RE: Java accessibility

  • From: "Macarty, Jay {PBSG}" <Jay.Macarty@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: "programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:22:15 -0500

Susie,

I have been working closely with GW over the past few months on the Java 
accessibility for Window-Eyes. At this particular stage, the access tool I have 
written is their only working approach to java access. Thus, if suggestions are 
made to GW regarding java access, they will ultimately come back to me. I don't 
mind that but just wanted to make you aware that it is fine to pass along any 
comments or questions regarding java access in Window-Eyes directly to me or 
through GW either one.

I started out much in the same way you are describing with java about 11 years 
ago when java was still very young. I didn't try to work on the GUI side but 
concentrated more on persistence layer development and on server-side web 
applications using servlets (that was back in the day before Java Server Pages 
or any of the other server-side technologies they have now).

When I came to work here at PepsiCo, I had to deal with my first full desktop 
java application which used a swing-based GUI. 

Hope to have the chance to meet you at the NFB convention. 


-----Original Message-----
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Stanzel, Susan - 
Kansas City, MO
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 1:18 PM
To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Java accessibility

Hi Everyone,

I am just beginning my work in Java. This is the first time I will have actual 
work. I will be attending the National Federation of the Blind convention in 
July. What I would like to know about is if there are requests we need to make 
of G.W. Micro or Freedom Scientific regarding Java. My boss wanted me on the 
GUI part, but I thought I could do better work working on the persistance 
layer. I am the Treasurer of the computer science division of the federation.

Susie Stanzel
Programmer United States Department of Agriculture 

-----Original Message-----
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Holdsworth, Lynn
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:52 AM
To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Java accessibility

Hi all,

Thanks for such a bounty of useful info.

Having experienced first-hand the flakiness of Java, the AccessBridge and Jaws 
working (or not) together, which had quite a serious impact on my ability to do 
my job, I think I'll give SWT a shot and see if Jaws is happier with that 
approach.

Thanks again, Lynn

-----Original Message-----
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Macarty, Jay {PBSG}
Sent: 29 April 2009 15:18
To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Java accessibility

Lynn,
If you are writing your own apps and have the flexibility to include SWT as a 
part of them, that is great from an accessibility perspective. If, however, 
your project requirements demand the use of swing, there are guidelines 
published by IBM to aid in writing accessible applications.
These guidelines, in themselves, don't make java swing accessible; however, 
they do make it easier for adaptive technologies like the Java Access Bridge or 
WE4Java to make the most out of swing. The guidelines include things like 
including accessible descriptions for icons and making sure components like 
menu bar items can be triggered by the keyboard (e.g., pressing alt+f for the 
file menu). The guidelines also include suggestions on using the setLabelFor 
method to associate text fields with labels and for using the 
AccessibleRelationship functionality. 

You can read more about the guidelines and other accessibility info from IBM on 
their website at http://www-03.ibm.com/able/guidelines/

And the java guidelines are at
http://www-03.ibm.com/able/guidelines/java/snsjavagaccapi.html


-----Original Message-----
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Fred Rains
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 6:43 PM
To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Java accessibility

Lynn, The alternative is SWT.  It stands for Standard Widget Toolkit.  I don't 
use it, so I can't tell you anything else about it.

Fred

----- Original Message -----
From: "Holdsworth, Lynn" <Lynn.Holdsworth@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 7:29 AM
Subject: Java accessibility


Hi all,

Apologies - I know this question has been asked a lot of times, but I don't 
know how to get into the list archives.

I'm keen to learn Java, and obviously want to make my apps as accessible as 
possible. I remember reading on this list a while back that Swing isn't the 
best way to go, but can't remember what the suggested alternative was. Can 
someone give me a heads-up?

Thanks as always, Lynn


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