You are reading an archived post from the first version of my blog. I've started fresh, and the new design and content is now at boxofchocolates.ca
At last. I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever see an end to this, but it looks like WCAG 2.0 has finally been sorted out.
This is a great move forward for web accessibility—for the web as a whole—one which will leave a permanent mark. Finally getting WCAG 2.0 sorted out was my goal when I joined the W3C, and now that it has been accomplished, I’m happy to say to all those out there that thought it couldn’t be done: We did it!.
Olivier (Oli) Farlop
Many countries in the world require that public sector web sites be accessible. We all know that despite this requirement many of these public sector web sites don’t meet these accessibility guidelines, nor are they accessible to people with disabilities. This is not a good thing, but will hopefully continue to improve over time.
My concern today, though, is about sites that are not technically public sector sites, but in all likelihood their construction has been supported by public funds.
A lot can happen in 24 hours.
In the time since yesterday’s post, Taking Aim at Target(.com), the Target.com web site has been changed to address at least the image based submit buttons on the Target Pharmacy sign in page. It no longer requires a mouse click to submit the forms.
With a name like Target, you would almost think they would have seen it coming, wouldn’t you?
The US National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has brought legal action against Target corporation (a major US-based discount retailer which operates more than 1,300 stores in 47 states) because their web site is not accessible. The NFB has raised the issue with Target Corporation before:
The website is no more accessible today than it was in May of last year, when we first complained to Target.
That’s about 10 months ago. Sorry Target, but that’s just not good enough.
Continue reading Taking Aim at Target(.com)
Last night a group of us here in Ottawa, formally known as OGRE (Ottawa Group of Ruby Enthusiasts), got together for a few hours to chat about some new things happening locally and to generally “get out of the house” (at least that was a good part of my reason for going – when you’re working for yourself, its very easy to get stuck in “work all day and never leave the house” mode)
Here’s a few notes, observations and questions:
Continue reading Ottawa Group of Ruby Enthusiasts (OGRE)
I’ve started posting my presentation materials at: SimplyAccessible.org
Before I post the details of my presentation from WE05, I just wanted to congratulate the entire team – Maxine Sherrin, John Allsopp, Russ Weakley, Peter Firminger and Lisa Miller – for putting on an outstanding event (I can’t thank you enough for inviting me down there to speak and for a truly wonderful experience!) It was an honour to speak at the conference alongside some of the world’s greatest speakers and web professionals. And, to be able to speak to an audience that cares so deeply about the web, web standards and accessibility was a treat. Its no surprise there has been quite a buzz around WE05
Finally – many many many thanks to Jeff Davies who managed to find me a ticket to the Grand Final – we had a blast, and I made good on my promise of muchos beers!
Last year I reported that Web Essentials 04 was a conference that I was able to “attend remotely” with the help of photos and transcripts. This year, the Web Essentials ’05 crew have raised the bar one more notch when it comes to web standards and accessibility conferences – WE 05 will be podcast so that you can join us from around the world. Great stuff from a fantastic organizing committee!
I’m not sure what will be done in the way of transcripts, but you may find speakers’ presentations making their way on to the web (I’ll be posting mine). Add flickr to the mix, and that’s a pretty good overall experience in anyone’s book.
Imagine, if you will:
Hot on the heels of the Web Standards Project‘s announcement of the Accessibility Task Force comes the announcement of the DOM Scripting Task Force (DSTF).
After June’s @media conference, there was a meetup of several JavaScript minds organized by Peter-Paul Koch (ppk). It was an absolute pleasure to have been invited along to the meetup by my friend, and fellow DOM Scripting believer/advocate Jeremy Keith. There was much enthusiasm, much excitement, and much work to be done. Shortly thereafter, an informal group became the DOM Scripting Task Force.
Continue reading More Buzz: DOM Scripting Task Force Launched
At the @media conference in London, we were all treated to a blast from the past when Jeffrey Zeldman outlined the early days of the Web Standards Project. We were also well-informed about the current activities of WaSP by Molly, who successfully dealt with volley after volley of WaSP related questions from the audience throughout the conference.
Which brings us to what will hopefully be a really fun and adventurous future – I’ve become a WaSP, and I’m completely honoured, and very excited to work with such a talented group of people on the Accessibilty Task Force — all of whom I’ve got the utmost respect for, having followed and admired their work and writing from a distance for quite some time: Bruce Lawson, Gez Lemon, Patrick Lauke, Andy Clarke, Ian Lloyd and Matt May. Special thanks to Molly for getting the ball rolling on this much needed Task Force.
My web development and accessibility consultancy is FurtherAhead, based in Ottawa, Canada, with clients around the world. And I'm not just saying that.