Where It's AT – Assistive Technology Blog

If you’re not already familiar with the Job Accommodation Network ,(JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.

With information specific to employers, individuals and service providers, there’s a wealth of resources pertaining to workplace accommodations, rights, responsibilities and more.

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Color Conveying Information, Web Tip #9, 5/8/13

May 8th, 2013 by MDTAP Blog

Conveying Information Using Color Alone

Difficulty: Beginner

Category:

Presentation

Avoid using color or other stylistic differences as the only means of conveying information or meaning. Blind users do not care about the color, font size, or styling of text, so long as the visual aspects of that text are not used to convey content. Screen readers generally do not present stylistic information to the end user. Users with certain types of color deficiencies (color blindness) may not be able to differentiate certain color combinations. Users with low vision may override page colors. Each of these may have difficulty differentiating content based on color alone. The following relies on color to convey information:

The green mushrooms listed here are OK to eat. The red mushrooms will kill you.

Amanita
Chanterelle
Porcini
Shitake
Tylopilus

This can be made accessible by simply creating two lists – one for mushrooms that OK to eat and one for mushrooms that will kill you.

Posted in Assistive Technology, Information Technology, Web Accessibility, Web Tip Wednesday | No Comments »

Kindle App Accessibility, 5/7/2013

May 7th, 2013 by MDTAP Blog

Kindle App Accessibility

Contributed by Joel Zimba, Special Projects Coordinator, MDTAP

On May 1, Amazon finally added VoiceOver support to their Kindle App for the iPhone. Finally, this long-awaited, and most would say long over-due, barrier to E-book accessibility has vanished. Now, if it’s published electronically, you can probably buy it and read it in an accessible format.

To test how well Kindle works with VoiceOver, I installed the update and confirmed that yes, I could read the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which had been open to a random page until the day I could actually read it.

I then purchased some content only available through the Kindle store.

My choice was a piece by a local author, Justin Sirois. After making my purchase, I re-opened the Kindle App and my new book was waiting for me.

After opening the book, a two-finger swipe downward begins continuous reading. The app behaves much like iBooks, and the Nook app.

To avoid confusion, it’s worth pointing out that progress with accessibility is confined to the iOS app. The Kindle devices themselves are still as inaccessible as ever. Also, the ability to read content with VoiceOver is not restricted to only selected books as is the text-to-speech option on the Kindle hardware.

The long battle with Amazon is now technically over. This is most significant as E-books in schools are becoming increasingly common.

Posted in Assistive Technology, Blind/Low Vision Aids , Information Technology, Tech Tip Tuesday | No Comments »

MDTAP AT Lab Open House, 5/6/13

May 7th, 2013 by MDTAP Blog

On April 17th, MDTAP hosted its first Networking Luncheon and Open House for a variety of organizations in Maryland that serve individuals with disabilities. But before our first big event, MDTAP’s AT Specialists worked especially hard to reorganize the AT Lab, including updating equipment, building shelving and designing new, universal workstations. Take a look at the photo album below to see some candid shots from the day. And then take a few minutes to browse our online directory of lab equipment!

MDTAP Open House Photo Album

MDTAP’s Device Library-Online Directory

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