Tag Archives: ACCESSIBILITY

Live Captions for everything on MS Windows 11

Microsoft Live Captions A chance typo (Win/Ctrl/L) brought t my attention that Microsoft (MS) actually provides a lot of captions at a system level that will in real time like captains of any audio played. It even will transcribe buit-in access features like Narrator and Read Aloud. I often use closed captions on youtube, howeverContinueContinue reading “Live Captions for everything on MS Windows 11”

Designing Accessible Experiences at Scale

When we talk about scale, we think about systems, organizational patterns, and ways to optimize design. We want to make it easy for everyone who works in product to contribute. Most organizations use a single source of truth to organize components known as a design system. Design systems are the secret sauce to scale andContinueContinue reading “Designing Accessible Experiences at Scale”

10 Ways to Improve Accessibility on Websites and Social Media -rtp

Here it is! 1. Use Semantic HTML.   … 2. Write Short Paragraphs and Short Sentences. … 3. Explain Acronyms and Abbreviations on First Use.   … 4. Add Alternative Text to Your Images.   … 6. Write Descriptive Text for Your Links.   … 7. Increase Color Contrast   … 8. Add Captions toContinueContinue reading “10 Ways to Improve Accessibility on Websites and Social Media -rtp”

Report: Accessibility in Digital Learning Increasingly Complex

The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) has introduced a series of original reports to keep people in education up-to-date on the latest developments in the field of digital learning. The first report covers accessibility and addresses both K-12 and higher education. The series is being produced by OLC’s Research Center for Digital Learning & Leadership. TheContinueContinue reading “Report: Accessibility in Digital Learning Increasingly Complex”

WWDC: Accessibility has become a requirement

… At WWDC 2018, Apple introduced a range of improvements that should make its solutions effectively usable by those “left out” on other platforms. Here’s a short run-down: Hands-free productivity One of the most potentially liberating enhancements, Siri Shortcuts will deliver significant hands-free benefits to people who have autism or mobility challenges. The software enablesContinueContinue reading “WWDC: Accessibility has become a requirement”

10 Apple accessibility solutions everyone should know

… The great thing about the accessibility tools inside Apple products is that they make those products better for everyone. Here are some accessibility solutions every Apple user needs to know. You are the great Dictation Macs, iPads, iPhones — even the Apple Watch — all support dictation. You can use this to dictate messages, emails, notes,ContinueContinue reading “10 Apple accessibility solutions everyone should know”

The Business Case for Accessibility and Inclusive Design | Digital Leaders

… If businesses such as Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and Heathrow have seen the value of putting accessibility at the heart of their design processes, what’s in it for you? Why would those businesses consider the needs of disabled people? Why would they invest time and effort needed to adapt their design processes and adoptContinueContinue reading “The Business Case for Accessibility and Inclusive Design | Digital Leaders”

New to Office 365 in December—accessibility updates and more – Microsoft 365 Blog

New to Office 365 in December New to Office 365 in DecemberAccessibility Checker front and center—The Accessibility Checker is now easily discoverable in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and Visio, helping you ensure your content can be consumed without barriers by people with varying levels of vision, hearing, cognition and mobility. The Accessibility Checker analyzesContinueContinue reading “New to Office 365 in December—accessibility updates and more – Microsoft 365 Blog”

Microsoft commits $25M to its AI for Accessibility program

… Over the course of the last few years, large parts of the company have dedicated themselves to building tools that enable people with disabilities and mental health conditions to do more. Today, the company announced that it is putting more money behind these efforts through its $25 million, five-year AI for Accessibility project. “Around theContinueContinue reading “Microsoft commits $25M to its AI for Accessibility program”

Reimagine accessibility 

“Empower Every Person: Reimagining Accessibility,” a 30-minute film in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. … … Discover practical ways to build a more inclusive environment and how accessible technologies such as Microsoft 365 enable everyone to create, communicate and collaborate. Hear from Microsoft accessibility leaders and our partners: US Business Leadership Network, Be. Accessible,ContinueContinue reading “Reimagine accessibility “

Small Tweaks That Can Make a Huge Impact on Your Website’s Accessibility | CSS-Tricks

For a beginner, accessibility can be daunting. With all of the best intentions in the world, the learning curve to developing compliant, fully accessible websites and apps is huge. It’s also hard to find the right advice, because it’s an ever-changing and increasingly crowded landscape. I’ve written this post to give you some tips onContinueContinue reading “Small Tweaks That Can Make a Huge Impact on Your Website’s Accessibility | CSS-Tricks”

WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey #7 Results

… CAPTCHA remains by far the most problematic item reported by respondents. “Screens or parts of screens that change unexpectedly” has seen a significant increase over the years and is now reported as the 2nd most problematic item. This likely is due to the dynamic and complex nature of modern web pages and application. …ContinueContinue reading “WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey #7 Results”

Accessibility on Mac: The ultimate guide

The Mac stays one of essentially the most obtainable platforms lately, with options to serve all wishes. Computers will have to be for everybody, and that comes with the ones with bodily impairments, whether or not or not it’s to their sight, listening to, or motor serve as. Apple strives to create merchandise and instrumentContinueContinue reading “Accessibility on Mac: The ultimate guide”

3D-printed Nintendo Switch peripheral is huge for gaming accessibility

An engineer is helping to make playing Nintendo Switch a lot more accessible for gamers everywhere. Engineer Julio Vazquez created two 3D-printed peripherals for the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controllers, allowing players who only have the use of one hand to play Switch games more easily. Two different models were showed off by the AbleGamers Charity on Twitter,ContinueContinue reading “3D-printed Nintendo Switch peripheral is huge for gaming accessibility”

The Accessibility Cheatsheet

We all know that accessibility is important. The problem is, it is not always clear what exactly we can do to make our sites more accessible. The Web Accessibility Initiative created some Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) targeted at us, web content developers, to create more accessible websites. The WCAG contain some very useful information, and so I decidedContinueContinue reading “The Accessibility Cheatsheet”

Accessibility for Software and Devices | Microsoft

Our commitment to accessibility Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. With over 1 billion people with disabilities in the world, we’re passionate about ensuring that our products and services are designed for people of all abilities. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and inclusion inContinueContinue reading “Accessibility for Software and Devices | Microsoft”

Accessibility features in macOS and iOS that everyone should try

If you’re someone who doesn’t have any specific reasons to go there, you may have never explored the Accessibility settings on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. While it’s true that those settings are there primarily for people who have special physical needs to modify how a device’s interface works, the fact is, many people whoContinueContinue reading “Accessibility features in macOS and iOS that everyone should try”

Using Keyboard-only Navigation, for Web Accessibility

… Programmers are big fans of using the keyboard instead of continually shifting between the keyboard and mouse. And yet a significant percentage of websites make it difficult or even impossible for users to perform some activities without using a mouse or other pointer device. This curious relationship between using the keyboard and developing for the keyboard has alwaysContinueContinue reading “Using Keyboard-only Navigation, for Web Accessibility”

Sounding out the web: accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people [Part 1] 

The largely visual nature of the web means that we tend to focus on supporting people who are blind or partially sighted. But deaf and hard of hearing people are often overlooked. I spoke with Ruth MacMullen, who is an academic librarian and copyright specialist from York in the UK, about her experience of beingContinueContinue reading “Sounding out the web: accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people [Part 1] “

Reframing Accessibility for the Web · An A List Apart

We need to change the way we talk about accessibility. Most people are taught that “web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web”—the official definition from the W3C. This is wrong. Web accessibility means that people can use the web.  Not “people with disabilities.” Not “blind people and deaf people.” Not “peopleContinueContinue reading “Reframing Accessibility for the Web · An A List Apart”

Accessibility and the Digital Service Standard | Digital Transformation Agency

… Accessibility has been a government priority for many years. The release of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.0 (or WCAG 2.0) set a new standard for accessibility. But for those of us who work in government, there is more to consider. Accessibility must go beyond the technical requirements. As I covered in myContinueContinue reading “Accessibility and the Digital Service Standard | Digital Transformation Agency”

Accessibility Testing: Checkers & Development Tools Review

Tools of the Trade In a different article, I outline the basics foundations of accessibility standards: “Understanding s508 & WCAG 2.0”. To further expand this, let’s look at various development tools to help author accessible content conformant to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.0 standards. Getting Started For a primer or refresher on whatContinueContinue reading “Accessibility Testing: Checkers & Development Tools Review”

Four Free Tools for Automated Accessibility Testing of Web Apps

Designing and developing for web accessibility has become a requirement of modern computing. Depending on the content and complexity of your project requirements, it can also be a very difficult pursuit. Two colleagues of mine have already written excellent articles exploring the need for and design of accessible web sites: Designing Accessible Software – BreakingContinueContinue reading “Four Free Tools for Automated Accessibility Testing of Web Apps”

Canada’s new accessibility laws should focus on employment, inclusive buildings, transport 

The priorities, which were laid out in a report and released by the federal government Monday, summarize eight months of consultations held with Canadians from coast to coast. Carla Qualtrough Qualtrough, the minister tasked with crafting laws to make Canada more accessible to people with disabilities, says employment will be a key focus of herContinueContinue reading “Canada’s new accessibility laws should focus on employment, inclusive buildings, transport “