In the steps to make Accessibility a natural part
of your business, all you need to think about is small steps. Remember the age old saying --- it is the
small things that count. In the field of
electronic communication, consider these screen reader tips:
- Email:
When sending emails, use the BCC (blind carbon copy) section of your
address to send bulk emails. Use just one name in the main address
section. Otherwise, recipients who use a screen reader have to listen to
all the names and addresses of everyone who is receiving your email.
- Pictures:
The cliché that pictures replace a thousand words is not useful for a
person who is blind or has low vision or vision loss. Use open captioning
features and describe what you are trying to say in the picture.
- Plain
language: If you are talking to a wide audience it is always to your
benefit to use plain language rather than specialized or technical
language or jargon.
- Fonts:
Use simple fonts like Arial and Verdana at a minimum of 12 points.
Artistic fonts and italics can be difficult to read for people with a
variety of disabilities.
- Colour
contrast: Electronic documents should offer strong colour contrast and
avoid using watermarks in the background. Always avoid glare. These steps
can help any audience, which can otherwise be aggravated by unclear text
on a colourful background.
- Creating
PDF documents: Adobe has provided accessibility features since Version 7,
and improved them with Version 9. Spread the word that programmers should
pay attention to the accessibility features, learn them and use them
regularly.
- Websites:
An international organization called the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
provides protocols and guidelines to ensure that web-based information is
accessible to everyone. Make sure your programmers know how to build and
maintain an accessible website. Make sure all of the people involved are
aware of their obligations to offer accessible information.
- A
best practice approach is to prioritize existing web content to become
accessible based on:
- Usability
factors, for example, questionnaires, feedback or applications
- Information
that is frequently visited, legal or vital
- Encryption
codes: Such codes are not accessible to people who are blind or have low
vision or vision loss. Often the codes are so complicated that sighted
users also have problems with accessibility. Offer an accessible
non-biometric alternative method to verify you are dealing with an adult.
- Accessible
website portal: Use the upper left hand corner of your website to direct a
screen reader to read aloud that there is an accessible section of your
website. By placing the prompt in the upper left hand corner the screen
reader will speak these words first to the end-user. Make this a temporary
solution while you are preparing to provide a fully accessible website.
- Free
screen readers: There are free screen readers available. You can download
one and learn how to use it. When providing accessible information, use
the screen reader to identify problem areas.
What are some things your
company/organization has done to make accessibility a natural part of your
daily life>?
If you are interested in learning more about Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or how to make accessibility a
natural part of your business through the application of Corporate Social Responsibility,
please contact Sandra Broekhof @ 416-579-1035 or sandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca or visit
www.accessibilitycompliance.ca
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