|
|
| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
| |
| Mailing List Archives |
| Subject: | RE: GISList: Section 508 Question - Visual disabilities and maps |
| Date: |
08/15/2001 10:17:31 AM |
| From: |
Anthony Quartararo |
|
|
Stepping way out on this thin limb, I'd like to make a few observations.
First, not being a lawyer, my comments are simply that, comments, not facts,
not authoritative in any way.
It seems while this poses a quandary for the internet community, I am not
certain that there could ever be a solution that meets everyone's needs. I
doubt very much that the architects of the ADA and similar legislation ever
envisioned these issues when drafting the Act. It would be impossible to
forecast and predict such a "requirement". So, the question has to be
asked, where does the line get drawn? Part of the art & science of
cartography is making an attractive looking "picture", which happens to be a
map, that attempts to convey some information. This art follows some basic
principles in terms of color selection, combinations, etc. To say that this
would need to be abandoned or significantly altered to accommodate those
that are color-blind, or red/green, would be inventing a new, albeit highly
specialized discipline within cartography. Not that it couldn't happen, but
then what? Do company's maintain two versions of every map product? Are
color-blind consumers willing to pay more for their "specialized" products?
Should they have to?
In reading some of the reference materials posted (no way am I going through
all of that!), some suggest that graphic images need to have accompanying
text sufficient to convey the image's message. Well, pardon the expression,
but that's a hell of a lot of text for some of these web-mapping
applications and products! Even if a picture is worth only a 1000 words,
then how many storage servers will it take to convey in text the information
contained in maps on the Geography Network? Far fetched? Not to the
ambulance chasers.
To draw the logical conclusion from your comments below, those cartographers
(mapmakers) and GISers that are not using color-blind-friendly colors are in
violation of the ADA. While I doubt the legality of such a proposition, it
points to the basic premise, where does it end? The ADA was instituted to
deal with people not having equal access to sidewalks, restrooms,
restaurants, theatres, parking spaces, offices for work, etc. We still do
not have 100% compliance with these basics, how on earth can we even suggest
to tackle the topic of equal "access" on the WWW, when the very nature of
the WWW changes, quite literally, on a daily basis. Furthermore, the USDOJ
ruled that it considers the WWW a "common" area, thus putting it under the
domain of the ADA. Last time I checked, the internet wasn't an exclusive
property.
Regarding "508", those company's or organizations that do not deal with the
Feds don't seem to have much to worry about. Not sure if there are
trickle-down, Reagan-style State mandates that say the same thing or not.
Anyway, I am not sure where I was going with this, or that I have even made
a point, as I said in the beginning, just comments, and I sure someone much
smarter than me will already have the answers.
Anthony Quartararo
-----Original Message-----
From: Ronald Cossman [mailto:Ronald.Cossman@SSRC.MsState.Edu\
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 9:49 AM
To: gislist@geocomm.com
Subject: RE: GISList: Section 508 Question - Visual disabilities and
maps
Here is one way in which cartographers, GISers and mapmakers need to be
concerned about disabilities. IF 1 in 12 of your audience are color blind
and IF the vast majority cannot perceive red or green, THEN it seems
reasonable to take that into account when choosing colors. In other words,
to be compliant with ADA we should be using colors that can be recognized by
color blind users. Web designers seem to have made some progress in terms of
being sensitive to visually disabled users. Look at:
http://trace.wisc.edu/world/web/
Especially check out the optional filter where you can view web sites as
perceived by a color blind user.
Ron Cossman
MSU Social Science Research Center
-----Original Message-----
From: Weaver, Chris [mailto:CWeaver@icfconsulting.com\
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2001 5:07 PM
To: gislist@geocomm.com
Subject: GISList: Section 508 Question - Addendum
The legislation referred to as "Section 508" is actually an amendment to the
Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The amendment was signed into law by
President Clinton on August 7, 1998. Section 508 requires that electronic
and information technology that is developed or purchased by the Federal
Government is accessible by people with disabilities.
from http://jimthatcher.com/webcourse1.htm
A good Summary
http://www.amigos.org/aaoc/2001/jan01/tips.html
other information can be found at http://www.section508.gov/
To unsubscribe, write to gislist-unsubscribe@geocomm.com
________________________________________________________________________
Setup a GeoCommunity Account and hav
|
|
Sponsored by:
For information
regarding
advertising rates
Click Here!
|
