Re: Blog platform information request

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for this rundown! Your succinct description of my conundrum as an
architecture decision exactly sums up my issue.

If I may, I had a few follow up questions/clarifications that might help in
this inquiry:

> Be wary of WordPress plug-ins

Can I ask what kind of worries you have with regards to plug-ins (or even
what *kind* of plug-ins to worry about)? Again, total noob with web design
here so I wasn't even 100% what a plug-in meant in this instance, much less
what to avoid.

You mentioned "blog" and also a more open-ended "web presence."

Yeah, that may be an overly grand description at this time. Literally I
have an instagram I've been tentatively posting to but (being a production
coordinator in my regular job) I've been making a spreadsheet of how I plan
to expand this project from types of social media posts, a blog for columns
and interviews I've been doing outreach for, etc. assuming (of course) any
of this takes off.

If you must launch tonight instead of next week, then we're talking about a
> "site builder", and the best you're likely to get for accessibility is
> "less bad" (and mostly not fixable, unless the company fixes it for
> everyone).

I don't have plans to put up the blog et al imminently but I have been
looking into this since before the holidays and this forum is probably the
first advice giving me traction for the web aspect of all this. The "less
bad" aspect was what I've been worried about so I at least appreciate that
it's not an unwarranted impression.

Wix started investing in accessibility in 2018, a reasonable choice if your
> time is extremely limited.

I was also looking into Wix just as a company recommended by WireCutter for
starting a website. It is gratifying to know they're making strides towards
accessibility as with the below post:
https://support.wix.com/en/article/checklist-for-improving-your-sites-accessibility

If anyone should have any advice about Wix specifically but again with my
general question in mind it would, as always, be very much appreciated.

In the meantime, thanks again for the advice already given! This is already
so much better than the understanding I've been able to reach by my
inexperienced lonesome.

Best,

Kieran


On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 11:08 PM Mitchell Evan <mtchllvn@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Kieran,
>
> Your questions are excellent. The work of the W3C aims to be practical and
> achievable, but as you noticed it is weighted toward bespoke development.
>
> Your time is limited, and you're looking for a first step that you won't
> later regret. We webby folks would call this an "architecture" decision. A
> good responsible choice is indeed WordPress with one of its accessible
> themes (marked as such in the catalog). Be wary of WordPress plug-ins. What
> you create on this platform will not be perfect the first time, but with
> some attention to detail (which you've already demonstrated), the result
> will be good and any remaining problems will be fixable.
>
> You mentioned "blog" and also a more open-ended "web presence." If you
> must launch tonight instead of next week, then we're talking about a "site
> builder", and the best you're likely to get for accessibility is "less bad"
> (and mostly not fixable, unless the company fixes it for everyone). Wix
> started investing in accessibility in 2018, a reasonable choice if your
> time is extremely limited.
>
> To the accessibility SMEs here: I've written these recommendations hoping
> that (1) others here can correct me and (2) this conversation will help a
> thousand other people with authoring tool needs like Kieran's.
>
> Mitchell Evan
> +1 (510) 375-6104
> mtchllvn@gmail.com
> Twitter: @mitchellrevan
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellrevan/
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 4:05 PM Kieran de Leon-Horton <
> krdeleon.peralta@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Apologies if I'm not requesting properly, this is my first email to the
>> list.
>>
>> I'm a documentary filmmaker based in LA starting a very small project
>> centered around food and food security. As part of that I was starting to
>> anticipate the growth of the project and think about its web presence.
>>
>> Towards that end, I've been going through W3C as best I'm able but find
>> myself a bit overwhelmed and wondering if I'm asking the right questions
>> much less how to find the right answers. Among other things I'm planning to
>> work through the 5 module online course but also was wondering if anyone
>> can answer this question:
>>
>> Does anyone have any pointers or recommendations for any off-the-shelf
>> blogging platforms that are more accessibility compliant than others?
>>
>> I found this thread
>> <https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ig/2017AprJun/0100.html>
>> from 2017 about WordPress specifically but was wondering if WordPress is
>> the only game in town or if there are other, better alternatives?
>>
>> I understand the best option would probably be a bespoke website but as
>> mentioned, this is the very beginning of what's currently a no-budget
>> project and I'm hoping to do what I can with what's available at the
>> moment. I'm very new to the idea of any web presence, much less one with
>> requirements largely new to me so any guidance and/or resources is much
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Kieran dLH
>>
>
>
>