Speaking as one who works for an accessibility/usability company, it's a
fine line I have to tread between being a professional and an end user. I
now tend to use my private email address to contact people in this regard,
having once learnt my lesson the tricky way.
We'd need a central list of people who are willing to get involved. Is
this worth setting up another list for, or is that a step too far at this
point? I can't think of an easier way to keep a central point of focus.
I agree that suggesting solutions and offering real help is a good way
to go. I contacted Interflora not long agao, because their ordering section
is entirely Flash based. They were very receptive and told me they were in
the early stages of planning a redesign. They've asked me to look over their
new designs when they get that far. That was before Christmas and I'm
waiting to hear from them, but I'll stay in touch and see where it leads. In
this case, they have no idea that I work in the field, I'm just an end user
with some specific requirements.
Tink.
Tink.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Damon Rose" <damon.rose@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 9:36 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: We Could be a Force
A bit of collective power anyone?
My approach is more the "did you know that your site is inaccessible" and then trying to offer some constructive help and or contacts and even websites. I sometimes even offer to do user testing.
Mostly I am met with warm words. Napster, for instance, tell me they are working out a feasibility study for making their service accessible - which they have now apparently been doing for 9 months. I've been coaxing them but it's been terribly difficult. RNIB advised me to ask them about budgets and how many people are on the feasibility study team. They replied by effectively saying they are doing a feasibility study into a feasibility study on accessibility. They wouldn't give me a deadline or a target, despite my constant references to the DDA.
On a lower annoyance level scale are the people who listen and haven't allowed themselves to get into a protracted debate as Napster have with me ... But still do nothing. I think there's a certain audio books website for instance?
On the flipside though, some sites have been very good. A lot of web professionals from a computer background just love problem solving. Of course, sometimes they think that a great answer is to self voice the website or add a text only version which I personally dislike and feel is missing the point.
But as I say, if a group of us were to get ourselves together and, when necessary, back each other up with a few targeted emails ... That's power. And potentially it could have more effect. Strength in numbres and all that.
As I say, I see a lot of talk on here about it ... But have seen very few examples of group action and think this is a great forum to bring about more awareness.
Oh and more awareness and a little fear pumped into some websites could see them paying for the services of at least a few people on this mailing list. Not me I hasten to add.
...Damon
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