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Accessible Information Technology Technical Bulletin: August 2005 The Northeast ADA & IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you "Speak Out about Inaccessible Information and Telecommunication Technology" This free resource provides an overview of 13 federal laws (or sections of laws) that support accessible technology, and it also presents step-by-step instructions on how to complain when you encounter barriers to use. Fictional scenarios, sample letters, and letter templates also are included to help consumers voice their opinions about inaccessible technology that they encounter in the workplace and the marketplace. Speak Out is available as a spiral-bound book and as in HTML format on CD. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this publication, please contact the Northeast ADA & IT Center at 800-949-4232 or northeastada @cornell.edu. Supplies are limited, so please make requests by the end of August. You may also find Speak Out online at http://www.ittatc.org/technical/speakout/ . The WebAIM Guide to Web Accessibility The third edition of WebAIM's training CD-ROM is now available. This is WebAIM's most comprehensive training product to date, with new and expanded information on Cascading Style Sheets, Adobe Acrobat, Macromedia Flash, and dozens of other topics, along with all of the core accessibility techniques and concepts you have come to expect from WebAIM. This extensive reference material is the equivalent of over 1000 printed pages, with hundreds of examples, plus all of the WebAIM disability simulations, high quality videos, and much more. To find out more out this great resource or to order a copy for yourself, visit http://www.webaim.org/products/training/. Jump to Main Content People who are blind and people with physical disabilities who do not use a mouse, benefit greatly from the ability to skip over lengthy lists of repetitive navigation links on web pages. But many web developers are reluctant to sacrifice the "look" and space on the web page to accommodate a visible link that jumps the user to the main body of the page. You can observe how a couple of sites have handled this dilemma by visiting www.webaim.org and www.ittatc.org. People who navigate web pages using the keyboard only, generally use the Tab key to move between links on the page. Once the desired link is reached, the Enter key is used to select the link. Using the tab key to move the cursor between active links at either of the above mentioned sites, you will see that the first link or links that you reach are "Skip to main content" (in the case of the WebAIM site). However, this link was not visible until the tab key landed on it. For techniques on how to create this keyboard-activated visible Skip navigation link, see the WebAIM article, "An Accessible Method of Hiding HTML Content" at http://www.webaim.org/techniques/articles/hiddentext. Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers Empower People with Disabilities Yahoo News (press release) The Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers (MARC) program is one of the company's latest efforts to empower people with disabilities. For the MARC program, Microsoft partnered with two nonprofit organizations -- the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) and the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP) -- to select 26 centers in the United States that provide technology training and assistance for people with a variety difficulties and disabilities that affect computer use, such as low vision, hand and wrist pain, and hearing loss. The MARC pilot program equips the centers with resources designed to train people on the accessibility options in Windows, Office and Internet Explorer so that they can adjust their computers and make them easier to use. The Microsoft Accessibility Resource Center in New York State is located at Enable in Syracuse, NY. Audio Book Rental Service Adds An Online Solution for Users Who Want the Convenience of Download-N-Go http://www.newstarget.com/009035.html Jiggerbug, an online audio book rental service, announced a new way to deliver their extensive collection of best-selling audio book titles to subscribers - digitally! Based on the Netflix model, current Jiggerbug subscribers enjoy quick and simple mail service delivery of their favorite book titles on either CD-ROM or cassette tape. The new service gives Jiggerbug subscribers the option to instantly download their favorite titles in an easy-to-use, take-it-with-you digital format. Powered by OverDrive technology, digital delivery is ideal for commuters, frequent gym goers or anyone who wants to create more time in their day by multitasking with an entertaining best-seller, self-help title or any of the thousands of book options available. Powered by OverDrive, audio titles will be available in the industry standard WMA format for easy playback on your home computer or on hundreds of portable devices, including MP3 players. The OverDrive Audio Book technology contains advanced accessibility features which make it easy for listeners who are blind or visually impaired to enjoy titles. Users simply choose their favorite book from Jiggerbug's expansive collection of titles, download the book for instant, on-the-go playback using an audio device or listen offline on the subscribers PC. Article taken from NCDAE website, http://www.ncdae.org/ , Accessibility in the News. Students with Disabilities pursuing education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) is sponsoring 3 special web conferences this summer. The web conferences focus on three National Science Foundation funded projects to build regional alliances to facilitate the success of students with disabilities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The first two webcasts are archived on the EASI web site: 1. Archive of The Northwest Alliance for Access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (AccessSTEM): Activities and Resources. Presenters Sheryl Burgstahler and Terry Thompson. 2. Archive of RASEM Squared, a Regional Alliance Working for Parity for Students with Disabilities in STEM Education. Presenters: William McCarthy, Ed Misquez RASEM Squared, serving students with disabilities in New Mexico and West Texas, promotes barrier free education, high-tech professional careers, through mentorships, teacher outreach projects, alliance STEM outreach projects, and pertinent college course development addressing transitioning from IDEA to ADA. 3. Participate in the August 18, 2PM Eastern, Free online webcast: Eastern Alliance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (EAST). Presenters: Libby Cohen, Sharon Locke, and Nancy Lightbody Eastern Alliance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (EAST) promotes the participation of individuals with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics academic programs and careers. Funded by the National Science Foundation, EAST works in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Northeast ADA&IT Center |
