Accessibility of Technology: In Their Shoes

Accessibility is an important consideration in both in person and online education. Technological tools like screen readers are used to improve access to online content, but not all websites are created equal when it comes to accessibility. In this discussion activity, you will attempt to use the Internet via screen reader software and will compare/contrast this experience with using the Internet visually in order to analyze the way that technology has or has not lived up to the expectation of equalizing information-sharing.

Steps:

Review some of the leading screen-reader software available to individuals who are blind or low-vision today:

• https://www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/using-technology/using-computer

Select a free screen reader program for your phone, tablet, or computer to use for this Activity:

• http://usabilitygeek.com/10-free-screen-reader-blind-visually-impaired-users/

Turning off your monitor and using only the screen reader program and your speakers, navigate to your top 3 favorite websites and attempt to use each, noting your experience as you go. Keep track of missed links, content that does not work with the screen reader, and any difficulties you encounter.

• Make one of your visits to a website with a lot of video content - could you access the video with the screen reader?
• Try to access a website to which you have never been before - keep similar notes.
• Then, access a disability organization's website - any of your choice, but several are listed here:
  • www.aapd.com
  • www.afb.org
  • http://www.unitedspinal.org/
  • http://ncil.org/
• Analyze your experience with each website and respond to the following questions
  • Did you notice differences in the accessibility of the websites you visited?
  • What were the positive and negative aspects of trying to access material using a screen reader?
  • What improvements would you recommend?
  • What were your overall impressions?