Flashist

Accessibility in websites is something that I’m starting to get much more interested in lately, especially as I’ve been using a lot of alternative methods to try and use a computer to reduce strain on my hands.  The speech recognition in Vista is absolutely amazing, but it does give a different perspective if you try to use it to access websites.

I’m looking at joining the guild of accessible web designers which is an organisation that promotes best practise and encourages accessibility in web-site design. I thought my web-site was quite good already but it’s only when Ive started reading into it that ive have realised how deep the subject is.

I have learnt a fair bit today about making accessible forms and also been applying the theories of progressive enhancement to attempt to make my flash heavy website degrade a bit more gracefully.

The next stage will be to start making my flash more accessible as well which I’m sure will have a steep learning curve, but luckily there is a brilliant blog on flash accessibility which ive been checking out lately from a local Britonian Niqui Merret who I saw at flash on the beach a couple of years ago. Custom software development EffectiveSoft team has rich experience in software development, offshore programming and IT consulting; the company also provides Ajax programming, .Net development, Flex and Flash programming services.

On related and random note I exercised my Victor Meldrew tendencies the other day when I noticed some shocking accessibility in the southern water website.  They have massive areas of text just embedded  in jpegs - virtually whole pages.  This is a pretty shocking of example of bad accessibility for a large company. I even filled in their contact form and had a pop at them. I was quite surprised when the marketing department replied and said they would look at it, but its been nearly a month or so I bet they don’t do anything. This would complete screw somebody with a screen reader, and I’m not sure but it’s probably against some kind of DDA guidelines or something.

Anyway I’m starting to realise that accessibility is a good thing that should be championed, even though at first glance it may seem a boring subject.  It’s easy when your fit and well not to consider these things, but it doesn’t take much really to do stuff properly and that can make the world of difference to some people.

That starts to remind me, of my old uni lectures on the digital divide..  But I am really going off on a  tangent now, it must be those bloody blue smarties!