[Rails-spinoffs] Re: Text sizing

[Eric Anderson]

Bauser, Joseph (Joe) wrote:
> time. However, what about a web based application which a user may use
> at work and may not be given the option of having Firefox installed on
> their provided computers? (As is the case with a few of my co-workers in
> the past).

I understand companies have policies about installing unapproved 3rd 
party software. But most sane companies should have some channel to get 
software approved that is needed. If they have hired a disabled person 
who has low vision problems and they are unwilling to let that user 
install software that allows them to read the websites clearly (and I am 
assuming their job role involves them using the web) then the company 
has a problem. That is like a company hiring a blind person and telling 
that person they cannot install a screen reader. In both cases it would 
probably be violating the Americans for Disabilities Act (assuming this 
company is based in America). The employee could probably sue the company.

I guess I just don't like the idea of assuming that every disabled user 
is too dumb to find and configure tools that help them and therefore web 
developers must litter their applications and websites with controls 
that are a poor substitute for built-in browser support.

It seems to me that all these web-based controls just clutter the 
website and make it less accessible. Instead of the user finding the 
option in their browser to increase the font size they must figure out 
how to use each control which works differently on every website that 
implements it. Also they will probably have to re-adjust that control 
every X number of times they visit the site. For users that are using 
screen readers these controls will just get in the way of them 
understanding the content.

> In my mind, if there's a way to provide an accessible site with minimal
> extra effort (such as the 76% and em sizing solution) which is also
> cross browser and contains no hacks then it's worth the extra few minutes.

Seems to me the 76% and em sizing solution is a hack. The person who 
developed that hack took 250 screenshots to find just the right way to 
achieve the results they were after. I admire the use of experimentation 
but I doubt it is maintainable. You think 3 years from now 76% will 
still be the magic number? Or will some new version of IE or Firefox 
change the results of that experiment?

I appreciate your feedback. I have been thinking a lot about 
accessibility lately. Especially about trying to decide what really 
matters and what just seems more accessible. This conversation has 
helped me in that effort.

Eric