Constructing an accessible website for screen readers? Who can do that?
- From: <thesocialworker007@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "JFW List Serve" <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:49:22 -0600
Hello Everyone:
I need this answer as quickly as possible, and because I receive the digest
form of this list serve, can all who post an answer send me a response
directly? Please send all responses to thesocialworker007@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Here's the deal, I just purchased both a website name, and rented a server to
host the website. Now, I need for someone to build an accessible website for
all persons which use screen readers? Well, in all sincerity, the website is
not for me, but for a non profit organization which I have just created in San
Antonio, Texas. The agency is called ACCESS San Antonio, Inc, and we offer
live audio description, at various venues, to persons with visual disabilities!
I will paste a review of our services at the conclusion of this E-mail.
Now, I need this to be done as quickly as possible because some events are
taking place, in the very near future, here in San Antonio, which will help us,
the agency, if we have a website to direct everyone to go to and make
donations. This now leads me to another question: which web company should
ACCESS San Antonio, Inc use to accept donations made to our organization i.e.
Pay Pal, or some other company? I know this is subjective, but give me your
suggestions as well.
Now, this is what I will need on the website, a very large addressbook where
people can create an E-mail address?
A place to make donations? "Yes" I paid extra to have that service added to
the website!
I am looking for a lot of sounds, wav files, etc to be placed all over the
place!
I wish to construct a list serve to send out E-mails to the group weekly
regarding all events being audio described in San Antonio, Texas.
**With all of this, I want it to look very professional as well** Please send
all responses, as soon as possible, to thesocialworker007@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Okay, here is the review...
6638 Chasethorn Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78249
Ken Fritz Productions
431 Howland Canal
Venice, CA 90291-4619
Hearing the Force
Written by Shelley Nunemaker
What was meant to be a thoughtful gift for Beto Escobar's wife, Laura, turned
out to be a gift for Beto himself, and then for San Antonio.
Beto, who is blind, took Laura to see The Off Broadway musical, The Phantom of
the Opera in Austin, Texas as a Valentine's Day gift in 1998. As he and his
wife entered the theater, Beto was approached by a young lady who worked for
Access Austin Arts, who asked him if he would like the musical verbally
described to him. Not knowing what she was talking about, he Resisted at
first, but Beto decided to try it after the coaxing of his wife. On that day
he was able to "see" the musical The Phantom of the Opera- an experience he
will never forget.
Since that day, Access Austin Arts eventually became VSA Arts of Texas, and VSA
is now an organization which does all it can to ensure the arts are accessible
to all persons-especially those with disabilities.
In the spring of 2005, some seven years later after his experience in Austin,
Beto Escobar III, now a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), decided to begin
a 501[c] [3], in San Antonio, analogous to VSA Arts of Texas. As a result, On
June 4, 2005 both ACCESS San Antonio, Inc and VSA Arts of Texas joined forces
to bring the experience of seeing Star Wars episode III in descriptive format
to the visually impaired community in San Antonio.
At the show, 13 visually impaired consumers were distributed special headsets.
Before the previews began, Christina Frankenfield, the audio describer,
explained who each character was and what they looked like. She informed us of
the names of the planets the Jedis would be visiting and described the
environments involved.
I was very impressed with how Ms. Frankenfield kept up with the fast paced
action, the different characters, and the quickly changing planets.
This type of format, DBS, has received very positive responses regarding
viewing a movie in this way. All of the 13 visually impaired patrons had a
good time and were very thankful for the opportunity to experience a first run
movie in such a manner.
Beto and VSA Arts of Texas, continued their services in the summer, and audio
described the first run movie War of the Worlds in late July. As thought by
Beto, with each subsequent viewing in this format, more and more visually
impaired and blind individuals will start going to the movies, some who may
have never experienced being in a movie theater before.
If you would like more information about VSA Arts of Texas you can view their
website at www.vsatx.org. Beto Escobar III, LMSW has just now developed an
organization entitled ACCESS San Antonio, Inc, and is working with VSA and our
local theaters, and other venues to make descriptive movies the norm in San
Antonio. ACCESS San Antonio has also opened a website, and it can be found at
www.accesssanantonio.org. A various amount of information can be culled from
there as well.
Thank you Beto Escobar III, LMSW and CEO of ACCESS San Antonio, Inc, Christina
Frankenfield, Celia Hughes, George Dolis and Ingrid Weigard (from VSA Arts of
Texas) for all their help in providing an exciting experience for San Antonio's
blind community.
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
Sincerely,
Shelley Nunemaker
Receptionist DARS DBS
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