AccessibleNet.orgWeb accessibility links and resources.Why Birmingham Focus on Blindness scooped a BIMA- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "The purpose of the Birmingham Focus on Blindness site was to highlight the work of this Birmingham based charity in an accessible way to enable people with sight impairment to find out information about the services offered on their behalf. The site was originally intended to conform with Bobby and W3C Level AA accessibility and have a method of allowing the Birmingham Focus staff to update the site themselves..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1698 Microsoft patent 'writing HTML applications'- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "Microsoft has been granted a US patent for a method that allows a computer user to write applications in HTML, without knowledge of technical programming languages. Such a file will run in its own window, free of an internet browsers security limitations..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1696 Open Source Enables the Disabled- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "Open source software is the solution to making information technology accessible to people with disabilities. That's the word from the Global Forum for People with Disabilities. The group held a series of presentations, debates and workshops at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) today about their role in the information society..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1692 Plans to Bring Math Web Content under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "Design Science announced today it has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to research ways of making mathematical content accessible to people with vision disabilities. Section 508 of The Rehabilitation Act mandates that federal agencies make Web content accessible to those with visual disabilities, including blindness, low vision, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. While assistive technologies exist today that make textual content accessible to such people, making the...http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1691 Draft Disability Discrimination Bill: Initial Briefing by the Disability Rights Commission- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "The Government has published the draft Disability Discrimination Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny. The DRC is delighted to welcome the publication of the draft Bill which will offer long awaited rights for Britains 8.6 million disabled people..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1689 Access denied- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "Canada's disabled are being left out of the new economy, public sector advocates warn, and it's time we use technology to serve all citizens. An Ottawa conference offers a progress report..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1688 Visionary Design Awards - And the Winners Are...- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "Last night I attended the National Library for the Blinds Visionary Design Awards. Unfortunately, Im strapped for time right now and cant give this event the full write-up that it deserves, but suffice to say that it was very well attended, the food was great, the conversation also great, and the wine wasnt bad either..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1678 Guild of Accessible Web Designers Soft Launch- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "The Guild of Accessible Web Designers (GAWDS) is now inviting new members. GAWDS is open for business and needs as many enthusiastic, members as possible. Consider this as the soft launch, a milestone on the way to the official launch date early in 2004. The Guild of Accessible Web Designers is a world wide organisation of web designers and developers committed to helping each other, and promoting the message that accessible web design is good for business..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1676 BWDMA launches Accessibility Accreditation Initiative- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "The first accessibility accreditation scheme for suppliers of web design services is to launch early next year. The scheme has been developed by the recently formed British Web Design and Marketing Association (BWDMA) accessibility and usability working group. The accreditation will enable the digital industry to identify qualified suppliers in what is a legally essential requirement for all companies on the web..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1675 Government sites fail accessibility test- (Found June 24, 2008 ) "Government websites are failing to comply with their own guidelines for interoperability and accessibility, according to new research. Business2www tests government sites for errors every month. This month the company tested 62 sites, and found only five that complied with the e-Government Metadata Framework..."http://www.accessiblenet.org/cgi-bin/ext.cgi?id=1674 |