Thank you so much for this series! Just mentioning that most companies only test their site(s) with open source screen readers (e.g., Salesforce using NVDA) but majority of blindness non-profits in California only teach JAWS - because that is what most workplaces and Department of Rehabilitation support (which is a shame because it is proprietary with terrible support); NVDA can be configured to resemble JAWS, but it has features that cannot be replicated in the latter. Also, talking of features, accessibility is spectrum: companies claim their pages are accessible for screen readers because all content can be reached using available commands, but JAWS web browsing commands take up 30 pages (support.freedomscientific.com/Cont...) and ca. 80% of users will only get comfortable with about 10-20% of them. Blindness is a spectrum as well and most blind people I know have other disabilites (cognitive, auditory, neuropathy, etc) that limits their abilities. Not to mention that huge percentage of folks are seniors (as their various conditions deteriorate with age causing visual impairment). Bottom line is that if you are serious about accessibility then consider taking a tour at a (blindness) nonprofit near you; talking with an instructor (especially with an assistive technology instructor) will give one a whole another perspective.
That is an interesting piece of information, thank you a lot for sharing!
You're right, and even though it would be so easy to just put people in boxes, every person and their limitations in abilities are unique. And as you mentioned, ageing brings its own challenges to the mix.
I'll be sure to check the nonprofits around here, thank you!
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Thank you so much for this series! Just mentioning that most companies only test their site(s) with open source screen readers (e.g., Salesforce using NVDA) but majority of blindness non-profits in California only teach JAWS - because that is what most workplaces and Department of Rehabilitation support (which is a shame because it is proprietary with terrible support); NVDA can be configured to resemble JAWS, but it has features that cannot be replicated in the latter. Also, talking of features, accessibility is spectrum: companies claim their pages are accessible for screen readers because all content can be reached using available commands, but JAWS web browsing commands take up 30 pages (support.freedomscientific.com/Cont...) and ca. 80% of users will only get comfortable with about 10-20% of them. Blindness is a spectrum as well and most blind people I know have other disabilites (cognitive, auditory, neuropathy, etc) that limits their abilities. Not to mention that huge percentage of folks are seniors (as their various conditions deteriorate with age causing visual impairment). Bottom line is that if you are serious about accessibility then consider taking a tour at a (blindness) nonprofit near you; talking with an instructor (especially with an assistive technology instructor) will give one a whole another perspective.
That is an interesting piece of information, thank you a lot for sharing!
You're right, and even though it would be so easy to just put people in boxes, every person and their limitations in abilities are unique. And as you mentioned, ageing brings its own challenges to the mix.
I'll be sure to check the nonprofits around here, thank you!