on the needs of disabled customers.
• NBC Olympics and Comcast announced they’d be providing video description services for viewers with visual disabilities watching the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea –Making it the most accessible Winter Games in Olympic history!
• People with colorblindness now have a new tool to help them access on-screen information thanks to the work of @visionaustralia Digital Access team.
• We put Braille on Mars!
• A stargazing app guides users with visual impairments through the stars with “auditory and vibrational feedback.”
• In honor of the National Federation of the Blind’s 40th anniversary, the Baltimore Orioles added braille to their jerseys.
• Braille and audio “Love Notes” were added to Rice Krispies Treats wrappers. “This year, love and support will be more accessible.”
• Tech companies, including Microsoft and Apple, worked together to create “plug and play support for braille displays” across devices and operating systems.
• A rise in accessible apps helped those with visual impairments navigate cities, transit systems and airports with confidence.
• Ford’s “Feel the View” allowed riders with visual impairments to “view” scenery outside the car’s window.
• Jaguar worked with Guide Dogs for the Blind to develop sounds that give an audible cue when an electric vehicle is in motion nearby.
• Apple submitted a new set of accessibility emojis to be released in the first half of 2019.
• “ADA Accessibility as a Human Right” was CSUN’s 2018 theme.
• Pharmacies used prescription readers, like ScripTalk, to read aloud dosage information from the bottom of the prescription bottle.
• In-flight entertainment was made accessible for passengers with sight loss.
• Herbal Essences made a line of hair products accessible.
• Accessible voting – Voters with disabilities have been able to cast ballots by mail for years or at the board of elections with assistance. But this technology allows them to vote in person without anyone’s help. Not to mention, volunteers spent a chunk of Election Day visiting poll sites to survey accessibility and enforce the Help America Vote Act.
• Intuit made Aira available for free to all entrepreneurs and small-business owners. “If we can help a blind or low-vision entrepreneur build their business or start a new one, then hopefully that will lead to a lower unemployment rate and better jobs and lives for a lot of people.”

For more follow our hashtag, #AccessibilityMatters, on your favorite social media site.

BrailleWorks 2018:

1. Why Web Accessibility Still Relies on Human Action
2. The Braille Challenge is Back!
3. Why We Champion the Odyssey of the Mind
4. Supporting Easterseals to Take on Disabilities Together
5. CSUN 2018: An Opportunity to Witness Significant Advances to Accessibility
6. Don’t Lose Readers Because of Poor Website Accessibility
7. What You Need to Know About the 508 Refresh & ICT
8. Are Digital Marketing Agencies and Communication Managers Key Players in Accessibility?
9. Saving Time, Saving Money: “Can we buy a braille printer and just do this in-house?”
10. The 411 on Braille Business Cards
11. Why the Rise in ADA Lawsuits
12. Why You Can’t Stop at Braille Business Cards
13. The Need For Accessible Documents Is On The Rise
14. Why I Love WCAG (And You Should, Too!)
15. Section 508, ADA, WCAG, 2.0, 2.1, AA, AAA, Compliance… What Does It All Mean?
16. Reflecting on Life Before the Americans with Disabilities Act
17. Why the Leader in Accessible Documents is Attending PRINT18
18. Your Customers Can’t Read Your Documents
19. Empowering People: More Than Just a ‘Feel Good’ Move
20. A Crash Course in 2019 Medicare Options
21. Stay Ahead of the Trends and Find A Niche in Marketing
22. 10 Terms You’ll Need to Know to Understand Accessibility
23. Happy World Sight Day
24. It’s White Cane Safety Day!
25. Voters with Visual Disabilities – Make Your Vote Count!
26. Things To Know Before Making Your Documents Accessible
27. Dyslexia: The Hidden Disability
28. Plan Ahead for Accessibility: Consumer’s Responsibilities & Rights
29. Disaster Preparedness for People with Visual Disabilities
30. A President Remembered; George H.W. Bush (41)
31. How the Video Game Community is Addressing Accessibility
32. What Website Compliance Has to Do with Getting My Beauty Products
33. The Recipe Calls For a Serving of Independence

Forbes 2018:

• Designing For Accessibility Doesn’t Drive Costs; It Drives Opportunity
• Enablement, Empowerment And Accessibility Using Education Technology
  Apple Proposes A New Line Of Accessibility Emoji
• The Importance Of Web Accessibility And How Marketers Can Help
• U.S. Firms Slowly Getting Better At Disability Inclusion
• Progress Builds Tools For The Accessible Web
• 5 Ways You Can Help Shoppers With Disabilities This Season
• Winery Websites Must Comply With The Americans With Disability Act, But How?
• 4 Ways To Respect The Needs Of Employees With Disabilities
• How Design Students From Around The World Are Trying To Solve Problems You Didn’t Know Existed
• Closing The Disability Inclusion Gap At Work: These 5 Research-Proven Ways Will Help You Start Today
• What People With Disabilities Want More Store Employees To Know
• Is Your Job Application Process Accessible And Inclusive?
• Disability Accommodation On Campus: Some Unintended Consequences
• Four Things You Should Do Before Even Thinking About Building A New Website
• Is That Website Ethical? A Four-Part Test You Can Use
• This New Controller Is One Of The Most Important Pieces Of Hardware Xbox Has Ever Made
• People With Disabilities Want Paychecks Not Pity: Here’s How Businesses Are Helping
• Marketing Has A Role In Achieving Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace
• An Online Store For Style-Conscious Shoppers With Disabilities
• How Do We Design Workplaces For Inclusivity And Diversity
• An ‘Onslaught’ Of Lawsuits From The Blind Is Happening; Blame Obama’s and Trump’s DOJ
• How Disability-Friendly Is Your Workplace? 4 Ways To Put Your Business To The Test
• Enablement, Empowerment And Accessibility Using Education Technology
• Want To Provide A Better Website Experience? Fix These 11 Overlooked Pain Points
• This Latina Is Using Her Own Experience With Blindness To Bring About Change In The Workforce
• How This Woman Is Taking On Diversity In Tech
• Stephen Hawking Overcame Challenges. Two Meteorologists With Disabilities Have Too
• Five Ways To Create Positive Digital Experiences For Your Customers
• Are You Solving Your Customers’ Real Problems? Here’s How To Find Out
• Serial Suer Targets Broadway Theaters
• Eight Ways To Make Sure Your Website Attracts — And Keeps — Your Ideal Client

The post We called 2018 “The Year of Accessibility” and We Were Right appeared first on Braille Works.

My Struggles As A Child

Reading in school was always a struggle; especially reading aloud. I distinctly recall hoping the bell would sound or the book would end before the reading circle made its way to me. This anxiety was guaranteed to turn in to utter embarrassment, I’d think in my head. A restroom break or a visit to the principal’s office were my only choices. I spent a lot of time with the principal. I didn’t want to be the “bad kid”, but I was certainly not going to be the “dumb kid” either.

Thankfully, my struggles helped my children and other parents better understand what dyslexia is and how to overcome the challenges. Dyslexia affects each person differently, but some similarities make it easy to self-screen before seeking a diagnosis.

Identifying Dyslexia

Knowing that dyslexia is genetic, I was vigilant in looking for signs in my children. Studies show that identifying dyslexia early in life allows for a better outcome later in life. When I began seeing letter reversal, trouble with spelling, and an avoidance of reading in my children, I knew that they needed early intervention. The problem I ran into was getting the schools to be as vigilant as the law requires.

The laws are on the side of parents and students when identifying and treating dyslexia. Even with the law on my side, I decided to forgo the dyslexia diagnosis through the school, and focus on the language-based delays. Language-based delays are easier for the schools to identify and a large piece of the dyslexia puzzle. A Speech-language pathologist, (also called SLP’s) can test for and treat language-based delays. And, in pursuing this path early on, my children began to receive the help they needed to overcome the challenges of dyslexia.

Determination for the Win

I didn’t give up on seeking an appropriate diagnosis, but I knew treatment was the ultimate goal. In addition to the school-based testing and treatment, I sought a private diagnosis through a psychologist. The psychologist provided an educational profile, which outlined recommended interventions and accommodations individualized for my child. The profile is an important tool when meeting with the school intervention team. Most schools call their intervention team the Individual Education Plan (IEP) Team. It is a plan for a student based on how a disability affects them and provides interventions that are unique to the student.

The road to detection, intervention, accommodations, and services wasn’t easy. However, through our family’s efforts, our daughter graduated from college, our oldest son is successful in advanced placement classes, and our youngest son enjoys academics and has a passion for the Latin language. And I have peace of mind knowing that my children didn’t fall through the cracks or become a statistic of a broken system.

My Advice To You

The best advice I can give a parent is to look for the root cause of a child’s behavior. When a child pushes a book away, has behavioral issues, or displays low self-esteem, the root cause could be dyslexia. Experts estimate that 15-20 percent of the population has dyslexia. It is proven that early detection and intervention is the key factor in overcoming dyslexia. There is no cure for dyslexia, but there is hope. I hope that sharing my path and these resources helps other families overcome the challenges that dyslexia causes.

The post Dyslexia: One Mom’s Journey appeared first on Braille Works.

From all of us at Braille Works, please accept our heartfelt “Thank You” for allowing us the privilege to serve you this year.

And, while we’re sad to see this year go, we’re excited to see what 2019 will bring. We anticipate exciting accessibility improvements.

In a recent post, LinkedIn predicts that companies will work towards inclusive designs in the coming year. That means companies will operate and create with people of varying abilities in mind. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, thinks we’ll move away from checking accessibility after the fact. Instead, he believes we’ll move towards inclusive design in which accessibility is considered throughout the development process.

And, similarly, Creative Bloq expects that the push for website accessibility will increase in 2019. “Accessibility is no longer a luxury; it should be an absolute requirement.” They’re sure that accessibility will continue to be one of the main focuses for websites and apps.

We’ll also continue to see artificial intelligence (AI) advances in assistive devices. And, because of these advances, we’ll also likely see an increased push for email accessibility and its compatibility with smart speakers such as Google Home and Amazon Echo. Not only will people with varying abilities be able to read the content in the emails they receive; they’ll also be able to listen and, hopefully, respond to them through improved assistive devices like smart speakers.

As 2019 approaches, know that we’re ready to serve as your Document Accessibility Partner. We’ll continue to provide quality Large Print, Audio, Braille, and Accessible PDFs.

It’s our hope that you & your family enjoy a wonderful Holiday Season as we look forward to a prosperous new year together!

Here’s to a Large, Loud, Lumpy & Legal New Year!

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Some of my best memories were created in my mom’s kitchen. There is something about preparing a holiday meal together that strengthens family bonds and bridges generational gaps. I am grateful that my mom didn’t give up on learning to adapt and pursue her independence.

My mom had vision into her early 20s. However, she knew it was likely that she would lose her vision as time went and made independence her priority. She learned how to read braille, handle a guide dog, cook, clean, and care for herself. She even attended college and eventually graduate school. I imagine these tasks all had some level of frustration, but independence was her primary goal. It was an uphill climb.

Independence in Action

When people ask what it’s like having blind parents, I only remember Mom preparing meals and baking goods with ease. Sure, there were some mishaps that we all have in the kitchen, but she didn’t let a few burned biscuits stop her. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how organized my mom was with meal preparation. She spent time putting everything in its place, labeling food items and spices, placing raised dots on the stove and microwave, and having some adaptive items. My mom learned a lot of these adaptive methods from the Division of Blind Services and similar programs.

I remember reading family recipes to my mom and she typed them in braille. Back then it was time-consuming, but today I know it was time well spent. As we read through recipes, mom would tell my siblings and me stories about each family member and the recipes they contributed to our cookbook. She is a great storyteller and had a way of placing us right in our great-grandmother’s kitchen. We worked on that cookbook for many months. However, I didn’t notice the magnitude of those days spent reading recipes until my daughter was in the kitchen.

When my daughter was young, she worked next to my mom in the kitchen. They measured, mixed, and of course told family stories. My mom read the recipes from the homemade braille family cookbook we made years prior. The familiar smell of chocolate chip cookies and pecan pie filled the air. I was immediately taken back to my younger years and reading the cookbook.

Keeping with Tradition

Today, I look around my kitchen and I see many tools that are accessible. Alexa (Amazon) can access recipes that allow me to hear each step, rather than read a cookbook. My nesting measuring cups have raised markings that can be felt, just like my mom had. The adjustable measuring spoons has ridges that indicate when I am increasing a measurement. My mixing bowls have engraved markings that allow me to feel each measurement. My oven automatically starts at 350 degrees and beeps at 5 degrees increments when I add or reduce the temperature. Look around your kitchen and see how many items can be considered adaptive for a person losing their eyesight. Think about how vital these conveniences could become to you or a loved one facing vision-loss.

Now, You’re Cooking

In 1990, all Americans were granted equality. I think about all of this in awe because of what my mom was able to accomplish in the 1960s and 1970s. She was successful because she learned to self-advocate, and she accessed valuable resources.

Schools for the Blind, Blind Services and organizations like Lighthouse for the Blind are vital for people learning how to live without sight.   They teach techniques for cooking, daily living, adapting to a new life, and gaining independence. National advocacy groups also play a significant role in educating people with a visual impairment or blindness in how to be independent and access services

If you or a loved one is facing vision loss or decline in vision it can be overwhelming, do not lose hope. Accessibility laws, modifications, and adaptations make independent living possible.

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When I find a product or a company that I like, I’m in it for the long haul. I’ve been with my car insurance since I could drive. I fill my tank with only one gas station. And I probably won’t leave the Southeast because my groceries taste better at my preferred grocery store. I hate to say it, but the cost is never the deciding factor; customer service is.

Last year, I was in New York City when my friend insisted I visit a showroom for skincare and beauty products. With a mirrored sign that said, “You Look Good” and exceptional customer service, that showroom won me over. I told anyone who would listen about their lip balm and soon became hooked on their skincare line. All I had to do was remember to place an online order before I ran out and it would ship to my Florida home.

Plot Twist: Someone got sued and it wasn’t me

We had a great working relationship until I ran out of my skincare solution in May. I went to the website to order another, but there weren’t any in stock. So I clicked on the “notify me when in stock” button and waited. Then at about three weeks into my waiting, I saw headlines that the website of my beloved retailer was inaccessible for people with disabilities. They were being sued. I knew immediately that this was not good. Not because my acne prone skin was about to lash out, but because millions of people couldn’t search the website, place an order, or even click “notify me when in stock” as I had done.

This legal suit hits home. Not only did I adore the retailer, I also work for a company that helps businesses stay Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. Based on what I knew from the Winn Dixie decision, this would be a costly oversight. Not only would this impact their invaluable customer loyalty, it would also cost more than if they’d initially made their website ADA compliant.

Each headline I saw detailed how the defendant was denied “goods and services” because of “multiple access barriers” while navigating the site. Since the beauty and skincare retailer was a direct-to-consumer brand and primarily fills their orders through online purchases, it’s far too important that they be accessible to all.

Is poor web accessibility discrimination?

The ADA protects people with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination “when it comes to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities or public accommodations.” Discrimination may seem like a pretty harsh label. But, it’s discrimination because it’s illegal to deny people access because of their disability. Just like the physical NYC showroom had to meet ADA standards with an elevator for people with physical disabilities, their website needed to meet ADA standards by allowing people with visual disabilities to use their screen reader to make a purchase. If a site does not allow assistive technology to read aloud the content, then you cannot shop, research, or perform the same functions that everybody else can do on that website.

What’s the difference like when making an online purchase?

People with blindness and visual impairment use screen readers to translate on screen text into audio. When graphics don’t contain alternate text (“alt text”), the technology can’t describe what’s in the graphic or process information useful for the user.

When I asked my boss, Lou Fioritto, who uses a screen reader to accommodate his blindness, what it’s like when a website is inaccessible, he shared this experience. “Oh, it’s so frustrating, and a lot of sites are like that. It will read aloud, ‘JPG’, ‘JPG’, ‘JPG’, ‘graphic unavailable’, ‘link unavailable’, and all of the ads but nothing makes sense. Then if the headings structure is misused, the screen reader reads the website out of order. But, if the heading structure is done correctly, I can use it to tab through and get to the information I need. It makes all of the difference.”

To walk in Lou’s shoes, I decided to test a website, using JAWS, a screen reading software.  I could see the menu at the top of the screen. But, the screen reader didn’t detect the menu right away because the site was inaccessible. It was exactly as Lou described. The website I tested made no sense. Fifty-seven percent of consumers leave a website after waiting 3 seconds for the page to load. How long do we expect people with disabilities to stay on an inaccessible website?

Lou added that his iPhone tells him if there is a “reader available.” For him this is the best indicator for accessibility and  good user experience. Funny enough, I use the same tool for reading content without ads. However, its known to me and people with sight as “Reader View.” Websites that are accessible to people with disabilities provide a better experience for all people.

What I would tell a Non-Compliant Retailer

Lawsuits against retail websites have increased this year, and more online retailers are popping up on the scene, I’ve compiled steps you can take for ADA Compliance.

• Make your marketing emails more than image-based and include an option for a text version. The truth is if the email doesn’t load images, the user will not have anything to go by.

• Include alternative text (alt text) to describe what’s happening in graphics. Your logo also requires alt text. You won’t see the alt text so it won’t alter your aesthetic, but you’ll know it’s written into the layer that screen readers access.

• Take an audit of your website to assess contrast errors, structural elements (like headings), and your HTML for WCAG compliance.

• Train your marketing team, or whoever regularly posts on your website, on things they can look for before pressing “Publish.”

This advice stands if you’re in a legal suit or doing your due diligence to stay out of one. No matter how long you’ve been in business, you can still make changes to increase your website’s usability and avoid a lawsuit. From a business perspective, if you aren’t compliant, then you’re negatively impacting your efforts. Did you know that people with disabilities are the third largest market segment? With about $490 billion of income to spend on beauty products and more, it is a market to consider. Accessibility gives you a better framework for doing better business with their buying power.

While a lawsuit may be a stumbling block, it gives businesses an opportunity to address accessibility for all consumers. Accessibility is the process that allows you to prove your commitment to equality for all customers.

Finding beauty products you like is not impossible. So it shouldn’t be difficult finding ones that offer excellent customer service and prioritize accessibility.

The post What Website Compliance Has to Do with Getting My Beauty Products appeared first on Braille Works.

From face-to-face to online-based relationships, the way people connect has changed. Whether it be through social media, texting, messaging, forums, or gaming, more people are connecting digitally. Video gaming is becoming a favorite way for all types of people to connect, including people with disabilities. Thankfully, video game makers are considering people with disabilities in the function and design of today’s games more than ever before.

Looking Back

Nintendo 64’s Super Mario, released in 1996, unintentionally gave gamers with visual impairments some accessibility. Super Mario used repetitive music and individual tones that were distinct to each action, including the famous “game over” tone. Unfortunately, many gamers with visual disabilities were not able to predict the danger heading Mario’s way. Some intuitive players figured out the timing and patterns, making the game more accessible to them. Nintendo’s Super Mario had many features that people with visual disabilities could utilize even though it was not made with accessibility in mind. The auditory experience is what visually impaired gamers rely on for accessibility.

The 2000s became all about the visual experience in video games, and the race to realistic graphics through Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) began, leaving the semi-accessible Mario behind. Much of the auditory experience became musical and these enhancements left out gamers with visual impairment and blindness. But, accessible games would soon return.

Game Changers

AbleGamers

Mark Barlet and Stephanie Walker created AbleGamers in 2004 with a commitment to help children and adults with disabilities get the adaptive gear or accessible devices needed for gaming. They also consult with video game designers to make games more accessible to all users. Their website provides tips to gamers and lists the accessibility levels of games. Today, AbleGamers continues their commitment to gaming accessibility.

Brice Mellen

Brice Mellen, who has been blind since birth, became an expert player of Mortal Kombat. So much so that he beat the creator of the game, Ed Boon, in 2005. This victory inspired the first sightless Mortal Kombat Challenge. The game wasn’t designed to be accessible, but the audio was what Mellen and other gamers were able to utilize to master the game. Since the original version of Mortal Kombat, the accessibility features have improved, earning high marks with gamers who have disabilities.

Microsoft & Xbox

Microsoft is becoming a leader in accessible games and accessory design. “Every single person on Team Xbox is working together to make gaming accessible, equitable, and sustainable for all,” Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, stated. Microsoft also hosted the first Video Gaming Tournament on XBox at the 2018 Special Olympics. Microsoft’s commitment to accessibility makes them a gaming industry leader in equality.

EA Sports

NPR recently aired the segment, “How Video Game Companies are Improving the Experience for Visually Impaired People.” NPR’s Rachael Myrow highlighted EA Sports and their commitment to improving the accessibility of their video games. The segment focused on the audio-intensive experience over the visual experience that the early games of the 2000s were aiming for with CGI.

Nintendo

The Nintendo Wii and Wii U have some features and games that people with visual disabilities can access, but there are flaws in the form of a lack of description of what occurs on the screen. There was a lot of anticipation over the Nintendo 1-2 Switch and the possible accessibility features. However, gaming accessibility experts and users claim this newest system (1-2 Switch) fell short of being accessible. While Nintendo is still perfecting their accessible gaming features, they are working hard to communicate with people who have disabilities.

Sony

Sony is making a big push for more accessible games. They’ve received praise for their accessibility features in a few of their PlayStation 4 exclusive games including Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and God of War. Then, September 2018 brought us Marvel’s Spider-Man; possibly the most discussed and most accessible PS4 exclusive. It raised the standard in accessibility for major video game developers and is praised as a “welcoming experience for everyone.” While there is still room for improvement, Marvel’s Spider-Man has given many people hope for a more inclusive gaming future.

Change Is Coming

Game makers recognize the demand for accessible gaming and are making strides to improve accessibility, and the experience for gamers with disabilities, by starting the design process with everyone in mind. These efforts are creating more opportunities for people with visual impairments to connect with others. And, they’re offering equal access to entertainment.

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President George H. W. Bush’s legacy compares to President Washington and President Lincoln similarly in how they helped a number of people achieve independence. In 1776, George Washington led Americans to freedom from the British. Abraham Lincoln started the legal route to end slavery in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation. Also, in 1865, he enacted the thirteenth amendment with the senate and congress. On July 26, 1990, President Bush let the words of our founding fathers guide him as he signed the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights…” The Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776. President Bush understood these words to mean every American, regardless of their race or abilities.

The Importance of Equality

President Bush, our 41st president, recognized that 43-million Americans were denied equality so he focused on working with both Democrats and Republicans to bring equality and civil rights to Americans with intellectual and physical disabilities. As a result, they created the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to remove physical and communication barriers, permitting equal access for all Americans.

We remember George H. W. Bush as a man of faith, honor, dignity, kindness, and equality. He was not afraid to share his faith, and he led by example. In his Inaugural Speech, he opened with a prayer that summed up his presidency.

“…For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us remember, Lord. Amen.”

President Bush humbly served our Nation and furthered all Americans through the ADA. He, indeed, tore down the “shameful wall of exclusion.”

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