Notes

Outline

Universal Programming Betsey Zook Karen Luken UNC-CH

What is Universal Programming?     Programs usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for for specialized programs.

Principles of Universal Design Useful to people with diverse abilities. Accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. Easy to understand, regardless of user’s experience. Communicates necessary info effectively. Minimizes hazards and adverse consequences.

Applications to Recreation Useful to Diverse populations. Accommodates wide range of individual preferences and abilities. Allows for diverse learning styles. Reduces expenses. Maximizes resource allocation.

Concept of Universal Recreation Programming    Opportunities for persons with varying abilities to participate in recreation programs without the creation of new  segregated or specialized programs.

Benefits of Universal Programs Supports families and individuals. Builds communities. Meets interests of community members. Minimizes stigmatism. Cost-effective. Maximizes personnel. Philosophically sound.

Creating Universal Programs: Idea 1 Offer simple, inexpensive beginner classes to teach the basic skills for participation. Offer refresher classes that can be repeated.

Creating Universal Programs: Idea 2     Develop supports for individuals who are beginning a new activity such as short-term coaches or a volunteer training partners.

Creating Universal Programs: Idea 3 Borrow adapted equipment from loan programs  for individuals to try out at your facility site. Train personnel to increase comfort with working with individuals with differing abilities.

Creating Universal Programs: Idea 4 Provide simple, written instructions on site of the rules or steps of activity. Establish predictable routines for your activities, meetings, or facility procedures.

Creating Universal Programs: Idea 5 Provide transition opportunities from special, segregated programs to general programs.

Creating Universal Programs: Idea 6 Offer some programs that are not dependent on speed or precision. Provide opportunities     for non-competitive activities.

Universal Web Design     Web sites that can be used by ALL people,  to the greatest extent possible.

For users with older technology Older browsers. No plug-ins. Use older computers. No storage space for downloads. Use public computers. PROBLEM=             Can’t view some sites.

For users with slow connections Use a slow modem. Free Internet Service Provider  (ISP). Only access with small local ISP. PROBLEM=             Long load times. Users give up.

For users who are colorblind Can’t distinguish between some colors. PROBLEM=             Can’t view some text or graphics.

For users with reduced vision Enlarge text size on browsers. Use screen magnifiers. PROBLEM=             Can’t increase size of some font.  Distorts pages so unreadable.

For users who are deaf Can’t hear audio clips or auditory portion of video clips. PROBLEM=      Don’t obtain parts of site’s content.

For users who are blind Use screen access software. Don’t use a mouse. PROBLEM=        Graphic images not understood.  Layout may make content confusing.

For users with motor impairments May not use a traditional mouse. May use keyboard and TAB key. PROBLEM:          May be confused by order of links.      Lengthy lists of links difficult.

For users with cognitive impairments Memory deficits. Reading/learning disabilities. Confused by complex layouts. PROBLEM:   Understanding navigation schemes.

Examples from Microsoft By Gregory Lowery Microsoft Corporation 10/30/96

Click on your choice now: [Link]        [Link]

"Many users cannot see graphic..." Many users cannot see graphic images. They may be using text-mode browsers, or have turned off graphics to speed up performance on slow connections, and rely on speech or Braille output. Provide descriptions for all images using the ALT attribute.

Click on your state to get more information [Image]

Tables are used for Frames are used for positioning text and dividing the window graphics in rows into regions that are and columns. scrolled independently.

"Screen reader utilities use synthesized..." Screen reader utilities use synthesized speech or a Braille display to read a page for individuals who are blind. They based solely on the text on the screen, oblivious to the fact that one line of text spans multiple columns. Provide an alternate page that does not rely on frames or tables.

"Select a driver" Select a driver (WARNING: drivers shown in red are dangerously unstable and should not be used) Install Version 6 Install Version 7 Install Version 8

"Some users won’t be able..." Some users won’t be able to see the colors you choose. They may be color blind, or relying on voice output rather than seeing the screen directly, or using a text mode web browser. Don’t convey important information by color alone.

"as designers we demand..." as designers we demand... as designers we demand... ~2~ ~2~ the ability to control the presentation of a Web document...

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"Choose a link:" Choose a link: Click here Click here This Jump

"Some tools present a drop..." Some tools present a drop-down menu of all the links on a page, or recognize when the user speaks the name of a link.  If several links have the same name, or the names are ambiguous or too generic, such lists become unusable. Give all links names that are brief and can be understood out of context.

"This is an example of..." This is an example of text that is extremely difficult for most people to read. That results from the combination of type face, the size, style, and the combination of foreground and background colors. If you could control the display attributes you could make it easier to read on your own computer, but when the author uses fixed font attributes it can leave the user feeling frustrated, angry, and unenlightened.

"Text that seems legible to..." Text that seems legible to one person may be unreadable to another. Many people with low vision need to adjust their browser options to show text as bright text on a black background, or use large or sans-serif fonts. If you hard-code text attributes, it can be as hard for them as the previous view was for you. Provide an alternative to hard-coded font attributes; use style sheets when possible.

Problem Web Pages Houston Parks & Rec Intended Minnesota Parks Intended

But I am not a web designer… OR things avg Joe or Jane can do: Turn off browser features. View site without images, scripts. Increase font size. Try to navigate site without mouse. Print a copy of page on a B/W printer. Check load time. View page in a text-only browser. Listen to site with a speech browser. Check site with backwards compatibility viewer. Check page with an accessibility validator.

Houston, I think we have a problem No alternative text for images. All text cannot be enlarged. Load time = 41.36 sec Difficult to understand in text-only browser. Does not meet accessibility standards of Bobby.

Talkin’ to your webmaster Describe site’s audience. Site legal mandates. For a Current site: Share findings from “avg J” tests. Share universal design resources and guidelines. For a New site: Discuss goals/priorities for site. Draft a outline of desired site. Share universal design resources and guidelines.

Advocating to other webmasters Send an email letter. Share why you like their site. Explain why you can’t recommend site to some people in your community. Encourage to adjust site to include principles of Universal Design. Share universal web design resources.

Questions?