Yes it is perfectly possible to create accessible widgets. It is even possible to convert non-accessible widgets into accessible ones. The secret lies in using an alt tag for ALL IMAGES! With the alt tag VO will happily read the controls of any widget. You can, if you are daring of foolhardy as the case may be go into the code of existing widgets, it's a combination of HTML and JavaScript and put in the missing alt tags and then widgets which were once not accessible become accessible.
This leads me to another related point. I think Apple should create an Accessibility Tsar this person(s) would be charged with insuring that all of Apple's software was accessible and would encourage (nag) third party vendors to do the same. The office would also maintain a list of accessible software and hardware and interact with the blind and dyslexic community (NFB, ACB, Orton Society, etc.) going to their meeting and providing demonstrations and training there. It would also be able to help developers understand the needs of the disabled community. Now for this office to be of any good it has to have the support from the highest, I mean Steve Jobs level, management at Apple so that all the other department know that they have to head the council of the Accessibility Tsar and his or her staff. Greg Kearney
