[CATO] Common Look Tools?

Fri Jan 26 15:55:26 PST 2024

My position is that Word documents and presenting information as HTML content is almost always better than PDF with one notable exception. Microsoft Word cannot create and accessible fillable form. A correctly formatted accessible fillable form in PDF provides a better experience than Word.

However, I hope people start using online forms more and more such as Microsoft Forms because they are easier to build than a PDF form, which takes a lot of work to properly label all form fields, tag them, add tool tips, etc.

[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]

Monica M. Olsson (she/her/hers)

Policy Associate – Accessible IT Coordinator

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

•Email: molsson at sbctc.edu<mailto:molsson at sbctc.edu> • Phone: 360-704-3922

The power of the Web is in its universality.
Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.

Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web

[cid:693f5578-4854-48e3-9ed9-c2f5b3ac32fb]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/321a279c65664c04a18fa34a96e959ab@sbctc.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>                Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/321a279c65664c04a18fa34a96e959ab@sbctc.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
________________________________
From: CATO <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> on behalf of Hanscom, Michael via CATO <cato at lists.ctc.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2024 3:45 PM
To: Distribution List for the Committee for Accessible Technology Oversight <cato at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Hanscom, Michael <mhanscom at highline.edu>
Subject: Re: [CATO] Common Look Tools?

[Sent from outside SBCTC]

Also, I’d like to go back to Amy’s original question, which I read differently than you all did.

Is a (theoretical) fully accessible PDF really preferable to a (theoretical) fully accessible Word document?

I was of the understanding that for most documents (fairly straightforward text, not terribly complex layout), Word would be preferable, for a number of reasons (ability to change fonts/colors to preference, reflowing to fit screen, etc.), instead of being locked into the presentation of a PDF.

For more complex documents, (designed in InDesign by a knowledgeable designer), it seems like PDF would make more sense, but I’m also surprised by the assertion that a blind user “they would 100% choose an accessible PDF over a Word doc” (of course, I say this as a sighted user, so there’s that), simply because it’s the opposite of what I thought was the case.

(This, of course, doesn’t get into the chances of getting that theoretically fully accessible PDF or Word document in the first place, but that’s what remediation is for….)

Michael Hanscom (he/him), Accessible Technology Program Manager, Highline College

mhanscom at highline.edu<mailto:mhanscom at highline.edu> | Building 25-516 | 206.592.3383

Accessible Technology Zoom Lobby: Wed. 3:30-4:15 p.m., Thu. 3-3:45 p.m. https://highline.zoom.us/my/mhanscom

Access Services: 206.592.3857 | access at highline.edu<mailto:access at highline.edu> | https://access.highline.edu<https://access.highline.edu/>

From: CATO <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Rovner, Amy via CATO
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2024 3:36 PM
To: Distribution List for the Committee for Accessible Technology Oversight <cato at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Rovner, Amy <arovner at shoreline.edu>
Subject: Re: [CATO] Common Look Tools?

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Thank you both for that info! This is an area that is “low hanging fruit” and essential for us to make some progress on here at Shoreline.

I’ll reach out offline.

Best,

Amy

Amy Rovner, MPH RD (she,hers)
Director eLearning Services
ctcLink Training Lead

Shoreline Community College
www.shoreline.edu  |  206.546.6937
eLearning Office: 206.546.6966
eLearning Email: elearning at shoreline.edu
Shoreline Support Center<https://support.shoreline.edu/>
Canvas Support - call 888-672-2040

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From: CATO <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Vicki Walton via CATO
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2024 12:04 PM
To: Distribution List for the Committee for Accessible Technology Oversight <cato at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Vicki Walton <vwalton at sbctc.edu>
Subject: Re: [CATO] Common Look Tools?

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I think I need to clarify about starting out with an accessible source document.  With Microsoft Word, you can only go so far.  That is what CommonLook Office can help you with.  Then when you save it as a PDF and go into CommonLook PDF, this is where you can work on those parts that you were not able to make accessible in MS Word. In the end, you will come out with an accessible PDF.

[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

From: CATO <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Vicki Walton via CATO
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2024 11:43 AM
To: Distribution List for the Committee for Accessible Technology Oversight <cato at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:cato at lists.ctc.edu>>
Cc: Vicki Walton <vwalton at sbctc.edu<mailto:vwalton at sbctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [CATO] Common Look Tools?

[Sent from outside SBCTC]

Hello Amy and all of CATO,

I was also a CommonLook Office/CommonLook PDF user. That program can make PDFs more accessible than a Word document itself.  There are just some things in a Word document you cannot make fully accessible.

I think the key here is to start out with an accessible source document which would most likely be from MS Word.  Then when you save it to a PDF, using CommonLook to remediate that PDF, it will walk you through the process of making sure that PDF is accessible.  One thing I really like about CommonLook, as well, is that it has a validator at the end of your process so that it will tell you where you have missed elements that need to still be remediated and made accessible.

CommonLook does take a bit of training to be able to use efficiently but it is a great program.

[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

From: CATO <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Rovner, Amy via CATO
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2024 10:56 AM
To: cato at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:cato at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Rovner, Amy <arovner at shoreline.edu<mailto:arovner at shoreline.edu>>
Subject: [CATO] Common Look Tools?

[Sent from outside SBCTC]

Hi CATO friends,

I’m in an Allyant webinar – they make the CommonLook tools for making office, PDF, etc. accessible.

They got my attention when one of the presenters (who is blind) said they would 100% choose an accessible PDF over a Word doc (made as accessible as the Word accessibility tool directs). That blew my mind b/c that is the exact opposite of what I have heard users who are blind have said in the past. Just trying to figure out if it’s a sales tactic or that their PDF remediation tools are really that good.

Are any of you using these tools? Thoughts?

Thank you!

Amy

Amy Rovner, MPH RD
Director eLearning Services
ctcLink Training Lead

Shoreline Community College
www.shoreline.edu<http://www.shoreline.edu>  |  206.546.6937
eLearning Office: 206.546.6966
eLearning Email: elearning at shoreline.edu<mailto:elearning at shoreline.edu>
Shoreline Support Center<https://support.shoreline.edu/>
Canvas Support Live Chat: for Students<http://%3Chttps/cases.canvaslms.com/liveagentchat?chattype=student%3E>; for Faculty<http://%3Chttps/cases.canvaslms.com/apex/liveagentchat%3E> (or call 888-672-2040)

[Shoreline Community College]<https://shoreline.edu/>

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