ACCESS-IT@Web 2.0 Accessible Twitter Meera
Tank representing Dennis Lembree WebOverhauls.com

Summary <ul><li>Accessible Twitter provides a
web-accessible and standards-compliant version of the Twitter web site, a very popular micro-blogging web service. </li></ul>

Issues with Twitter.com <ul><li>Many web
accessibility issues including: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Some core functionality is not keyboard accessible. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Poor use of headings . </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Much core functionality requires JavaScript . </li></ul></ul>

Keyboard Accessible <ul><li>Keyboard cannot access
Favorite, Reply, and Delete links. </li></ul><ul><li>ALL links are keyboard accessible. </li></ul>

Use of Headings <ul><li>Poor use
of headings </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Where are the tweets? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Can you find the menu? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>What site is this? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>What account is this? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Also: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Why is the footer under Following? </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>“ Saved Searches” is a primary heading but doesn’t display on the page. </li></ul></ul></ul>

Use of Headings <ul><li>Ideal use
of headings </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Where are the tweets? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Can you find the menu? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>What site is this? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>What account is this? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>*Names of Tweet authors are headings which greatly improves navigation for screen readers. </li></ul></ul>

JavaScript <ul><li>Twitter.com requires JavaScript. Without
it, the user is: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Unable to Favorite a tweet. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Unable to Delete a tweet. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Unable to access the content under Trending Topics & Followers. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Unable to perform Actions on Followers and Following pages. </li></ul></ul>

JavaScript <ul><li>Accessible Twitter is fully
functional without JavaScript. </li></ul>

Other issues with Twitter.com that
Accessible Twitter addresses <ul><li>Sidebar navigation is inconsistent. </li></ul><ul><li>Links unclear (underlined removed, colors). </li></ul><ul><li>Custom colors may not be readable. </li></ul><ul><li>Code doesn't validate. </li></ul><ul><li>Code could use better semantics. </li></ul><ul><li>Form fields are missing labels. </li></ul><ul><li>Fieldset tags used without legends. </li></ul><ul><li>Layout width is static not flexible. </li></ul>

Other Benefits <ul><ul><li>Works in text-only
user-agents such as Lynx (thanks to progress enhancement). </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Keyboard accessibility opens gate for many other types of input devices . </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Providing clear, consistent content and navigation benefits those with cognitive impairments (and is more usable in general). </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Use with a mobile device is possible. </li></ul></ul>

Where it is currently offered
<ul><li>Accessible Twitter is free to use. </li></ul><ul><li>www.AccessibleTwitter.com </li></ul>

Quotes from Users <ul><li>“ Wow!
You have really made my day, and I am smiling once again. I am so excited that I found your Accessible Twitter. Now I feel that I can be in the cutting edge of everything that is happening in the Twitter Universe.” </li></ul><ul><li>Jacqueline </li></ul>

Quotes from Users <ul><li>“ You
can easily navigate by several methods; skip links, form fields, headings. Very effective with a screen reader.” </li></ul><ul><li>“ really easy with a Braille Display to use” </li></ul><ul><li>“ From now on my default web interface for Twitter! Keyboard accessible == touch accessible!” </li></ul>

Quotes from Users <ul><li>“… seems
to work nicely in Lynx. Main Twitter won't let me login and mobile site won't show followers.” </li></ul><ul><li>“ Liking it more than twitter.com! Cleaner, easier, fun!” </li></ul><ul><li>“ Love this! So clear & Easy #dyslexia” </li></ul>

Quotes from Users <ul><li>“ Good
to see somebody doing Twitter’s job for them...” –Paul Boag </li></ul><ul><li>Read more: http://accessibletwitter.com/articles.php </li></ul>

Promote Web Accessibility for Twitter
<ul><li>Use Accessible Twitter </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Will be listed under “source” of status/tweet </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Discuss Accessible Twitter </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Benefits, drawbacks, other applications </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Donate to Accessible Twitter </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Via PayPal </li></ul></ul>

Future Enhancements <ul><li>Many enhancements and
features are planned including: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Caching on Trends and Popular Links pages. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Better error handling. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Implement ARIA live regions. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Functionality to upload photos via Twitpic and/or yFrog. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Open Authentication. </li></ul></ul>

Attend the Session <ul><li>“ Twitter
& Web Accessibility” presented by Dennis Lembree. </li></ul><ul><li>12th Annual Accessing Higher Ground near Denver, Colorado. </li></ul><ul><li>“ Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference” </li></ul><ul><li>10-14 Nov 2009 (Tue-Sat). </li></ul><ul><li>Session is scheduled at 9:15am Thu, 12 Nov. </li></ul>

Web Accessibility Podcast & Blog
<ul><li>The author of Accessible Twitter is also the founder of Web Axe, a podcast and blog focused on web accessibility. </li></ul><ul><li>http://webaxe.blogspot.com </li></ul><ul><li>Since Sept 2005 </li></ul><ul><li>Approximately 3,000 RSS subscribers </li></ul>

Contact Details <ul><li>Dennis Lembree </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Owner/Author
</li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>www.DennisLembree.com </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>www.WebOverhauls.com </li></ul></ul><ul><li>On Twitter </li></ul><ul><ul><li>@Accessible Twitr </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>@WebAxe </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>@DennisL </li></ul></ul>