On Wordpress Accessibility
I just wanted to confirm This article by Mike Little. The post states that the new WYSIWYG Post Editor in Wordpress - the greatest blogging software in the world, is “no longer accessible”, at least for those not using a mouse. As I am blind, I indeed belong to the non-mouse-users on this planet; on the other hand, I read the article after upgrading to the new Wordpress 2.0 version and thought to still give it a try before, as suggested in the post, downgrading to the older 1.5.2 version again 
Now what I discovered was that indeed the WYSIWYG Editor is hardly usable or accessible for the blind (users of popular screen reading software). Switching off the editor, which means kind of switching to ‘classic view’, solves the issue - at least for me, as you all can see now (or was I unable to post this article after all?) So I am glad I still can use the 2.0 edition of Wordpress and enjoy the fixed bugs and the groving number of plugins available for it!
Now as for uploading pictures or other files, I have not tried anything yet, but according to the article, it might be difficult, too.
I spent the last minutes trying to find a quick way to upload a recent picture of Leo, my most inteligent dog. But to make it short: I couldn’t find one within yet, since the auto-thumbnail-creation seems to be gone in this version.
So I guess Leo has to stay with me for now and will be released as soon as I find the time to install another Image Plugin
happy new year everyone anyway!!!
2006-01-063.34 pm at
Hi Rene,
I came to your website via Mike Little. I use one of his themes.
I never gave it any thought, but of course bilnd people also use computers. I must admit that I’m totally surprised by the fact that you have a blog and apparently use e-mail!! Call me ignorant, I just never gave it any thought.
Just wanted to give you a thumbs up, and also Leo.
Have two dogs myself, but you don’t want to use either of them as a guidance dog. One is a 50 kg hairball that goes her own way, and the other one is a 7 kg dachshund, always chasing mice.
Best regards.
Marcel
2006-01-118.35 am at
Hi Marcel,
Thank you so much for your comment and for checking out my blog!
You are right: Blind people do use computers, maybe even more often than sighted ones. Adapted computers have been opening up many doors towards integration into ‘normal’ society. Lots of tasks (shopping for example, reading the newspaper or writing letters) became easier or possible at all through the digital revolution. Like ten years ago, I guess I never would have believed that I could book great flights on my own one day; but today, it is possible - if the airline’s website is accessible to my Screen Reader that is
So thanks again and I hope you stay tuned to my blog
Give your dogs some hugs and kisses!
René
2006-01-2110.27 pm at
Hi René.
I just stumbled upon your blog - I find it inspirational that someone with such a condition as yours can produce a blog with higher quality content, spelling and grammar than some people with 20/20 vision. Truly a marvellous sign of technology finally making people equal.
Can I ask, which Screen Reader do you use? I for one would like to install it, so that I can gauge exactly what a blind or partially sighted user sees, and if I can perfect even one website so that it is accessible to those people I’ll be happy to have helped make their lives easier.
Keep it up!
Steven Woods
2006-01-2111.03 pm at
Hi Steven,
Great to have you here! And thanks for your nice comment
As for my screen reading software: It is called JAWS For Windows and is being developed by Freedom Scientific. It is, unfortunately, a very very expensive product, but you can still download a free demonstration edition of JAWS if you want.
Also, let me know if you want me to check a web site for accessibility issues; since it is my job to do stuff like that anyway, I would be more than happy to assist you too.
I hope you stay tuned and to see you soon again at Jaun’s Corner
Best wishes and regards,
René