Accessibility Solutions for Visually Impaired Users of Web Discussion Boards

Web-based content management systems present specific presentation and navigational problems for visually impaired users. These systems are widely used in e-learning, ironically to ensure that disabled students have equal access to course materials. In this paper, we present a short-term solution, based on proxying through the IBM Intermediary Framework, that allows web pages sourced from a web content management system for elearning, such as WebCT, to be rewritten to conform to W3C accessibility guidelines. In particular, threaded discussion boards present unique navigational challenges, which are addressed in our software prototype. Longer-term structural challenges remain in this area.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: ICITA
• Authors: Paul Andrew Watters, Antonio Araujo, Armin Hezart, Sonali Naik
• Keywords: Content Management System, ICITA 2005, Information Technology, Unique Navigational Challenges, Web-based Content Management