Introducing Birdability! (1 Viewer)

[Birdability]

Hi! We just wanted to introduce ourselves. Birdability is a brand new non-profit and focuses on removing barriers to access for birders with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, intellectual or developmental disabilities (including autism), mental illness, being Deaf or Hard of Hearing and other health concerns. Based in the US, our work is relevant and applicable all over the world... because there are birders (and potential future birders!) with disabilities and other health concerns all over the world! If you'd like to learn more, our website is birdability.org, where you can find resources and sign up for our monthly newsletter; you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @Birdability. Because birding is for everybody and every body!

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum

We're glad you found us and thanks for taking a moment to say hello. Please join in wherever you like

 

[delia todd]

Hi and a warm welcome from me too.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I hope to hear about all the birds you see when out and about.

 

[Lerxst]

Great to see you here!

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Hi Birdability and welcome to BirdForum.

Rich

 

[Hauksen]

Hi,

If you'd like to learn more, our website is birdability.org

I wonder ... have you checked that website against web accessibility standards?

Just asking because by my personal first impression, there are some unnecessary barriers on that page, for example putting the accessbility committment statement into a bitmap element. (You can't fail any more ironically than that.)

Recommended reading: https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/

Regards,

Henning

 

[Birdability]

Hi,



I wonder ... have you checked that website against web accessibility standards?

Just asking because by my personal first impression, there are some unnecessary barriers on that page, for example putting the accessbility committment statement into a bitmap element. (You can't fail any more ironically than that.)

Recommended reading: https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/

Regards,

Henning

Hi Henning,
Thanks for your message. Web accessibility is really important to us! We currently have only one person on staff, who built the website without any training or background in web design. The content of the accessibility commitment graphic is included as text next to the graphic, and alt text is provided for the graphic too, so screen readers can access it. A few of our Birdability Captains who use screen readers have tested the website for us and told us it was perfectly accessible to them, but we are still very much learning, so any further guidance on how to ensure our website is accessible is appreciated!

 

[Hauksen]

Hi,

A few of our Birdability Captains who use screen readers have tested the website for us and told us it was perfectly accessible to them, but we are still very much learning, so any further guidance on how to ensure our website is accessible is appreciated!

That's great, I'm a big fan of continuous improvement too!

Maybe the best way to get into that would be to use web accessibility test tools like this one:

WAVE Report

wave.webaim.org

It points out potential problems graphically right on the page, which is really convenient, and you can just change the page, re-validate, and get instant feedback on the change in a matter of seconds.

The tool only makes checks based on formal criteria, so it might miss some points. Accordingly, it's good to be aware of some general rules for accessible design, too.

Probably a good point to start are these writing tips:

Writing for Web Accessibility – Tips for Getting Started

Summary

www.w3.org

Armed with the general awareness of accessibility issues you already have, I guess you will probably be able to recognize the patterns of the suggested solutions fairly quickly!

Regards,

Henning