**********SPAM**********: accessibility of drupal sites
dear listers, first, I am sorry to have posted this messages to both the themes and the support lists, but I just am not sure where this would fit more. I am concerned with the accessibility of drupal powered websites for the blind and visually impaired. I have searched the drupal website and read what I could find about this topic but it seems to me that this has received little attention so far. none of the posts I read was elaborate enough. here are some points to contemplate about: 1. for visually impaired users, I want them to be able to change the font size / color / contrast on the fly. one site that does this beautifully, but it's not drupal powered is our strategic partner's website at: www.yourdolphin.com 2. provide keyboard users the possibility of reaching some parts of the website using accesskeys. I know that this method isn't preferred from what I read about it, but may be the listers can share their views about this point. I am blind myself, and never need to use accesskeys as my screen reader has built in commands to reach to various elements on most websites. actually, most modern screen readers have this possibility. I am thinking that structuring the website's documents well will often be most handy. like using different heading sizes, and using bulleted and numbered lists. the project I am involved in currently is for the company I work for, which specializes in assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired. it's at: www.nattiq.info it still requires lots of work, specially that it's going to be multilingual and has a right to left language. still, I would highly appreciate it if some of you could give it a look and steer me in the right direction. any comments will be warmly welcomed. Regards, and thanks in anticipation. Mohammed al-shar'
I've posted several times on this issue and asked about it on IRC but it doesn't seem to get much response. Discussion on drupal.org (or maybe lack of discussion) Creating a text only site: http://drupal.org/node/86058 Easy theme switching: http://drupal.org/node/86751
1. for visually impaired users, I want them to be able to change the font size / color / contrast on the fly. one site that does this beautifully, but it's not drupal powered is our strategic partner's website at: www.yourdolphin.com
This can be done by switching the theme, and allowing anonymous/not logged in user to switch themes. Your partner site hides images with CSS and applies a few other simple rules. img, .basket_title { visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; } .hidden_image { display:none; height:0; width:0; } I've not implemented this with Drupal yet but the principal is discussed in the above posts.
2. provide keyboard users the possibility of reaching some parts of the website using accesskeys. I know that this method isn't preferred from what I read about it, but may be the listers can share their views about this point. I am blind myself, and never need to use accesskeys as my screen reader has built in commands to reach to various elements on most websites. actually, most modern screen readers have this possibility.
I assume this could be done by patching the menu system, to add an "access key field", allowing admins to manually assign keys. I don't have enough knowledge to do this though. Alternatively create a new block and insert some static code for an additional menu. I'm working on this at the moment, creating a "helper links" block which outputs as the first item of html. It contains a link to an accessibility page with a list of access keys, the link to "text only" site (implementing the easy theme switching) links to contact, and a skip navigation link.
I am thinking that structuring the website's documents well will often be most handy. like using different heading sizes, and using bulleted and numbered lists.
Your website can be structured however you want, by customising an existing theme or creating a new one. The primary links can be changed to output lists - many themes already do. Likewise with the use of heading tags. Mark
Mohammed, I've should have looked at the second site link before posting: http://www.nattiq.info/ It already has the theme switcher module enabled. Mark On 18 Oct 2006, at 09:15, Mark Hope wrote:
I've posted several times on this issue and asked about it on IRC but it doesn't seem to get much response.
Discussion on drupal.org (or maybe lack of discussion)
Creating a text only site: http://drupal.org/node/86058
Easy theme switching: http://drupal.org/node/86751
1. for visually impaired users, I want them to be able to change the font size / color / contrast on the fly. one site that does this beautifully, but it's not drupal powered is our strategic partner's website at: www.yourdolphin.com
This can be done by switching the theme, and allowing anonymous/not logged in user to switch themes. Your partner site hides images with CSS and applies a few other simple rules.
img, .basket_title { visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; } .hidden_image { display:none; height:0; width:0; }
I've not implemented this with Drupal yet but the principal is discussed in the above posts.
2. provide keyboard users the possibility of reaching some parts of the website using accesskeys. I know that this method isn't preferred from what I read about it, but may be the listers can share their views about this point. I am blind myself, and never need to use accesskeys as my screen reader has built in commands to reach to various elements on most websites. actually, most modern screen readers have this possibility.
I assume this could be done by patching the menu system, to add an "access key field", allowing admins to manually assign keys. I don't have enough knowledge to do this though. Alternatively create a new block and insert some static code for an additional menu. I'm working on this at the moment, creating a "helper links" block which outputs as the first item of html. It contains a link to an accessibility page with a list of access keys, the link to "text only" site (implementing the easy theme switching) links to contact, and a skip navigation link.
I am thinking that structuring the website's documents well will often be most handy. like using different heading sizes, and using bulleted and numbered lists.
Your website can be structured however you want, by customising an existing theme or creating a new one. The primary links can be changed to output lists - many themes already do. Likewise with the use of heading tags.
Mark _______________________________________________ themes mailing list themes@drupal.org http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/themes
mark, hello. thank you for your points, I shall have a look at the threads you suggested. actually, I installed the theme switcher module perhaps while you were replying to the first message. :) I will see how it goes. as I said in my first message, I am not too keen on accesskeys, and I think can do without them. Regards, Mohammed al-shar' ----- Original Message ----- From: Mark Hope To: A list for theme developers Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:25 AM Subject: Re: [themes] accessibility of drupal sites Mohammed, I've should have looked at the second site link before posting: http://www.nattiq.info/ It already has the theme switcher module enabled. Mark On 18 Oct 2006, at 09:15, Mark Hope wrote: I've posted several times on this issue and asked about it on IRC but it doesn't seem to get much response. Discussion on drupal.org (or maybe lack of discussion) Creating a text only site: http://drupal.org/node/86058 Easy theme switching: http://drupal.org/node/86751 1. for visually impaired users, I want them to be able to change the font size / color / contrast on the fly. one site that does this beautifully, but it's not drupal powered is our strategic partner's website at: www.yourdolphin.com This can be done by switching the theme, and allowing anonymous/not logged in user to switch themes. Your partner site hides images with CSS and applies a few other simple rules. img, .basket_title { visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; } .hidden_image { display:none; height:0; width:0; } I've not implemented this with Drupal yet but the principal is discussed in the above posts. 2. provide keyboard users the possibility of reaching some parts of the website using accesskeys. I know that this method isn't preferred from what I read about it, but may be the listers can share their views about this point. I am blind myself, and never need to use accesskeys as my screen reader has built in commands to reach to various elements on most websites. actually, most modern screen readers have this possibility. I assume this could be done by patching the menu system, to add an "access key field", allowing admins to manually assign keys. I don't have enough knowledge to do this though. Alternatively create a new block and insert some static code for an additional menu. I'm working on this at the moment, creating a "helper links" block which outputs as the first item of html. It contains a link to an accessibility page with a list of access keys, the link to "text only" site (implementing the easy theme switching) links to contact, and a skip navigation link. I am thinking that structuring the website's documents well will often be most handy. like using different heading sizes, and using bulleted and numbered lists. Your website can be structured however you want, by customising an existing theme or creating a new one. The primary links can be changed to output lists - many themes already do. Likewise with the use of heading tags. Mark _______________________________________________ themes mailing list themes@drupal.org http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/themes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ themes mailing list themes@drupal.org http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/themes
This is one of things that I think is important (and others do too!) but seem to always have less time to focus on than I'd like. :( There is also a drupal group for accessiblity and it would be very helpful to the community if you joined that group and help us work on Drupal accessibility questions. http://groups.drupal.org/accessibility There used to be a fontsize module but it has been abandoned and deleted (was last avail for 4.6), http://drupal.org/handbook/modules/fontsize, and when I finally learn more about modules I'd like to have a whack at trying to revive it so folks can have a "plug and play" solution for that. Mohammed Al-shar' wrote:
dear listers,
first, I am sorry to have posted this messages to both the themes and the support lists, but I just am not sure where this would fit more.
I am concerned with the accessibility of drupal powered websites for the blind and visually impaired. I have searched the drupal website and read what I could find about this topic but it seems to me that this has received little attention so far. none of the posts I read was elaborate enough.
here are some points to contemplate about:
1. for visually impaired users, I want them to be able to change the font size / color / contrast on the fly. one site that does this beautifully, but it's not drupal powered is our strategic partner's website at: www.yourdolphin.com <http://www.yourdolphin.com>
2. provide keyboard users the possibility of reaching some parts of the website using accesskeys. I know that this method isn't preferred from what I read about it, but may be the listers can share their views about this point. I am blind myself, and never need to use accesskeys as my screen reader has built in commands to reach to various elements on most websites. actually, most modern screen readers have this possibility.
I am thinking that structuring the website's documents well will often be most handy. like using different heading sizes, and using bulleted and numbered lists.
the project I am involved in currently is for the company I work for, which specializes in assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired. it's at: www.nattiq.info <http://www.nattiq.info> it still requires lots of work, specially that it's going to be multilingual and has a right to left language. still, I would highly appreciate it if some of you could give it a look and steer me in the right direction. any comments will be warmly welcomed.
Regards, and thanks in anticipation.
Mohammed al-shar' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________ themes mailing list themes@drupal.org http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/themes
-- /Addi Berry/ 240-274-0875 addi@rocktreesky.com www.rocktreesky.com <http://www.rocktreesky.com>
There used to be a fontsize module but it has been abandoned and deleted (was last avail for 4.6), http://drupal.org/handbook/modules/fontsize, and when I finally learn more about modules I'd like to have a whack at trying to revive it so folks can have a >"plug and play" solution for that.
Fontsize module works fine on 4.7 and probably most future releases because it is so simple and doesn't depend on much. My frequent visitors are older and generally need larger fonts to read easily.
hi addi! thank you so much, I will try to participate as much as I can in the discussion going on with that group. Regards, Mohammed al-shar' ----- Original Message ----- From: "Addi" <addi@rocktreesky.com> To: "A list for theme developers" <themes@drupal.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 1:35 PM Subject: Re: [themes] **********SPAM**********: accessibility of drupal sites
This is one of things that I think is important (and others do too!) but seem to always have less time to focus on than I'd like. :(
There is also a drupal group for accessiblity and it would be very helpful to the community if you joined that group and help us work on Drupal accessibility questions.
http://groups.drupal.org/accessibility
There used to be a fontsize module but it has been abandoned and deleted (was last avail for 4.6), http://drupal.org/handbook/modules/fontsize, and when I finally learn more about modules I'd like to have a whack at trying to revive it so folks can have a "plug and play" solution for that.
Mohammed Al-shar' wrote:
dear listers,
first, I am sorry to have posted this messages to both the themes and the support lists, but I just am not sure where this would fit more.
I am concerned with the accessibility of drupal powered websites for the blind and visually impaired. I have searched the drupal website and read what I could find about this topic but it seems to me that this has received little attention so far. none of the posts I read was elaborate enough.
here are some points to contemplate about:
1. for visually impaired users, I want them to be able to change the font size / color / contrast on the fly. one site that does this beautifully, but it's not drupal powered is our strategic partner's website at: www.yourdolphin.com <http://www.yourdolphin.com>
2. provide keyboard users the possibility of reaching some parts of the website using accesskeys. I know that this method isn't preferred from what I read about it, but may be the listers can share their views about this point. I am blind myself, and never need to use accesskeys as my screen reader has built in commands to reach to various elements on most websites. actually, most modern screen readers have this possibility.
I am thinking that structuring the website's documents well will often be most handy. like using different heading sizes, and using bulleted and numbered lists.
the project I am involved in currently is for the company I work for, which specializes in assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired. it's at: www.nattiq.info <http://www.nattiq.info> it still requires lots of work, specially that it's going to be multilingual and has a right to left language. still, I would highly appreciate it if some of you could give it a look and steer me in the right direction. any comments will be warmly welcomed.
Regards, and thanks in anticipation.
Mohammed al-shar' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________ themes mailing list themes@drupal.org http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/themes
-- /Addi Berry/ 240-274-0875 addi@rocktreesky.com www.rocktreesky.com <http://www.rocktreesky.com> _______________________________________________ themes mailing list themes@drupal.org http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/themes
participants (4)
-
Addi -
Mark Hope -
Mohammed Al-shar' -
Walt Daniels