July 2007 – Blind Access Journal

Social Networking by and for the Blind: The Zone BBS

July 29, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Would you just like to get to know thousands of your blind brothers and sisters better? Would you like to participate in a social networking site that doesn’t lock you out with inaccessible CAPTCHA or isn’t otherwise difficult to access with your screen reader? Would you just like to play online games and have a… Finish Reading Social Networking by and for the Blind: The Zone BBS

Categories: gaming

Comments Off

Audio Promos Now Available for the Yahoo! Accessibility Improvement Petition

July 29, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Thanks to Steve Bauer of ACB Radio fame, the following audio promos for the Yahoo! Accessibility Improvement Petition are now available for podcasts, streaming Internet broadcasts and all other audio programs where running public service announcements may be appropriate: Yahoo! Petition Promo 1 (dry voice track, no background music) Yahoo! Petition 2 (fast, dance music… Finish Reading Audio Promos Now Available for the Yahoo! Accessibility Improvement Petition

Categories: broadcasting, CAPTCHA, podcast, Visual Verification

Comments Off

The Subtle Differences Online Petitions Can Make in Accessibility Advocacy Issues

July 27, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

As I continue to promote the Yahoo! Accessibility Improvement Petition initiative, I receive occasional private and public comments from those who wonder whether these online petitions really can make a difference or just represent a waste of everyone’s time. Of course, I feel they can serve to effectively support taking positive action on the accessibility… Finish Reading The Subtle Differences Online Petitions Can Make in Accessibility Advocacy Issues

Categories: accessibility, advocacy, CAPTCHA, petitions, Visual Verification

Comments (5)

Visual Verification: Slashdot Persists with "No Blind People Allowed" Sign While Ignoring Requests for Assistance!

July 26, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Slashdot, a recognize source of news for technology enthusiasts and professionals, is an example of a site that claims to provide a manual intervention path for their inaccessible CAPTCHA. The CAPTCHA is used to protect the account creation process and prevent comment spam. Visually impaired users are directed to send e-mail to pater@slashdot.org to receive… Finish Reading Visual Verification: Slashdot Persists with "No Blind People Allowed" Sign While Ignoring Requests for Assistance!

Categories: CAPTCHA, Visual Verification

Comments (4)

CallBurner Update Adds More Accessibility Enhancements

July 24, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Netralia has come out with Version 1.0.0.35 of CallBurner, including some accessibility enhancements and minor bug fixes. It is recommended that all CallBurner owners review the change history information and install the update. Once again, we thank the people at Netralia for their willingness to include accessibility in CallBurner.

Categories: Skype

Comments (3)

Visual Verification: FEMA’s Example Shows One Way to Do it Right for Everyone

July 24, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

The Federal Emergency Management Agency appears to have learned its lesson after Hurricane Katrina, where it did not permit blind and visually impaired citizens to complete online applications for assistance due to the inaccessibility of its visual verification scheme. The government agency has since done a 180 degree turn, providing a text based CAPTCHA that… Finish Reading Visual Verification: FEMA’s Example Shows One Way to Do it Right for Everyone

Categories: CAPTCHA, Visual Verification

Comments (3)

Press Release: Yahoo! Asked to Reasonably Accomodate the Blind by Adding Audio CAPTCHA

July 24, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Yahoo! Asked to Reasonably Accomodate the Blind by Adding Audio CAPTCHA An online petition is being circulated worldwide asking Yahoo! to implement an audio alternative to their graphical CAPTCHA (visual verification) process so that the blind and visually impaired will be afforded the same level of access enjoyed by the sighted. All Internet users are… Finish Reading Press Release: Yahoo! Asked to Reasonably Accomodate the Blind by Adding Audio CAPTCHA

Categories: accessibility, advocacy, CAPTCHA, press release, Visual Verification

Comments (3)

Visual Verification: AFB Video Demonstrating the CAPTCHA Lockout of the Blind on Facebook, Friendster and MySpace

July 23, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Thanks to a listener to Allison’s podcast, you can check out a YouTube video apparently from the American Foundation for the Blind that clearly demonstrates the way CAPTCHA without reasonable accomodation locks out the blind and visually impaired from participation in online social networks.

Categories: accessibility, American Foundation for the Blind, CAPTCHA, Visual Verification

Comments Off

Visual Verification: A Great Idea Proposed by a Sighted Friend

July 22, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

My good friend Allison has discussed CAPTCHA accessibility on her latest podcast. Here’s what she has to say in her shownotes. Great idea! Of course, please, also sign the current petition asking Yahoo to make theirs accessible while you’re at it! Here’s what Allison has to say: So I think the reason I instinctively take… Finish Reading Visual Verification: A Great Idea Proposed by a Sighted Friend

Categories: accessibility, CAPTCHA, Visual Verification

Comments (6)

Visual Verification: Changing the Frame of Reference?

July 22, 2007 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Recently, I have been engaged in discussions with several close friends and colleagues concerning my ongoing comparison between the exclusion of the blind from online participation through visual only CAPTCHA and the historical issue of racial segregation in the United States. These friends tell me the comparison is too controversial, that it doesn’t really work… Finish Reading Visual Verification: Changing the Frame of Reference?

Categories: accessibility, advocacy, CAPTCHA, opinion, Visual Verification

Comments (3)