Web Access Centre Blog

Earlier this year I took part in a workshop for Public Sector Forums (PSF) called “Real World Accessibility” along with Bruce Lawson, Patrick Lauke, Grant Broome, Dan Champion and Ian Lloyd.

It was only open to Public Sector employees, and went down a storm. So much so, PSF asked us to do another one, this time open to anyone.

It’s being held near the Barbican, this Wednesday, 8th August, and tickets have been selling well… but there are still tickets available if you want to take advantage of the collective knowledge that will be in the room, and if you’re still not sure, then check out the agenda:

Agenda

Chair: Dan Champion

9.30-10.05: Web Accessibility: What, Why, How, and Who Cares?
Bruce Lawson

An introduction to accessibility: whistlestop tour around why and how you should use Web Standards to make sites that are accessible to disabled people, usable for all and profitable for your client.

10.05-10.40: How disabled users use the web
Ann McMeekin, RNIB

A closer look at assistive technologies and how people with disabilities can - and do - use websites.

10.40-11.10: Short supplier slots

11.10-11.30: Exhibition, networking and coffee

11.30-12.05: Too much accessibility - good intentions, badly implemented
Patrick Lauke, University of Salford

HTML offers many features and attributes that can make your sites more accessible…but only if they’re used wisely. Can there really be “too much accessibility”?

12.05-13.05: Discussion - A Public Sector Web Management Group?

13.05-13.45: Exhibition, networking and lunch

13.45-14.20: GIS, PDF and other monsters in the closet
Grant Broome, Shaw Trust

Certain proprietary technologies sit on our servers secretly hoping that no-one will find them. Grant Broome from the Shaw Trust Accessibility Services examines how disabled users find these technologies and offers advice on how they can be made more accessible.

14.20-14.55: Quality assurance - testing, monitoring and maintaining accessibility
Dan Champion, Champion IS

14.55-15.15: Exhibition, networking and coffee

15.15-15.50 Case study - real world examples of common accessiblity cock-ups in the wild
Ian Lloyd, Nationwide BS and Accessify.com

To include video examples of public and private sector sites

15.50-16.45: Panel discussion, including WCAG2

Book a ticket for the second Real World Accessibility workshop.