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"To empower people with vision loss to realize their full potential, and to shape the community's vision of that potential.”
Our programs and services are designed to empower our clients to move beyond limitations.
Section 508 & WCAG 2.0
Podcasts
Assistive Technology Products
Accessible Technology Tips
Accessible Directions
Contact Us
For more information on accessibility as it pertains to web technologies, please call 216-658-4577 or toll free 877-776-9563, ext. 4577.
ACCESSIBILITY
What is Accessibility?
Accessibility as it pertains to web technologies and document accessible techniques for the same is about making information accessible for all users. This not only concerns people who are blind or visually impaired that use screen readers to browse the Internet and access documents in electronic format, but also users who have partial sight and require different screen contrasts and resolutions, as well as those accessing the web via alternate user agents such as Pocket PCs and limited-functionality browsers that don't display images or allow client-side applications to run.
Cleveland Sight Center is one of the country's leading rehabilitation and educational facilities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, and as such we are in tune with the challenges that people who are blind or visually impaired face when accessing information via the Internet and other technologies. As a result, we are continually researching and investigating accessibility, and accessible technologies as they pertain to all electronic media including the web. We are pleased to share that information with you right here, and hope that you will look to us for accessibility news and updates.
Section 508 & WCAG 2.0
Cleveland Sight Center's website is designed and engineered with both usability and accessibility in mind. We are committed to ensuring our website and its collateral media are fully accessible in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and adheres to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) proposed by the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).
Finding and Listening to Podcasts
How do I listen to a podcast?
There are a couple of ways to listen. If you just want to check out one or two episodes, just go to the podcast web page and click on the episode name you want to hear. This should open your media player of choice and begin playing the file.
If you want each new episode delivered to your machine, you must first download and install "podcatching" software. Then, once you run the podcatcher, add the address of the RSS feed to the software. You may download podcatcher software like Juice (formally iPodder) or one of many others from a place like Podcastalley.
What is an RSS Feed?
RSS is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication. What it does is provide a structured file that software can use to extract information about various topics, podcasts in this case. A podcast web page usually contains a subscription link that opens the RSS page. If you access (click on) the link, Internet Explorer opens the page which probably looks like pure rubbish to most of us. What you really want, however, from this page is its address. In Internet Explorer, you may display and copy the address by going to the address bar (press Alt+D). Once your cursor is in the address bar, press Ctrl+A to select the address then press Ctrl+C to copy it to your clipboard. Next, switch to your podcatcher and in the case of Juice, press Ctrl+N to open the dialog for a new podcast feed. Just press Ctrl+V to paste the address from the clipboard and press Enter. That's all there is to it; you are now subscribed, and new shows from that podcast will get automatically delivered to your computer whenever they become available.
Information courtesy of Blind Cool Tech.
Accessible Driving, Public Transit and Walking Directions on Google Maps
Google currently offers accessible driving, public transit, and walking directions. Walking directions in a format accessible by screen reader users are also available; however, this feature is still in beta testing. Visit Google Maps for accessible directions.
