Web Accessibility

I am SO sorry. I forgot about today's call completely - until now. Looks like no one is on Skype any more. I'm very embarrassed.

What did you talk about?

Better yet, have others written their blog posts about accessibility laws in their country - or another country?

A little anecdote to add to the theme of Martin's slides from a few weeks ago. Martin showed us poor accessibility design in buildings where a ramp went part way up a slope, but the remainder was stairs. I have been visiting an orthopedic surgeon for a knee problem lately. There is an elevator in the building. Great. Saves problems for people with knee surgery. However... from the front door to the elevator, you need to climb 5 steps!! When I came down the elevator after my knee surgery, I had a difficult time navigating those 5 steps. I was very scared of falling. I have no idea what someone in a wheelchair would do.

So... the moral of my story is that once you start thinking about accessibility and inclusive design, you see examples everywhere. You can see examples in the physical world that echo the virtual world and vice versa. A good goal, in my opinion, is to help others begin to perceive the world like this. I think that once you start, you cannot go back. You will naturally want to do something to make things better.

Cheers!