[CATO] [EXTERNAL] - More on Accessibility Widgets/Overlays

[Hayman, Douglass]

Vicki,

Thanks for sharing that video.  It clearly critiques one major flaw in overlays in pointing out that so-called screen readers in overlays are lacking in functionality and miss the point entirely that if a person relies upon a screen reader on all web sites they visit, they are unlikely to turn the one they use off, to then use an inferior one to explore that one web site.  Who would use a customized electric wheelchair to go everywhere but choose to leave it at the front door of one store and then use one of those loaners near the grocery carts?

Screen reading software requires knowing quite a few keyboard commands to then navigate a device, documents, applications and so on.  Almost all overlays I've looked at that have a pseudo-screen reader in them do not provide a detailed resource for that component, and most likely lack such functionality in the first place.  And to respond to that criticism, some overlay firms "let" the web site owner turn that screen reader in the overlay off by default because otherwise, on visiting the site one hears announcements from both your real, robust screen reader and the crummy poser of a screen reader.

Also addressed in the video were features of overlays like stopping motion.  What I've seen on trying that feature, is that the overlay takes a screenshot of the website, virtually freezing prior moving content.  Meanwhile, WCAG 2.x standards call for web site to not have such content in the first place that plays for more than a few seconds or cannot be easily paused or stopped by the user.

And they mention being able to change text size and color contrast, both of which one can do with either the operating system, web browser or both and have that preferred setting work on all web sites one visits, not just one.

It was great that they picked seasoned users of one particular assistive technology, screen readers, then had them first visit web sites that utilized an overlay with screen reader built in (but didn't tell them about the overlay) and finally had them try out those overlays even though they hadn't done so, just to get feedback on the experience.

That prior overlay company acquisition you shared news about still boggles my mind.  My probably unrealistic wish is that the company bought the overlay firm to then shelf it to make the world wide web a better place.

Doug Hayman
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Information Technology
Olympic College
dhayman at olympic.edu<mailto:dhayman at olympic.edu>
(360) 475-7632



From: CATO <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Vicki Walton via CATO
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2024 8:34 AM
To: cato at lists.ctc.edu
Cc: Vicki Walton <vwalton at sbctc.edu>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] - [CATO] More on Accessibility Widgets/Overlays

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Happy first Friday of 2024,

I found this YouTube video last night that talks more about overlays.  It shares a very interesting and unique perspective.

It goes along with the theme of the last email that I sent about Level Access.

Accessibility Widgets Are Not Enough for Screen Reader Users<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvKTItqsOCg>


[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]Vicki Walton
Pronouns: they/them
Web Accessibility Specialist/IT Quality Assurance Tester
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
vwalton at sbctc.edu*<mailto:vwalton at sbctc.edu*> office: 360-704-4343* website: www.sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/default.aspx>



Accessibility is not a checkbox. Accessibility is a mindset that can lead to a very powerful sense of inclusion.
~ Maayan Ziv founder and CEO AccessNow

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