KEYNOTE CHAT: "Accessible and Online-Yes, It Is Possible"

Presenter(s): Larry Goldberg & Geoff Freed

April 23, 2003, 2000 GMT

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< geoff> Hello, everyone. Geoff Freed and Larry Goldberg are here to answer your questions about accessible distance-learning Web sites and multimedia.
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< geoff> Hi, Linda. Larry and Geoff are here, if you have questions about accessible distance learning.
< Linda> Actually, I was hoping to see if anyone else was asking questions, I would like to see what is on others mind about accessability issues
< geoff> hi, linda. thyat "foof" was not directed at you. it was a test message to brad.
< Linda> got it
< Linda> be back
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< StephenF> Hi everyone! I thnk I'll join them in the Hibiscus Room. It looks like there are quite a few people there.
< StephenF> Sorry! I meant the GINGER room. This IS the Hibiscus Room.
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< geoff> Ron, are there any questions about accessibility that we can answer for you
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< geoff> Carmen, are there any questions about accessibility that we can answer for you?
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< Carmen> Hi, I enjoyed your presentation today. You mentioned using Flash. How accessible are the Macromedia products?
< geoff> Macromedia is working wit h NCAM and others to improve accessibility in products such as Flash, Freehand, Fireworks, etc.
< geoff> The latest version of the Flash player is also more accessible than rpevious versions
< geoff> more
< geoff> for an example of an accessible flash presentation, go to http://www.pbs.org/americanexperience.
< geoff> look for the zoot suit riots program in the archive and watch the zoot suit flash demo.
< geoff> Any other questions?
< Carmen> How important is it to label graphics if they are really just there for decoration or to liven up the page?
< geoff> By the way, the correct url is http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/zoot
< Carmen> Label being the alternative in html code
< geoff> Good question. Unimportant graphics should always have blank alt-text. more
< Carmen> we want pbs new here in Wyoming and see quite a few things produced by WGBH and are impressed with them. Do you know Paul Solomon?
< geoff> That is, use alt="" to indicate that the graphic doesn't convey important information.
< Carmen> Thanks for example I use a colored pin and feel that it is a bit doopey to say "red pin"
< geoff> Yes, he works for the Lehrer New Hour. He does his reports from Boston.
< geoff> Right-- "red pin" doesn't really convey anything useful. Blank alt text is best for that sort of thing.
< Carmen> This is such an incredible conference to be talking to people around the world. The only problem is to have enough time to do it all.
< Carmen> You said you were traveling. Will you be in Colorado or Wyoming?
< Carmen> My college has a long way to go to be ADA compliant.
< geoff> We'll be in Colorado in November at the Accessing Higher Ground Conference in Boulder. more
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< geoff> Larry is looking up the url now. Are you from a community college?
< Carmen> Can you send information about it. I think some of our people have attended that Boulder conference before but it would be good for the distance education faculty to be more aware.
< Carmen> Yes, I am at Casper College, the largest of the 7 community colleges in Wyoming.
< geoff> Go to http://www.colorado.edu/sacs/atconference/atc2003.html for more info.
< geoff> Would you like print copies of our latest Web-access guidelines?
< Carmen> thanks and yes I would like print copies of guidelines.
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< Larry> Hi Carmen.
< Larry> I work with Geoff at NCAM.
< Larry> Can I ask where you're from?
< geoff> How many copies would you like? If you don't want to write your address here, you can send e-mail to mary_watkins@wgbh.org to request copies.
< Carmen> hi.
< Carmen> I have a general question. What equipment did you have for your webcast presentation?
< Larry> We actually don't have the equipment here.
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< Larry> The system is run by Horizon Live and they do the encoding.
< Carmen> I am at Casper College, 125 College Dr., Casper, WY 82601. About 3-4 copies would be great.
< RonaeleW> I use WebCt. What is being done to make it ADA compliant?
< Larry> But in our shop we have basic PCs and Macs, nothinghigh end.
< Larry> Carmen, we will be in Colorado and you should consider attending the Accessing Higher Ground Conference at Boulder in November.
< geoff> Carmen, we'll need your last name for the mailing.
< Carmen> Thanks Larry, I did get the url from goeff
< Carmen> Last name Springer-Davis
< geoff> Hi, Ronaele. What sort of problems are you noticing with WebCT?
< RonaeleW> Haven't had any because no student has come with special needs. ..that I know of.
< RonaeleW> Just preparing for the future.
< Carmen> I need to sign off. Thanks for the presentation.
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< geoff> WebCT claims to be fully compliant with Section 508, but we haven't tested it ourselves. They are participating in our SALT project. See http://ncam.wgbh.org/salt for full details.
< Larry> Ijust checked out the WebCT web site and they have a section on accessibility you shouldlook at.
< Larry> Go tot heir homepage at www.webct.com and search for accessibility.
< RonaeleW> Will do that. Have there been any law suits over accessibility?
< RonaeleW> Nationwide, that is?
< RonaeleW> and, are we (USA) and UK the most considerate of diversity?
< Larry> AOL was sued a few years ago by the National Federation of the Blind, but settled out of court.
< Larry> Then Southwest Airlines was sued by a blind consumer, but he lost due to a poorly prepared legal argument.
< RonaeleW> I'm on AOL. Will need to look at what AOL has as an added feature.
< Larry> But the Atlanta public transit system was forced to fix their web site because it was inaccessible.
< geoff> You can also find more info about accessibility policies worldwide at http://www.w3.org/wai/eo; look for the policy link.
< Larry> AOL has been upgrading their client software for the past few versions and each time it becomes more user-friendly to blind people who use screen readers.
< Larry> check out Keyword Accessibility
< RonaeleW> Is it sufficient that our campus has all kinds of help departments? If a special needs student needed web assistance, could I work with one of those departments? Would that be compliant?
< Larry> If your Office of Student Services knows enoughabout web accessibility,they can be helpful.
< Larry> But your campus web sites need to be authored in an accessible way.
< Larry> Where are you located?
< RonaeleW> University of Hawaii at Manoa
< Larry> Does your campus use a lot of web-based teaching?
< RonaeleW> I am right here on Oahu with organizers of this conference. I was so pleased when Bert and Karl added your presentation.
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< RonaeleW> We are encouraged to learn technology for teaching and learning. We have all kinds of opportunities to increase our skills.
< Larry> So you are quite active in web-based learning.
< RonaeleW> It seems that gaining the skills takes process and time. Hadn't thought about access to a web site until recently. Someone mentioned the issue to me.
< Larry> Yes, it is not a complicated process, just a few basic rules.
< Larry> As we mentioned in ourpresentation, you can get the basics from the W3C at www.w3.org/WAI
< RonaeleW> Personally, I am active. Find it all fascinating. My colleagues in Kyrgyzstan have a proposal in to use web based learning with adults. We want to compare our experiences.
< Larry> That's their Web Accessibility Initiative.
< Larry> The W3C's web accessibility activities are global, with lots of participation from all over Europe, Asia, Australia...
< RonaeleW> I ahve noted all of the www sites your mentioned in your presentation. I plan to ask our help people about this, mainly for my own information and better service to the students.
< Larry> Great - and send them the URLs.
< Larry> And send them to us if they need further help.
< RonaeleW> Yes - urls so noted and compiled.
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< Ron> maryAnn, have you checked out the WebCT orientation?
< Larry> Hi Ron. Any questions about access forpeople with disabilities?
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< RonaeleW> We have great technical help, but I believe those folks are stretched to the limit as more of us learn to use technology and the staff size seems to stay the same.
< Larry> Then Iguess it's up to you <smile>
< RonaeleW> I could not use the technology we have on campus without serious help from the staff.
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< Larry> Geoff is chedking out the Univ. of Hawaii/Manoa right now.
< RonaeleW> Neat
< Larry> Notoo bad he says.
< Larry> That's "not too bad"
< Larry> Some unlabled navigation links. Need to remember all labels.
< RonaeleW> This is like a f2f conference where people come and go from presentations. Drives me crazy. But then I arrived late because I took a break to walk the dog at the beach!!!!!!
< RonaeleW> What is an unlabeled navigation link?
< Larry> Left nav bar is lacking alt text - need that for full accessibility.
< Larry> Search fields need proper labeling.
< Larry> Rest of it doesn't look too bad in a quick glance.
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< geoff> An unlabeled nav link means it doesn't have alt text, so the image map links are invisible to a screen reader. more
< geoff> screen readers read only text, so a graphic image map needs to have textual equivalents. alt text supplies the textual equivalents.
< RonaeleW> I noticed the Maui speakers said they had just gone through a review on their campus. I must ask if our campus has gone through such a review or will.
< Larry> Hi Sarah.
< sarah> hi
< Larry> Was Maui's review an accessibility review.
< geoff> Ronaele, let us know what you find out!
< RonaeleW> Can do
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< geoff> we have just a couple of minutes left. any more questions?
< RonaeleW> Thanks for your expertise. This is one of the presentations I wanted to be sure to attend. Can even go back and listen again via this TCON2003.
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< geoff> great! let us know via e-mail if you have other questions. thanks for attending the chat. enjoy the rest of the conference.
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< RonaeleW> Thanks for your time. Aloha.
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TCC 2003 Online Conference
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