Tag: accessibility

Image Descriptions Finally Possible for Desktop Tweets

Author Rachele DiTullioPosted on Categories Desktop, WebsiteTags

In March, Twitter enabled users of its mobile apps the option to add a text description (alt text) when tweeting images. Last week, the Twitter A11y Team announced this functionality is available to users of its desktop website too.

screenshot of the Twitter a11y tweet announcing desktop support for image descriptions, alt tags

To enable this feature, go to the Profile > Settings > Accessibility screen using the desktop version of twitter.com. Check the box for “Compose image descriptions,” then click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Screenshot of the Twitter accessibility screen

You’re all set! The next time you insert an image into a tweet, you’ll have the option to compose a description, which will be added as alt text for screen readers.

Click the ‘Add description’ option at the bottom of the attached image.

Screenshot of a new twitter dialog box with the option to add an image description

Type a useful image description into the form field and click ‘Apply.’

screenshot of the image description screen for an image attached to a tweet

Here’s the image description as alt tag in the HTML.

<img data-aria-label-part="" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjzeFsQVEAAOQyk.jpg" alt="close up of a tabby cat's face" style="width: 100%; top: -84px;">

If an image is not given a text description, an empty alt attribute is used instead.

Why are some toilets still inaccessible?

Author Rachele DiTullioPosted on Categories In Real LifeTags

The other day, I was in an older office building, definitely pre-ADA (1990). I went into the bathroom and saw an interesting and flawed attempt to retrofit it for accessibility.

photo of a double bathroom stall with an outer door to close off the space for a wheelchair user
Inaccessible bathroom

The bathroom has two regular-sized stalls with openings I estimated to be about 30″ wide. In order to accommodate a wheelchair, someone just added a door that would close off both stalls since neither stall is large enough to allow wheelchair access.

Granted the ADA regulations for bathrooms are complex and confusing to the lay person but even so, I’ve seen enough bathrooms to understand this was not cutting it.

Drawing of an accessible bathroom stall with door opening outward, width 35-37 inches, depth 60 inches, and grab bars
ADA small stall requirements

This drawing demonstrates some of the features required of an accessible stall. I can’t be sure of the width or depth of the stall, only that it lacks grab bars and the door opens inward.

This kind of oversight might not seem like a big deal to most people; but if you’re in a wheelchair and can’t use the bathroom, that’s an indignity. I’m always disappointed when I see half-ass things like this 26 years after the ADA was passed.

Design Recommendation

Seems like there are two good options:

  1. If you’re going to restrict the bathroom to use by one person only if she is in a wheelchair, remove the other stall and make one, large, accessible stall. The building is not that busy.
  2. Move the door for the first stall to the side wall so it’s usable even when someone else is in the accessible stall. Then remove the door on the accessible stall, turn the commode sideways, and install grab bars.
drawing of a wider, wheelchair accessible stall
Large, accessible bathroom stall

Audio Descriptions on Netflix

Author Rachele DiTullioPosted on Categories In Real LifeTags ,

For the first time last night, I stumbled across a Netflix movie offering audio description in addition to subtitles. According to The Audio Description Project

Audio Description involves the accessibility of the visual images of theater, television, movies, and other art forms for people who are blind, have low vision, or who are otherwise visually impaired.  It is a narration service (provided at no additional charge to the patron) that attempts to describe what the sighted person takes for granted—those images that a person who is blind or visually impaired formerly could only experience through the whispered asides from a sighted companion.

The movie in question is Hush, a thriller with a deaf woman as the protagonist. I use closed captions/subtitles all the time, even though I am hearing, because I find them useful for understanding quiet dialogue. When I went to turn captions on for this film, I was surprised to see an option for audio descriptions.

screenshot showing a list of language options for audio and subtitles
Screenshot: Netflix app audio and subtitles menu

Excitedly, I chose “English – Audio Descriptions”. This film is a study in accessibility options! A couple of the characters use sign language and the descriptive audio provides spoken translation for the woman who does not speak when she signs. In a single scene we see sign language, hear audio descriptions and dialogue, both while reading subtitles.

The film has very little dialogue, providing ample time to experience the audio descriptions. I rather enjoyed them because this was a thriller and it felt less scary with someone describing the scene. It also provided a richer layer for enjoying the story since the audio interpretation at times highlighted actions and parts of the scene I might have missed as a sighted user.

It’s good to see Netflix taking accessibility more seriously and providing useful options for non-sighted customers. Netflix provides a list of content with audio description support after signing in to your account.