Gimpy Geek 1.0

iTWire - Microsoft, Novell turn attention to accessibility About time… Now, let’s improve accessibility in OSX.

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You know, whether it’s Web Accessibility or other aspects of accessibility to People With Disabilities (PWDs), I always end up having to answer various versions of the basic question “Why?” This blog post on Sitepoint, SitePoint Blogs » Why Accessibility? Because It’s Our Job!, does one of the best jobs I’ve ever seen of answering that question. Basically, as Web Developers, it’s our freakin’ job to make things as accessible to as many people as possible.

But, you could apply this to other areas:

• If you’re building a building, it’s your job to make it as accessible as possible!
• If you’re designing a playground or park, it’s your job to make sure PWDs can enjoy it, too!
• If you’re holding a meeting for work, a club, whatever, it’s your job to make sure meeting content and materials are accessible to PWDs! Create Braille and large print documents. Get Sign Language Interpreters if needed. Don’t hold it in some inaccessible location.
• If you’re choosing a location for your business, it’s your job not to pick some inaccessible place! Renting a 2nd floor space with no elevator then blaming the landlord is chickenshit. You picked it; you didn’t have to rent it.
• If you own a restaurant, it’s your job to provide Braille and large print menus! Why should customers who are blind have to depend on others to read a menu to them?
• If you’re doctor, dentist, or any other medical professional, it’s your job to provide an accessible environment! You know, those of us who cannot walk cannot climb onto those standard stinkin’ exam tables.

And, please, don’t give me the “We meet the legal requirements.” Even if you meet your local accessibility codes, excluding PWDs is discriminatory, belittling, and just plain rude. You know what, in the 1950s, the sign below and the practice it represented was perfectly legal. It wasn’t friggin’ right, though.

This sign is exactly what I see when I see a business with steps and no ramp. This is exactly how users with disabilities may feel if your website is not accessible to them.

The non-profit I chair, Access Allies of Bloomington-Normal (AABN), has information on accessibility at the AABN website. I’ve got a few links on Website Accessibility in the blogroll list on this blog. You can always email me with specific questions, too, and I’ll try to help you.

Fight the power, baby.

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