[email protected] wrote on 02/15/2007 01:20:16 AM:

> I think it's safe to say that blind AND deaf people surfing with
> braille devices are a very small minority, and very aware of the
> limitations of their system.
>
> When you target this disabilities group, I guess you have to take the
> risk of spamming and NOT use CAPTCHA.
>
> Again, it comes down to the products/services you are selling.
>

Accessibility is not a cost/benefit issue, nor is it a pick and choose
which-disabled-group-should-we-support-today attitude.  One does not have
the luxury to balance percentages of web users who may be blind, deaf,
blind and deaf, or any other combination of disability.  This is not an
issue of targeting a particular disability for web accessibility.  Private
and commercial web sites may not (yet) be subject to accessibility under
the law, but it is in the works.  The Target case here in the USA is just
one example.  The Attorney General's opinion for the State of New York is
another.  And for some of us, it is a no brainer.  It's the law.  We cannot
ignore any disability nor differentiate as to specific disabilities.

Besides, differentiating among disabilities is in and of itself an illegal
discriminatory practice. So while a commercial site may not be subject to
mandatory accessibility requirements under the law (yet), placating one
disability while ignoring another is an illegal discriminatory practice.

When it comes to accessibility, it really is all or nothing.  In for a
penny, in for a pound.

One more thing.  *Everyone* eventually falls into the accessibility arena,
most directly with web access, as we get older.  It's called presbyopia.
And with ever greater numbers of older folks using the web for personal,
commercial and professional reasons, this is an issue that will only get
bigger.

Dennis



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