Well, after my rather frustrated rant earlier, I'd like to clarify: The process of producing software from an organizational point of view is probably just as complex as the process of actually developing it. The domains are different, but both are complex, and far from perfect processies.
I believe that user testing is a must, especially with respect to accessibility. However, I think it is far more productive for an accessibility expert to sit down one on one with a developer and show him/her exactly why the software isn't accessible, rather than simply eMailing a pile of test results, however detailed and well implemented they might be. Obviously, many of us will never have this opportunity. However, the job of an accessibility coordinator in an organization such as Apple or Yahoo is to organize and act as point person for all accessibility-related matters. One of their responsabilities, I believe, is to sit down with developers and, in a nonconfrontational manner, show them why there software is hard to use. >From first hand experience, I know that this can be a very powerful and effective approach. So, if there are any Apple folks on this list, I strongly recommend investing in such a person at Apple. I think they can help to solve many of the accessibility issues experienced by many on this list. Just my two cents. -- Peace, Rich ----- Original Message ----- From: "hank smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS Xby theblind" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 3:03 PM Subject: Re: Requesting accessible programs who do I email to get itunes accessible and garage band accessible? ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Niemeijer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by theblind" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 10:37 AM Subject: Re: Requesting accessible programs > Ricky, > > The answer is yes and no. > > First the yes part. Those programmers that can afford to go to Apple's > annual World Wide Developer Conference are increasingly being exposed to > the importance of accessibility. There are sessions dedicated to adding > accessibility and more and more of the other sessions also mention > accessibility topics in passing, some of the key sessions on the first day > have also covered accessibility in the last two years. So Apple is doing a > lot of evangelizing in this respect. The topic is also covered in articles > on Apple's developer site accessible to everyone. And, then of course > Apple has an accessibility email discussion list for programmers to > discuss accessibility related issues. So if anyone wants the information > on adding accessibility it is all there. Are you listening iTunes and > iWorks engineers.... > > Now for the no part. I do not think there is any real grass-roots campaign > to push developers to make use of that information. Whether it would > really work I do not know. People can also get dismissive if they are > bombarded with standard letters. I think the best approach would be to > campaign among users that they do not just sit and wait for accessibility > to be improved for their favorite applications, but that they all > individually start writing their own personal emails to developers of > those apps. Making a list of potential beta testers might be helpful so > that when a developer or company is responsive you can email the people on > that list and suggest that if they want to use application X they write > the developer or something like that. But also here, an email bombardment > would not work. From personal experience I know it is better to work with > a small but good team of testers than have to deal with several tents of > testers. > > david. > > At 3:47 PM +1100 11/3/06, Ricky Buchanan wrote: >>Most of the programs I use that are not Macintosh ones are written by >>individual programmers or very small companies. I think that most of the >>time, when programs like these are not accessible it is because the >>programmers are not aware that it is possible or don't think it is >>economical. >> >>It seems to me that we have an opportunity to solve this by educating >>people. I think that if we get some information, like how many people with >>a disability use Os X computers... and put together resources that point >>the programmers at the information about making their software accessible. >>It seems to me that we have a chance to make a difference. It might even >>be possible to make a list of users with disabilities who are willing to >>do beta testing of accessibility, and of experienced programmers like some >>on this list (hi David!) who may be willing to give advice to programmers >>who need a hand with accessibility features. >> >>I imagine getting the information out via a widely advertised website and >>by making available a skeleton of a letter that users could adapt to email >>to developers of programs that they would like to use but can't because of >>accessibility problems. >> >>Has this been done before? > > -- > -------------------------------------------------------------- > David Niemeijer, CTO > AssistiveWare(R) > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.assistiveware.com/ > -------------------------------------------------------------- > >
