Thinker33

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The Galaxy S25 is receiving a low-energy Bluetooth mode that makes it compatible with hearing aids. TalkBack is receiving updates to support braille displays and improved image descriptions generated by Gemini. These features should appear on the Android 16 beta and become available on other devices soon. #accessibility

 

This article by Lucy Greco highlights the shortcomings of the PDF format and why it is much easier to create an accessible document using Microsoft Word. #accessibility

 

Adrian Roselli's article highlights why you shouldn't wrap a figure in a link. He tests with a wide range of screen reading software to demonstrate how this can create an accessibility barrier. The article also finds that adding a title attribute does not improve the user experience. Check out the full article for more information. #accessibility

 

Karl Groves highlights why no ARIA is better than bad ARIA in this short YouTube Video. When using HTML elements like input type="radio" the behavior for the radio button is already defined. However, those behaviors are not conveyed when using span role "radio" This means you need to define the behavior of the element to ensure it is accessible. Adding in some ARIA to convey the role is not enough. This is why you should use HTML elements whenever possible. #accessibility

 

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been revealed this week. I thought I'd share a post from AbleGamers looking at the original Switch's accessibility at launch. Xbox and Playstation both have developed their own first-party accessible controllers. There was a third-party accessible controller developed by Hori and released in Japan for the original Switch. Nintendo should embrace gamers with disabilities by creating an accessibility-focused first-party controller. #accessibility

 

Check out this literature review on accessible and inclusive online learning in higher education by Dr. Lomellini, Dr. Lowenthal, Dr. Snelson, and Dr. Trespalacios. It outlines the barriers students face in an online learning environment and explores inclusive online learning frameworks like Universal Design for Learning. It explores the role faculty and instructional designers have in creating accessible online courses. Check out the full article for more information. #accessibility

 

Microsoft PowerPoint 365 on Mac has been updated to support exporting an accessible tagged PDF. This is a feature that was missing on Mac for years. Microsoft's Accessibility Checker has been updated to check for skipped heading levels. However, it does not flag documents with no headings. #accessibility

 

I hadn't thought of editing the CSS of the exported published course to make the focus indicator accessible. I wish Rise would make the focus indicator adjustable on a per-block basis. There are a lot of other helpful tips related to Rise accessibility too. #accessibility

 

If you use Equidox I have created a host of tutorial videos on how to remediate PDF documents using the platform. Remember to remove tags from the source document before uploading to Equidox to avoid compatibility issues. In Equidox you can add accessibility features including headings, alt text, lists, tables, and links. Check out the videos for more information. #accessibility

 

The PDF Association displays technical techniques about how to create accessible PDF documents. They cover how to test, along with pass and failure descriptions. #accessibility

 

The DOJ issued a new rule requiring public colleges and universities to meet WCAG 2.1 standards in about 2 years. This rule applies to instructional content, which has previously been exempt. This requirement is a big step forward for accessibility but it will require universities to dedicate resources to making their web content and documents accessible. It should also lead to these institutions embracing a more proactive approach in the future. #accessibility

 

AccessiBe is one of the more well known accessibility overlay companies. This FTC settlement suggests that these accessibility overlay companies have been making unsubstantiated claims about the capabilities of their software. I recommend checking out the Overlay Fact Sheet for more information. For example, a lot of the automated fixes like adding alt text to images and field labels are not reliable. These repairs can also cause unexpected issues. Basically, these companies need to better represent the limitations of their product. Additionally, overlays offer assistive technology features like font and color changes. However, users who need these features are probably implementing them at the system or web browser level. An overlay only enables these features on one website, which isn't as helpful.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 months ago

It is a real test and they had an independent auditor but it still may be BS. Check out this Too Good To Be True article.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Assistive technology companies like EyeGaze charge a lot for their products. This is because there is a lot of tech to ensure that it works accurately and is compatible with third party applications. Hopefully, Apple can lower the costs in the future for people with disabilities who use eye tracking technology.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Arizona State University is the first higher education institution to have a partnership with OpenAI. I think this is related to that deal. I don't know how long it will stay free.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Ableist is defined as discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities. Supporting people of all different races and trying to end systemic racism would be about being anti-racist. Feminism is a little too broad for me to define but it would probably align with providing men and women equal rights. The goal is to unite people not divide. The issue is that most of the web is inaccessible and cannot be accessed by people with disabilities. Excluding a group of people from a building because of their gender, race, or disability is against the law. Yet, people with disabilities are excluded or lack access to information on publicly available websites each day. This type of change requires people to be anti-ableist and to do the work necessary to make their website accessible.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Unfortunately, most academic journals still publish only PDFs. I couldn't find an HTML version.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Thank you for sharing. Glad it is helpful 😀

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

100% agree. This is why adding short but descriptive audio prompts for everything is very important. In this example they forget to add an audio prompt for when an object is grabbed, which immediately became an accessibility barrier. In addition, creating an intuitive way to navigate the audio prompts similar to screen reader navigation is needed.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can print your own paper if you have an inkjet printer. I'm not sure how well it works. Most users buy their journals. The journals make it easier to store your notes and you can group them by subject.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This is a demo video I made a while back on how to use the original Echo Smartpen.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No it isn’t. Most of the webinars from well known vendors (Deque University, Level Access, 3 Play Media) are very focused on the topic. They may spam your email with some product stuff but you can always unsubscribe.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This study on Zoom camera use found that students turn off their cameras because of personal appearance, people being in the background, and slow internet connection. A Stanford study identified constant camera use as a cause for Zoom fatigue and recommended audio-only breaks. Educause on equitable camera use highlights best practices at the end of the article like a flexible policy, using icebreakers, and providing alternatives. Hopefully, these articles are helpful and might lead to your institution creating a more flexible policy.

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