I think you misunderstand my point - I'm talking about a very small niche here - design sites where the only purpose is to showcase design - not to be accessible, not to have content, not for any other purpose than showcasing design.
I don't think anyone missed your point. It's quite clear that you feel visually impaired--almost can't see nothing or just plain can't see nothing--people have no business concerning themselves with the creation of spaces, barrier-free design, surface stability, textures, *ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities* (doh), and safety. If they can't "see" it and say "wow", then their needs must not be worth addressing.
You might want to do some research on Universal Design and how designers and architects are working to make products and facilities usable by all people.
I'm not saying that there aren't - but I do have insight into this very area. The company I work for does work for the worlds largest architectural and design firms. I can say that there is not one single blind or visually impaired person (and I use visually impaired in the since of "can't hardly see anything" sense, not in the "wears glasses or is colorblind" sense) working as either: a. a designer or b. anyone who has any control over design issues.
I guess all the blind people who have homes built use a different firm, because they are definitely "in control of design issues". You're looking at this from a "works in the field" perspective, while the majority of this list is going to be looking at it from the perspective of the end user. This is a prime example of a site and organization that attempts to accomplish it's own goals, rather than addressing the goals of its users. Of course, in the end, the designer and architect will still have to address every single usability and safety guideline set forth by the ADA. I'd think output/input from those people these design measures are meant to benefit, would be desired.
I can see that you either haven't worked long in the architectural design field, or haven't worked there at all. Go look around at the majority of architectural firm sites - there's a common thread to the majority of them: 1. Flash and 2. Lots of interesting looking stuff, but scant content.
Just because everyone else is doing something wrong does not mean you or anyone else has to follow the same path. Regardless of how long a person has been involved with architectural design, the ability to look beyond the common thread is what really defines greatness.
Again, I think that you misunderstand the viewpoint I'm coming from - I'm not saying accessibility doesn't matter at all, ever. What I'm saying is that there are times when it doesn't, given the target audience and what the designer is trying to accomplish.
The whole idea behind this group is to promote standards and accessibility online without exception, regardless of the type of content being offered. It's fine to give people with great eyesight some "wow" stuff to look at, but it's also important to give users with visual impairments alternative content.
Accessibility always matters, because if it doesn't matter, then it means people don't always matter and that's just a plain ignorant concept.
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