Hi Tom.
that's bad news in my book. I'm afraid I strongly disagree on your statement
of a blind user "getting used to the way sighted users do things for purpose
of accessibility" simply on the basis of the deffinition of access.
It would be possible for a paraplegic to get out of his/her wheel chair and
drag themselves up a flight of stairs on their hands. We don't however say
"Get used to doing this because it's what normally walking people do" simply
because we recognize that the amount of effort involved to the paraplegic in
such an undertaking is wildly unreasonable.
I'd apply the same principle here. Accessibility is not just being able to
do x or y, it's do with equal effort. For a sighted user, having a maximal
range of information in the one location provides less effort sinse they can
use the mouse to click it after a visual overview. This is not true for a
blind user, and there is absolutely no reason why they should! from an
access perspective get used to anything.
myself, sinse I regard computers simply as tools, I'd be in favour of any
and all work arounds to make the blind users' use of a computer as easy as
the sighted users, ie, requiring same amounts of effort.
if this involves redesigning the interface, turning off features x y z, so
be it.
As to the job markit, well once again there is a principle from my thesis.
Just as it would be unreasonable to expect a sighted based business to go
over entirely to braille, it would be equally unreasonable to expect a blind
employee to use software that took significantly more effort. This requires
a level of compitance from both the blind user, and indeed the employer in
coming to an understanding that best serves the needs of the blind user
wcompromising ithout the employer.
This is why in my thesis I advocate an independent body be setup to oversee
disability related debates in employment and leasure who have skills and
knolidge of disability, but have no vested interest either way.
In the absense of such a body though, I'm inclined simply to say "stick it,
the effort needs to be equalized" especially given the current impossibility
of anyone disabled getting a job at all anyway.
Beware the Grue!
Dark.
---
Gamers mailing list __ [email protected]
If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected].
You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at
http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org.
All messages are archived and can be searched and read at
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected].
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list,
please send E-mail to [email protected].
