I don't think anyone here is arguing for HTML to be not accessible,
but I feel what Mike may be trying to point out is that visual
design can be an important part of the meaning.
Then you are teaching/presenting material in the visual register and
therefore presenting inherently inaccessible material. What you then
need to do is transform the material.
MathML is a classic example of this.
Correct! http://www.ozewai.org/2004/presentations/smith.doc
(Essentially, a big equation can be broken down into component parts.
This can make it easier for blind users to read the equation and for
sighted users to understand the equation. The equation is the same,
it is just constructed in a more accessible form.)
It is accessible (except that for visual browsers it will only work
on modern browsers) in that it can be interpreted by screen readers.
It is not accessible until you realign the original material so that
it is not constructed purely for the visual register.
In so many ways we must ensure that our content is as accessible as
possible but it is wishful thinking to assume it is equally
accessible or that one medium (vision) is not favoured over another.
Yes the technology (HTML) does not favour it but human practice of
communication does.
It is not the human practice of communication, but the assumptions we
make when authoring the material in the first place - even before it
gets to the web.
Cheers,
Damian
--
Damian Sweeney
Learning Skills Adviser (online)
Language and Learning Skills Unit
Instructional Designer, AIRport Project
Equity, Language and Learning Programs
University of Melbourne
723 Swanston St
Parkville 3010
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/ellp/
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu/
airport.unimelb.edu.au/
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