Accessibility of PDF documents on the registration page

[ussfaccess@…]

There are multiple access issues which I will cover with individual tickets. I have a person who is expert at accessible IT reviewing some of the site this weekend who will provide further feedback.

On the initial registration page there are links to 3 PDF files. These are inaccessible to people who are Blind and use other than absolute state of the art software. This is also not usable for people who use many forms of translation software, specifically Arabic.

What is needed is simply an additional set of identical DOC files.

[https://id.mayfirst.org/jamie]

Reference:  http://www.ussf2010.org/register

Thanks for the feedback ussfaccess. We'd like to ensure that our web sites are all fully accessible.

I'm learning more about accessibility and PDFs as a result of your post, and came across a  page on creating accessible PDFs. It seems like one can created tagged PDFs from Word documents that screen readers can read. Although, I'm not sure how to test a PDF to see if it has been tagged or not.

I'd prefer to either keep all downloads in an accessible version of the PDF format or, if we have to use an alternate and accessible alternative format, then use free format like .txt file.

The doc format is not only a proprietary format, but is one tightly controlled by Microsoft which creates other accessibility problems for people who don't own a copy of Microsoft.

jamie

[alfredo@…]

Replying to https://id.mayfirst.org/jamie:

I'd prefer to either keep all downloads in an accessible version of the PDF format or, if we have to use an alternate and accessible alternative format, then use free format like .txt file.

The doc format is not only a proprietary format, but is one tightly controlled by Microsoft which creates other accessibility problems for people who don't own a copy of Microsoft.

I think it's important to try to use pdfs for all files in all languages if we're using them for those files in English. If we can (I know this is a tough sometimes). We should always strive to project a sense of equality in all this even if no one consciously notices people do get a "feel" about these things.

And, of course, you're right: there's no way we can put a doc file on the USSF's website at this point. Not after all the discussion we've had about these issues.

Alfredo

[ussfaccess@…]

Alfredo, et al

I just checked with Duxbury via phone. They are the people who create the software used almost exclusively to translate documents into Braille. I confirmed that PDFs - even the new types are not readable by Duxbury or other software that has to transpose into other languages. (Example Arabic.) They also said that text files are very problematic and have to be unformmated and tested repeatedly to be sure they work.

I explained the situation, and your concerns. They suggested a link that said if you need this file in another format, request it from XXXX. So that request could go to me - and I could send it to them as a DOC file.

Susan

[https://id.mayfirst.org/jamie]

Hi Susan,

Thanks for all the research and work on this issue.

It looks like an email alias has been created for you. It's access@ussf2010.org and currently it forwards to ussfaccess@gmail.com. So - we can all start publicizing the access@ussf2010.org address, which I think is preferable to publicizing a gmail address.

I've also created an account for you on www.ussf2010.org and emailed you the details.

The email should contain your username and password.

Please checkout this explanation page for how to login:

http://ict.ussf2010.org/wiki/ussf-editor-logins

All the logins and sites get confusing!

Once you have successfully logged into the www.ussf2010.org site, you should see edit tabs on every page that will allow you to edit those pages.

Please feel free to edit the  http://www.ussf2010.org/register page and also to fill in the  http://www.ussf2010.org/access page - which I've now created.

If you have any trouble accessing the site or updating any of the pages let us know. Let's keep this ticket open until we've got these changes made.

jamie

[https://id.mayfirst.org/jamie]

Also - I think your suggestion for asking people to email access@ussf2010.org if they need an alternate format sounds like a good compromise.

jamie

[access@…]

Jamie,

So good to hear from you. I am so glad I can forward this information to our meeting today. I will be able to get on editing the pages tonight and will let you know if I run into any issues.

Susan

[https://id.mayfirst.org/jamie]

Looks like the forms are up ( http://www.ussf2010.org/access) so I'm going to close this ticket. #388 is still outstanding though - getting the webform for taking requests.

jamie