Social media, interactive communities, and online marketing have ratcheted up the ways we use the web. What are the barriers experienced by people with disabilities trying to use web applications? From Facebook and YouTube to JK Rowlings and NetFlix, what level of accessibility is expected, achievable and reasonable? No one wants to give up the richer and faster experience facilitated by these new techniques, but should we really just accept that a certain number of people will be locked out? Sharron Rush of Knowbility moderates the panel and explores three critical aspects of this question. First, Susan L. Gerhart, a sofware engineer who has lost her vision, demonstrates common barriers. Lisa Pappas of SAS shows us how the industry is working collaboratively to address the problem. Finally Becky Gibson, a Web accessibility architect for IBM, demonstrates Accessible Rich Internet Applications being developed under the umbrella of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI-ARIA). Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the problem, will know how to participate in providing solutions, and will get code level examples of how to improve the accessibility of widgets and other rich Internet applications.
http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/programming/panels_schedule/?action=show&id=IAP060299
