by Brian Charlson, Vice President of Computer Training, Carroll Center for the Blind
(Editor’s Note: Those who have attended ACB conventions during the past few years will remember that through resolutions and speakers ACB has been very concerned about the accessibility of the largest Internet service provider in the United States, America Online. Here’s an article outlining the changes under way at least partly due to the efforts of the American Council of the Blind.)
In our increasingly technological society, the ability to stay connected online to the people and things that matter most is essential in both our personal and business lives. This effort is an all too familiar challenge for people who are blind or visually impaired. However, advances in assistive and mainstream technology are making it easier and more convenient than ever to get the most out of your Internet experience. Here’s an overview of ongoing accessibility initiatives at America Online.
At America Online, accessibility is about delivering an Internet experience that is friendly and easy to use for all members. AOL’s Accessibility Policy addresses the technology needs of people with a wide range of disabilities, including deafness, cognitive limitations and mobility restrictions. For members who are blind or visually impaired, accessibility at AOL means the company is continually working to expand its products’ compatibility with assistive technologies. AOL continues to collaborate with the blind community on ways they can further improve the usability of the service. From advances in screen reader support to a special subscription offer for members who are blind or visually impaired, AOL is committed to keeping accessibility considerations in mind during the design of new products and services.
Responsibility Toward Accessibility
The driving force behind the company’s recent accessibility initiatives is AOLs Director of Accessibility, Tom Wlodkowski. Wlodkowski, who is blind himself, is a respected expert on accessibility and managed several key accessibility projects during his nine plus years with the WGBH Media Access Group, including the development of audio menus to make DVDs accessible and the co-authoring of design guidelines to make science and math-based multimedia software accessible. Wlodkowski, who has been with AOL since June of 2002, has brought this same innovation and dedication to AOL’s accessibility agenda.
“We have a responsibility to our members to deliver the most accessible Internet service possible,” Wlodkowski explains. One of the key factors in making AOL easy to use for people who are blind or visually impaired is developing an infrastructure that allows AOL software to meet screen reader and screen magnification software halfway. The challenge of compatibility lies in the subtle differences in the way the various assistive technologies acquire information. With this in mind, AOL maintains regular contact with several assistive software vendors, including Freedom Scientific, GW Micro and others.
In addition to AOL’s efforts with assistive technologies, the company also offers members who are blind or who have low vision an easy to use audio-based e-mail service called AOLbyPhone. With AOLByPhone, access to your e-mail is as close as your nearest telephone. Members simply dial a toll-free number to retrieve their e-mails via the phone. They can also respond to messages via voice, access 411 resources or get information that’s relevant to their daily lives, including news, sports and weather. And since the entire system is voice-activated, it couldn’t be easier; you simply listen and speak. For a limited time, AOL is offering members who are blind or visually impaired a special package that offers a discount to the AOL service plus access to AOLbyPhone. Call 1-866-854-1025 for more information.
An especially rewarding aspect of accessibility is that its value is not limited just to people with disabilities; improving the usability of the service benefits everyone. With the launch of AOL 8.0 this past October, the company introduced several new mainstream enhancements, which also deliver accessibility benefits for members who are blind or visually impaired. For example, AOL 8.0 supports hundreds of custom Instant Message sounds, which allow members to easily identify people who are online. Likewise new audio cues alert members to the arrival of new e-mail, improving the ability to monitor incoming mail.
AOL member Suzanne Tritten, who has been with the service for close to five years, remarks on her experience with AOL as a blind user, “AOL has truly made great strides in the area of accessibility over the past few years. One of the most useful new features is the custom Instant Message sounds that come with AOL 8.0. When I receive an IM from another AOL 8.0 user, I know who it is before JAWS tells me. For example, if I hear a big dog bark, I know it’s my friend Mike; if the sound is a trumpet fanfare, it’s got to be Tina. There are so many sounds available that no one on my Buddy List has yet chosen one that already belongs to someone else. It’s a great addition to the service.”
Collaboration is Key
Wlodkowski notes that it’s important to realize AOL’s accessibility initiatives are not conceived in a vacuum, but are rather the product of close collaboration with a variety of disability groups. He meets regularly with the AOL Accessibility Advisory Committee, a cross disability group of advocacy leaders who advise AOL on current accessibility issues and provide feedback on topics relevant to their communities. One great example of the sort of success the committee can engender is last year’s wireless program for deaf and hard of hearing students. One of AOL’s Accessibility Advisory committee members, a faculty member from Gallaudet University, shared that the freedom to e-mail and instant message others while on the go using a wireless, handheld device was an invaluable resource for Gallaudet students. Together, Gallaudet and AOL devised a pilot program where AOL Mobile Communicator devices were made available free of charge to a group of university students. The pilot program was so well received that the company extended it last year for a limited time to the entire base of AOL members who are deaf or hard of hearing. This program is an example of how AOL works with various disability communities to better understand, and react to specific technology needs.
Awareness & Education
Another key component of AOL’s accessibility agenda lies in employee awareness. Wlodkowski explains, “In order to design a more accessible service, it’s crucial for employees to understand as well as possible the unique challenges facing members with disabilities. We encourage our employees to think about how people with disabilities use the computer and keep those ideas in mind when they design new features.” One way AOL reinforces this priority placed on accessibility is with the yearly employee awareness campaign called New Sensations.
Now in its second year, New Sensations offers a range of opportunities for employees to become familiar with AOL’s commitment to accessibility. This year’s program featured interactive kiosks where employees could test different kinds of assistive technologies including a braille embosser, customized keyboard overlays, and a mouse alternative for people with limited mobility. An art exhibit featured work by artists with cognitive disabilities and the company launched a new internal web site where employees can access the latest information on assistive technologies. The day was capped by a powerful keynote address delivered by Erik Weihenmayer, the world-class athlete who became the first blind person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.
“New Sensations was a huge success this year and was well attended by both employees and executives. We also had a great turnout from members of the disability community, including ACB Executive Director Charlie Crawford,” Wlodkowski says. “We are also sponsoring another internal accessibility program called The Architect’s Challenge. This exciting employee contest invites company technologists to brainstorm new accessibility solutions for AOL. It’s just another way we aim to keep accessibility at the forefront at AOL and ensure that we are constantly working to make the AOL service easier to use, more relevant, and more integrated in the daily lives of all of our members.”
Further information on AOL’s accessibility efforts and projects can be found at www.aol.com/accessibility or AOL Keyword: Accessibility. To learn more about AOL’s limited time offer for members who are blind or visually impaired, please call 1-866-854-1025.