Internet Accessibility for Sensory Deprived

(Bruce)

• Sensory deprived include vision impaired, blind, hearing impaired and deaf
  

• Affects workplace, education, government services


• Barriers are a form of discrimination


• Websites are graphic user interfaces (GUI), that we usually navigate visually
  and where pictures represent information


• Visually impaired users employ electronic screen readers to make images
  readable on the Web
  
  o Use alt tags
  
  o And long desc (word doc's or paragraphs)
  
  o No blinking
  
  o Use rollovers that can be stopped
  
  o Have format consistency
  
  o Be able to tab through page options


• MEDIA POLICY implications:
  
  o Internet standards need to be updated
  
  o Access to government agency websites (Section 508) must be made for sensory
  deprived
  
  o Private impact, such as legal fights by the ADA (under the laws of "places
  of public accommodation"), for example SouthWest airline (kiosks not
  considered places of accommodation in court) and AOL (settled out of court)

*Need Bruce's handout!