Slides for Accessibility Presentation At LCA2010 Business Miniconf
On 18 January, I spoke about the advantages for FOSS projects to add accessibility to their software. From a business point of view, it opens new markets, such as: government, universities, and non-profits.
Accessibility & FOSS
Nicolas Steenhout Accessibility NZ
Business of Open Source Miniconf linux.conf.au 18 January 2010
Introduction
- Person with disabilities
- Involved with FOSS
- Core Team: Mambo, Joomla!, B2Evolution
- Using desktop + web based applications
- Involved with business
- Executive Director: Center for Independent Living
- Involved with disability awareness
- Presentations
- Workshops
Assumptions
- Presentation only an overview / introduction
- Project wants to be successful
- Success = Sales
- Sales = Number of people using application
- Sales != Commercial / Exchange of money
Project wants to have as many people, businesses & organisations using their application(s) as possible
Not Software, Solutions
We do not provide software. We provide solutions.
Clients have specific problem. Our product is the solution.
Our solution must make our clients’ lives easy.
Our solution must resolve more of clients’ issues than competitor
Major Markets
- Governmental Agencies
- Government departments
- Non-Profits primarily funded through government grants
- Medium / Large Business
- Education
- Tertiary level
Accessibility Required
- Laws, regulations, guidelines, recommendations
- Most "major" countries address access to e-information.
- Primarily for government
- Impacts businesses as well
- Clients may be unaware of responsibility!
Anti-Discrimination
- Most "major" countries have anti-discrimination legislation
- Disability = protected class
- Covers employees + clients
New Markets For You
Provide applications that are accessible Point out to client how your accessible software helps them Access markets that require accessibility, such as government or education
Disability Types
A disability is: "A condition that significantly impairs one or more activity of daily living"
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mobility / Dexterity
- Learning
- Cognitive
What Is Accessibility?
Accessible software is: "Software usable by everyone, regardless of impairment"
- Web applications + desktop applications
- Keyboard only
- Alternate text & tooltips
- Simple workflow
- No dependance on sound / colour / images
- Etc…
Conclusion: Win-Win-Win-Win
- Your project wins: More sales
- Your client wins: Better compliance
- People with disabilities win: Greater access
- FOSS wins: Greater buy-in to FOSS
Accessibility Ressources
- Concepts of web accessibility apply / similar to software accessibility
- WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
- ATAG (Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines)
- W3C’s WAI
- Me: http://accessibility.net.nz
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