Feedback; The Cognitive Task Force (COGA) of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

CC. ldaamerica.ixwebhosting.com  Att. Pat Lille

>From Bill Butler   billbutler@army.com

In 1960, when I was 22, I was diagnosed as having a significant LD. Of
course the term LD was mostly unheard of then. Years later, Dr. Samuel
A. Kirk, verified the diagnosis.

The barriers that my particular LD creates are considerable, but not
impenetrable.  Now at age 78 I still, of course, have an LD. However,
I have built an evolving structure of accommodations, which helped me
earn a Doctorate in Rehabilitation from the U of Arizona and
experience a great career helping people with disabilities become
employed.

My point of telling you this is my remarks are not armchair.

I read the huge document that the group has assembled. It, obviously,
is the product of an amazing amount of work and dedication on the part
of knowledgeable people.

I hope the final iteration is intended to be a guideline and not
something that spawns regulations.

I write short stories. Before I send them to a publisher, I have at
least two people read them. One of my readers has mild dementia, the
other struggles with the written word. Although my stories deal with
complex issues, I edit them until my two readers can understand them,
at least on a superficial level.

If I were writing web content, I’d follow the same path. I’d run the
page past a few of the target audience, including folks with a
cognitive and/or an LD. Their feedback would be used during the
re-write.  The following is a link to such a short story;
https://thestoryshack.com/flash-fiction/suspense/b-butler-delivery

Best withes on your project. I’ve been a member of similar committees
and recall how challenging the work is. But it’s worth it.

Received on Friday, 31 March 2017 09:58:56 UTC