- From: Simon Evans <simon.evans@rixcentre.org>
- Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2004 09:27:38 -0000
- To: <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
-----Original Message----- From: w3c-wai-ig-request@w3.org Behalf Of Nick Kew Sent: 09 January 2004 23:13 Subject: Re: Emails for pwld >But anyway, aren't non-readers and email mutually incompatible? No. Screenreaders allow non-readers to receive and understand email independently. Its creation for this user group which is problematic and requires some form of support. e.g. technological support via applications such as Writing With Symbols (would generally be used by users with some, although often very minimal literacy skills) or by simply dictating the content to a support worker whilst maintaining editorial control. Even with the technological solution, often someone is going to have to prepare grids of vocabulary in advance for the particular email context. Longer-term as speech recognition technology improves I'd be expecting many users currently struggling through processes such as these to have much more independence in writing email. For users with severe and profound cognitive disabilities access is a continuum running from fully-supported through to independent. Most users travel up this as their experience and familiarity with the various technologies increase, but many may well always require some direct support from another person. The really important message to get across is that even if 99% of the 'work' is done by a supporter, the 1% that's achieved independently can be extremely significant to an individual and throughout 'ownership' of the process is never lost where support is competent. Simon
Received on Saturday, 10 January 2004 04:22:05 UTC