Two words: requirements analysis Blind mother sues Seattle Public Schools

RantWoman notes in links collected at the bottom of this post that a blind mother, Noel Nightingale has sued the Seattle Public Schools because the Seattle Public Schools website is no longer accessible for screen reader users.

RantWoman has two words for this situation: requirements analysis.

The website was formerly accessible. It was changed / upgraded / rewritten /who knows which and is no longer accessible. This does not happen by itself. It happens because someone forgets to pay attention when contracting with a vendor or forgets to pay attention during quality assurance.

RantWoman is not a lawyer but RantWoman has been involved in software evaluation projects. RantWoman can tell anyone who asks that if one is buying software / website development services, it IS possible to find vendors who can meet accessibility requirements and it IS possible to create contracts that actually result in accessible websites. RantWoman encourages the Seattle Public Schools to do what it needs to in order to meet its legal obligation.

(RantWoman has also learned that the state of WA also needs to be more proactive about its accessibility requirements analysis; RantWoman thinks all the blind employees and blind applicants for Department of Licensing services and blind citizens needing other government services also deserve equal access; it would be really great for this to occur without anyone having to get sued!)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/08/blind-mom-sues-seattle-schools-over-website-accessibility/

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Blind-mother-sues-Seattle-schools-over-website-272086001.html

http://www.kxly.com/news/northwest/-blind-mother-sues-seattle-schools-over-website/27662808
RantWoman adds a star to the rating of this website for building in options to increase the font size. RantWoman did not test what actually happens when the buttons are clicked.RantWoman also notes that this particular accessibility measure only works if one has enough vision both to follow the cursor and to find the buttons, but gives them credit for trying.

https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-supports-blind-mother%E2%80%99s-suit-against-seattle-public-schools