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/
--------------------------------------------------------------
