ARIA -
ANSWER
An acronym for "Accessible Rich Internet Applications".
A set of attributes you can add to HTML elements that define ways to make web content and
applications accessible to users with disabilities who use assistive technologies.
An example - "When accessibility issues cannot be managed with native HTML, ARIA can
help bridge those gaps."
Blind people (Printed Disability) -
ANSWER
- can't read signs on buildings
- product packaging
- business cards
- postal mail sent to their home
- any printed text
A blind person's methods of receiving information depend on other people. (Before Screen
Readers)
Disabilities on the Web -
ANSWER
The disabilities that matter most in terms of their effect on web use are disabilities in the
eyes, ears, hands, and brain
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,Screen Readers -
ANSWER
Allow blind people to access information independently, without having to direct assistance
from anyone else
Assistive Technologies and the Web -
ANSWER
Blindness
- screen readers
- refreshable braille devices
Color Blindness
- color enhancement overlaps or glasses
Low Vision
- screen enlargers
- screen readers
Deafness
- captions
- transcripts
Motor/Mobility Disabilities
- head wand
- mouth stick
- alternative keyboards
- eye gaze tracking
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,- voice activation
Cognitive Disabilities
- screen readers
- screen overlaps
- augmentative communication aids
Medical Model of Disability -
ANSWER
Disability is viewed as a problem that is caused by medically-diagnosed genetic disorders,
disease, trauma, or other health conditions. Disability is treated as a biological problem that
diminishes quality of life and needs to be treated with professional medical care.
Strengths of the Medical Model -
ANSWER
- A clearly-defined set of biological criteria to diagnose a person's condition helps medical
professionals make important decisions in terms of treatment
- When deciding who should receive government assistance, a clearly-defined set of criteria
helps inform those decisions
Weaknesses of the Medical Model -
ANSWER
Frequently criticized by disability advocates.
- Overlooks the impact of the design decisions in our social environment
- Labels and stigmatizes the person as different and "less than" the rest of the population
- People who do not fit within the clearly-defined definitions may be denied benefits that
they need
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, - Adds a level of inconvenient bureaucracy by having to "prove" your disability repeatedly
Strengths of the Social Model -
ANSWER
- The expectation is that society will create more inclusive environments, and not that peo-
ple with disabilities need to accept a lower quality of life simply because of their bodies do
not conform to "normal" expectations.
- Empowers designers of physical and virtual environments to think broadly about usability
for all kinds of humans
Social Model of Disability -
ANSWER
The social model doesn't deny that there is a biological or medical component to disability.
It merely points out that more inclusive designs can remove the barriers that people with
disabilities face in their everyday lives. It also provides a meaningful context for accessibility
professionals.
Weaknesses of the Social Model -
ANSWER
The social model can de-emphasize the physical reality of a disability too much.
They argue that a person's disability can be an important part of one's identity, and it
shouldn't be minimized to the point that people are afraid to talk about it. Accepting and
"owning" one's disability can be very healthy from an emotional and psychological perspec-
tive.
Biopsychosocial Model -
ANSWER
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