- From: Anne Pemberton <apembert@crosslink.net>
- Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 08:29:40 -0400
- To: Greg Gay <g.gay@utoronto.ca>, w3c-wai-gl@w3.org
Greg, I appreciate your explanation of "adaptive behavior", since I was unsure what you meant, and I agree enthusiastically that alternative/multiple formats are going to be most effective in accommodating those with the wide range of disabilities associated with LD and CD. Those alternative/multiple format must include standard needs of those with LD/CD, for adequate or better illustration I've previously suggested that guideline one specify that graphics be required as an alternate to text. I'd like to see a minimum requirement of one illustration be included on a page and that illustration should be placed so that it is seen when the user first opens the page. It's only a start of what needs to be addressed regarding inclusion of graphics so they can aide comprehension of text. >I can't find who said it, but someone earlier ask if web designers were in effect >developing the adaptive technology themselves to accomodate those with cognitive >disabilities. I think that this may be the case, though attention to accommodations >for those with cognitive disabilities also make sites more usable for those without >such >a disability. If web designers are already accommodating the cognitively disabled, why is it that so many pages that are designed to be accommodative according to the guidelines are too frequently devoid of graphics, color, and boxed text/tables, the very structures that those with LD/CD must depend on if their behavior is to be adaptive? The guidelines as they are currently presented, discourage use of the very tools that these people need to use. Regarding TTS, as long as it doesn't properly render boxed text/tables, doesn't allow visual access to graphics/text while the text is read, and remains too hard for folks with normal hearing to understand, it shouldn't be considered a significant accommodation for LD/CD folks. Citing TTS suggests the problem has been solved, when in fact it does no such thing. Anne Anne L. Pemberton http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Pav/Academy1 http://www.erols.com/stevepem/Homeschooling apembert@crosslink.net Enabling Support Foundation http://www.enabling.org
Received on Saturday, 29 April 2000 14:46:36 UTC