Web accessibility wiki
(Split from discussion: Video - Importance of HTML Headings for Accessibility)
For what it's worth, I started putting together a list of helpful videos some time ago:
http://lab.dotjay.co.uk/notes/assistive-technology/videos/
I'm considering setting up an open wiki for this sort of thing if anyone thinks it'd be interesting/helpful.
Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
Last edited by dotjay on 15 Aug 2008 12:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
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It would be useful. Can I help?www.brucelawson.co.uk
Web Evanglist, Opera, WaSP Accesibility Task Force
Study the Web Standards Curriculum
International Lothario (retired)
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| brucelawson wrote: |
| It would be useful. Can I help? |
Cool. I'll start setting something up. I'll PM you, Bruce.
J
Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
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@dotjay, I'd be happy to help. I already have a small list that I've been meaning to chuck up on my blog that I'd be happy to contribute.Blog:www.iheni.com
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[Splitting this off to its own topic.]
@iheni: Cool, thanks.
There seems to be an interest in something like this, so for starters I'll put up a wiki on my domain, if no-one objects. Perhaps we could find a more appropriate venue for it in the long run.
Jon
Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
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Likewise. A wiki could be great. Anything I can do, just say?
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I've just had a phone call from Ian Lloyd-- apparently, he was planning to add this to accessify anyway (he's got a few screencasts that he's made) so if we wait a few weeks, there'll be extra functionality here.
Bonus!
www.brucelawson.co.uk
Web Evanglist, Opera, WaSP Accesibility Task Force
Study the Web Standards Curriculum
International Lothario (retired)
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A Brucey bonus!
Sorry.
Great news.
Jon
Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
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If you get round to this, I found this very interesting: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K4xuitAzIEk
It's two Google developers giving an hour long presentation on an open source framework they're building to open up the rich content of web 2.0 applications to a wider range of user interfaces and requirements.
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| brucelawson wrote: |
| I've just had a phone call from Ian Lloyd-- apparently, he was planning to add this to accessify anyway (he's got a few screencasts that he's made) so if we wait a few weeks, there'll be extra functionality here.
Bonus! |
Well, it's been a bit more than a few weeks
Just as an update - I have completely rebuilt accessify.com and am *soooo* close to putting it live but keep tweaking and tweaking and tweaking. You know how it is. Never quite satisfied
I've installed a wiki locally and then proceeded to hack it to pieces so that it fit in completely with the rest of the site deign - that's taken a bit longer than I thought it would, but it actually looks like an integral part of the site rather than an ugly bolt-on to it (as many wikis can end up looking).
Ideally, what I'd like to do is get some content on the wiki while still on dev, if nothing more than a structure with some placeholder content.
The next task would be for me to screencast the process of updating a typical page on the wiki and then making that video front and center on the first page and try to make it *as easy as possible* for anyone to then update the wiki.
I've use all sorts of forums, discussion groups and so on over the last 10 or so years, but weirdly I've never ventured into wikis believing it to be some kind of archaic thing that'isn't my bag', so I wouldn't be surprised if I'm not alone here! Having a short video that says 'here's how you use the wiki' should encourage more people to chip in with ideas, I reckon.
Perhaps for now we could collectively come up with a heirarchy of content here that I could use to start with? A pre-wiki wiki!
My thinking was something like the following (and this is a very rough brain dump):
Written tutorials:
- Beginners
- Small Coding Tips
Videos/Screencasts (one section or two separate?):
- Videos demostratinggood and bad accessibility
- People using assistive tech
- How to use authorig products (e.g. configuring DreamWeaver)
Legal Info:
- US Law
- UK Law
- etc etc Law
Publications:
- Books
- Accessibility periodicals (not to be confused with individual articles which would go under tutorials section)
- White Papers
Case Studies (e.g. L&G, SOCOG, Target etc):
Technology:
- Browsers:
- Assistive Tech:
-- Screen Readers:
-- Braille Displays
-- Magnifiers
-- Switches
-- Other
- Web languages (issues and benefits):
-- JavaScript/AJAX
-- ARIA
Like I said, just a starter for ten. If I can get a good heirarchical list together along these lines, I will be able to get this live much sooner.
Everyone still up for this?
And thanks, Jon, for kick starting this (and for being so gracious to wait when you heard that I'd already made a start on this for accessify.com independantly)
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We shouldn't duplicate things which have been done well elsewhere. We should also avoid biting off more than we can chew. A pinned topic with a list of links to good accessibility videos, as originally suggested, would've been fine for me.
Aside from that, good to hear you've avoided the bolt-on look-and-feel a Wiki can often end up with.
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While i see your points Ben, the beauty of a wiki is that it grows... So biting off chewable chunks should not be a major concern. Many nibble away over the years and it becomes what it becomes.
re duplication, again it would be good to have everything in one place. Most of what is on Wikipedia is also somewhere else on the web, but its still a hugely useful resource.
Basically I'm saying YEY! lets go for it
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Sounds great.
In the past the thing I've struggled to find is a web page to refer people to that says in very simply and quickly and in non-technical terms "Accessiblity is.... and it is importnant because....".
There's doesn't seem to be a single online reference/signposting point for accessiblity issues so this could be really good.
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I'm really looking forward to seeing this take shape. I think there's definitely a need for a central resource on accessibility, somewhere for people to start out and learn, just like people do when they come here and ask questions.
Ian, your suggested contents makes a good start. As you know, I've started hacking out a site map and some content. I'll see if I can find some time soon to reorganise some of it and contribute. It's probably a good idea to get some content up before releasing it to the wild.
Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
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I'd definitely be up for helping with a Wiki.
-Matt
Matt Machell
Web Design and Development Blog
Member of the Multipack
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