accessibility_fail | Recent Entries

Yeah, so, I pretty sure they're implying there's a ramp somewhere up the street and around the other side of the hotel, but the sign's still funny:

( photo of 'accessible stairs' under the cut )

pauamma

Mafiaoza’s is Icky, and it’s Not the Pizza

Update, 2013-05-12 11:24am UTC: The owner claims they weren't in town that night. So either the owner is lying, or the cops' statements were incorrect. I can't say which it is, or whether (if the latter) the cops were lying or mistaken.

pauamma

So earlier today, I emailed the following to one of the bitsavers.org maintainers:

Subject: Home for OCRed and proofread manuals?

So I snarfed http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/ibm/704/24-6661-2_704_Manual_1955.pdf and I'm now OCRing it and proofreading the result. I read the http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/ bit that says: "Documents here are kept in a minimal subset of PDF format, just using it as a container for lossless Group 4 fax compression (ITU-T recommendation T.6) images. Contributions are normally post-processed by tools to put them in exactly this format, so that all of the documents here are the same and
can be burst at some point in the future when OCR technology is mature enough to do a good job of recognition." which seems to imply you're not interested in providing a subset of those documents as OCR'd images+text searchable PDFs. But since I'm going to do it anyway, I'd like to share it with others. If you can't or won't host it on your own servers, do you know of another organization that could?

Within 10 minutes, I got this answer:

I need to update that. I have been OCRing documents for several years now.

(I answered thanking him, and asking about adding an alt= to the harvesting blocker img for the email address. More when I know more.)

chordatesrock

I've only been using the keyboard since my mouse broke, so maybe this is perfectly accessible and I just haven't figured it out yet.

However, I think it might be impossible to rate an article on Wikipedia using the keyboard. The ratings don't seem to be anywhere in the tab order and I've been through it three times. Is this my fail, or Wikipedia's?

chordatesrock

I have no fail to report (unless you count the existence of a building with stairs and no elevator, but you've seen that a million times), but I do have a question about how to not fail. Actually, I have a few questions, and they're specifically about accessibility for blind and VI internet users.

I understand that image descriptions are necessary, and that links should have descriptive text or clarifying title text. If anyone here personally uses these accessibility features, could you clarify some things for me?

( Questions under the cut )

avendya

So. Our astrophysics building requires an ID card to access after hours. In theory, I have access because I have a set due on the second floor at 6 PM, and the doors are locked at 5 PM. However, there are a variety of very nice workspaces, so many people do their Ay sets there.

My ID grants me access to the door from the stairs to the second floor, but does not grant me access to use the elevator. I have severe arthritis, and avoid stairs whenever possible.

Permission to be Very Irritated?

chordatesrock

I don't have any accessibility disasters to share, but I'm going to make an offer (and, it being a free offer, all caveats about getting what you pay for apply here). If you have an internet accessibility problem that can be fixed by throwing text at the problem (e.g., images lacking descriptions, important information given only through spoken words without any kind of captions, unwatchable flickering videos), I'm offering to throw text at it for you (i.e., I'll transcribe things or whatever).

firecat

Here is a pretty set of stairs that incorporates a zig-zagging ramp. With no handrails.

http://blog.firstreference.com/2012/07/17/pretty-hazards-the-accessible-built-environment/

alexseanchai

Thing I am not: a Walmart employee.

Thing I should therefore have to do only when I have just finished moving my shit from my cart to my car, and not under any other circumstance: push carts around a Walmart parking lot.

Thing I did tonight anyway: push carts around a Walmart parking lot.

I don't know about the handicapped spaces at the left end of the building; the doors at that end aren't open at half past midnight. But every single handicapped space near the doors that are open at half past midnight contained either a car or at least one cart.

There were ten carts taking up handicapped spaces. Ten of them. And not one single fucking unoccupied handicapped space anywhere near the open fucking doors.

(I have just left an angry but polite complaint on walmart.com. Customer service desk isn't open at half past midnight either, or I'd have done it in person.)

brigittefires

This is the ramp access to a new bar in Portland, OR. If you aren't looking too closely, it's difficult to find, as it's at the back of the business on the side of the building that doesn't even have a sign above the door, and you can't see the door from the street to indicate that this side even has a non-kitchen entrance.

If you step up onto that porch area, there is a door on the right side, though you'd never know it was there. But bad structure when dealing with an historic building isn't as bad as actual human beings who put a pallet and a huge piece of plywood in the middle of the ramp.

I spoke to someone who works there and bless his heart, he didn't give me any funny comments when he got out after a long shift at work and I asked him to please inform a manager that their ramp access was blocked. He said it hadn't been like that a little while before, so someone must have just done it, and the manager said she'd get someone to move it (and all he did was say that the ramp was blocked and where would she like these things moved?). It was definitely gone the next day, and the owners have so far been receptive to feedback--I told them on opening night that they had missed putting purse hooks in the bathroom, and then mentioned they may want to put a second one a little lower in the wheelchair accessible one (since right now the only purse-hook option is the door hydraulics, 7 feet in the air).

All in all I understand this isn't the worst situation in the world, and they fixed it promptly. But it did illustrate and spark a conversation about access and privilege on the way home.

And now a little plug: Vita + Cafe on Alberta in NE Portland (NOT the bar in question above) has two bar seats that are regular chair-height, which they actually keep clear as usable bar seats! Unlike another bar in Lake Oswego (south of Portland) where my partner used to work where they have 4 bar seats at normal chair level which the staff is instructed are wheelchair accessible, but that section of bar is in the main pathway for the service staff and they use that section as a workstation. I once asked how long it would take them to clear it off for a guest to use, and they kind of looked at me like I was nuts and asked me where they would put the juicer and fold napkins? Pretty well answered the question.

pauamma

You're a waiter at a cafe or bistro with a sidewalk area for smokers or overflow customers. The sidewalk is about 8 ft wide, and the tables and chairs eat something like 5-6 ft of it, depending on how people are sitting at each table, bags sticking out, etc. There's 2 rows of tables with a gap in the middle for people to use, both in getting to and from the tables and in passing the area where the cafe is.

Poll #10813

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 24

View Respondents

You notice someone in a wheelchair going through the gap, navigating carefully because they don't have a lot of clearance. Do you:

View Answers

Try to clear the way ahead of them, making sure they can go through quickly, safely, and without bumping into your customers and possibly causing them to spill drinks or food?
20 (83.3%)

Stand by the entrance to the inside area, making sure no waiter comes through and bumps into them, but not assisting them actively?
1 (4.2%)

Block their way and insist they find another route, because they might otherwise inconvenience your customers?
3 (12.5%)

Do something else (comment)?
0 (0.0%)

(If standing in the wheelchair user's way) You see cafe customers who also noticed them start clearing a way by themselves. Do you:

View Answers

Help them?
19 (86.4%)

Ignore them, because you have some important way-blocking to do?
0 (0.0%)

Hinder their attempt to clear the way, or insist they should be good customers and let you handle it alone?
3 (13.6%)

Do something else (comment)?
0 (0.0%)

(If hindering or discouraging their effort) When the customers object to your behavior and ask to talk to a manager. do you:

View Answers

Relent, let them clear the way, and go sulk?
14 (77.8%)

Start arguing loudly with them and try to undo their actions, dragging chairs or tables back if they push them, etc.?
3 (16.7%)

Do something else (comment)?
1 (5.6%)

(If arguing with customers) When the manager on duty arrives on the scene and the customers complain about you, do you:

View Answers

Accept that perhaps you went too far, apologize, and stop hindering or maybe even start helping?
14 (77.8%)

Keep objecting, blaming the customers, the passer-by, and your manager (who are all starting to look pissed off at you by now)?
3 (16.7%)

Do something else (comment)?
1 (5.6%)

(If arguing with your manager) When your manager disciplines you, sending you home, do you:

View Answers

Leave quietly?
14 (77.8%)

Leave, protesting loudly?
0 (0.0%)

Refuse to leave, demand police intervention because everyone else is conspiring to deprive you of your wages and tips, and resist attempts to remove you?
4 (22.2%)

Do something else (comment)?
0 (0.0%)

Extra credit optional essay question (comment): when it turns out 2 of the customers are (off-duty) police officers who restrain you until you can formally be arrested, what is your reaction?

kayloulee

So last Thursday I saw a bus driver try to refuse service to a guy using a power wheelchair. On Friday I submitted a complaint, on Saturday I got an email from the complaints people, and just now I got this:

[Kayloulee]

Thank you for your recent feedback.

At State Transit we treat incidents such as these very seriously. We have established the identity of the employee responsible for this unacceptable behaviour and will be taking appropriate action so as to avoid a similar incident in the future.

Please accept my sincere apologies for any unpleasantness caused.

Regards
[Depot Guy]
Kingsgrove Contact
STA Customer Relations

kayloulee

To the driver of the 423 outbound bus last Thursday night,

You tried to refuse service to a guy in a motorised wheelchair and his companion. You were driving one of the very newest buses on Sydney. They have ramps, they kneel, there are multiple wheelchair areas and there is Braille on the stop request buttons. YOU WERE DRIVING THE MOST ACCESSIBLE BUS IN SYDNEY. AND YOU TRIED TO REFUSE SERVICE TO A GUY IN A WHEELCHAIR. There was room on the bus for him and his companion and when the people sitting in the accessible seats saw him at the stop, they all moved so he could park there even before you eventually let him on!

I have submitted a complaint about you on the complaints line and I hope you get in trouble. For fuck's sake.

(Also: I didn't complain about it to him at the time and I felt so bad about this that I had a dream that night that I did complain, resulting in him slamming all the bus doors closed and sweeping me off to the depot, leaving me to make my way home in the dark alone. What the fuck, subconscious.)

Current Mood: disappointed

kaberett

Dear Transport for London,

I'm impressed by your provision of a map and guide to step-free stations on the tube [pdf]. Thank you.

However, it would probably be even more awesome if you'd be willing to consider using symbols that didn't rely on users being able to distinguish between red, orange and green.

You champions.

Love,

kaberett

adrian_turtle

I live in an apartment building that makes no pretense of being accessible to wheelchairs. Sure, there's an elevator...but every door to the outside has a nasty trip-ledge and several steps up to street level. I don't need wheelchair access, personally. I need doors I can open, despite chronic hand and shoulder problems. I had thought I was coping ok. Then I noticed how often I was staying in the apartment to avoid the additional pain flares caused by pulling open the heavy building doors.

I haven't asked the landlord to install automatic door openers. I don't know if it's something they're legally required to do under the ADA or some Massachusetts law. It's not a workplace or any kind of public building. It's just a 40+ year old building with a few dozen apartments. I don't even have a sense of how difficult and expensive it is to install an automatic door opener (for an outside door that has to be locked). If it's a small thing, I think I'd feel more willing to push for it. I also don't know how my neighbors feel about it. Demonstrably, they can all get the door open, but some may well find it painful or difficult. My disabilities are not generally visible, and I've lost jobs for disclosing them. It makes it feel dangerous to speak to landlord or neighbors about a situation that's painful but not intolerable.

Any suggestions--diplomatic, legal, or technical? Or reassurance that of course nobody would try any kind of retaliation?

treeowl

Is it just me, or is FOX really bad at timing captions? It seems a lot of times the captions flash by so fast no one could ever read them, and they aren't even synchronized properly.

roserodent

Facebook is repeatedly in hot water for its access failings, but this one takes the biscuit. Now I am not sure if it's still there as my "Guaranteed a response to every email" form that I sent to the access team did not receive a response... either that or they have a backlog of over 18 months.

If you want to download an offline copy of your Facebook profile, or you lock yourself out of your account and you don't have certain preset security features already connected (they don't say which! I assume activating a cellphone number helps) then the verification procedure for proving you are you involves looking at a series of photographs and entering a multiple choice answer along the lines of "In this photo is one of your friends, is it John Doe, Peter Peters or AN Other?". Sadly, the photograph is of a train. Because all photos added to the profile photo album and all photos that have been tagged are assumed to be of the person named in the tag, they will show you any photos tagged to them and ask you to identify the person. Sometimes it's a group shot and it asks which ONE of your friends is that group shot a picture of. Woe betide you if you answer the wrong one, even if all 3 of the named people are in that shot.

Even without this ridiculous inclusion of pictures of trains, Christmas trees, etc. we have the issue of people with visual impairments, people with prosopagnosia and people who plain don't care what folk look like. I couldn't identify the vast majority of my friends in a line-up, even if I've recently had dinner with them! I suspect my (totally blind) father would do a better job, he's always been an ace at the picture round of University Challenge.

garden_hoe21

I thought people here might get a kick out of how Nigel (the white male judge with an English accent) "talks to" the auditioner. (Bonus points for "so inspiring! So brave!")

sami

... but a few days ago, I broke my leg in three places. Unstable ankle fracture means I can't put any weight on it for months; chronic shoulder injury means I can't use crutches, either, so moving around is a struggle and I'm going to be in a wheelchair if I want to leave the house before April.

So what I want to ask is: Does anyone have any warnings or advice on things I might not have thought of about living with a wheelchair? After all the accessibility fails I've read of and seen, I'm a little nervous about what I might run into.

alexseanchai

Less an accessibility_fail, more an accessibility_insult: an image where the alt tag begins "[PLEASE ENABLE IMAGES]". Capslock and all.

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You Fail At Accessibility

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You Fail At Accessibility

Recent Entries

bumpity-bumpity-bumpity

That is a special kind of... something.

This one's a win, I think.

Wikipedia

Accessibility questions

(no subject)

Possibly not useful, but...

Unsafe but pretty ramps

(no subject)

New bar blocks ramp access, but at least they fixed some of it

Pop quiz

HAHAHAHA YES

(no subject)

(no subject)

doors

Caption timing

Facebook FAIL

Deaf dancer auditions for SYTYCD

An odd request, probably...

(no subject)

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May 2023

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