Ironically, I found this post while doing a Google search on accessible feed readers, and figured I’d comment since I blog quite a bit, use WordPress, and use Jaws for Windows. One thing I’ve noticed is that information doesn’t read correctly when in forms mode, (I.E., text either gets sepearated after a couple of characters onto another line, or just doesn’t read at all, as seems to be the case with this form, so sorry if there are misspellings. Also, the visual editor is completely inaccessible, so that option is out, which I’m finally noticing the loss of since Jaws has now added a copy as-is feature which allows for the copying of formatting, links, ETC. from web pages in to html-aware documents such as email, Word documents and spread sheets. To get around this, I use the code editor, and will try to remember to compose posts in a text editor so that I can correct spelling and things like that. But all and all, I think WordPress is the most accessible blogging platform around. I’ve been using it on my own server since 2005 and am glad I made the switch.

my post today at http://www.alittleredhen.com is the second about what some blog services are doing to impede true interaction among bloggers.

wish Type Pad had someone like you on its case! yours, naomi

I wish we’d had more time to chat at the conference. Wasn’t that amazing! I’m sure, having worked with translators before, that they had fun with the new blogging jargon for you.

I’m deaf, so podcasts and videos are unaccessible to me unless there’s a transcript or captioning provided. I’m just now exploring some captioning options on the web and learning more myself.

However, I still do NOT appreciate the default separate preview process in writing and editing posts. The older way enabled me to see the results of what I was doing quickly. This was particularly important because I need to add extra bits (like bold or characters) to be sure my readers can tell hotlinks from text (not all themes demarcate this), etc. (I have reported this to feedback.) If all themes gave comments edit buttons, that too would help. I try to regularly review previous posts and to skim each screenful for errors in display (sometimes in text, oops!).

I got a phone call yesterday from a friend of mine I’d recently set up Accessibility features on his computer wanting to know what he was doing wrong. He’d had another cataract surgery and it didn’t quite work right and now he needed the larger fonts and screen size to see. Forgetting how WordPress.com continues to allow Snap on their blogs without realizing what a nuisance they are, I’d introduced him to WordPress.com bloggers. He kept having things pop up and lose his place and screw things up. It took 20 minutes to calm him down and find out that he wasn’t doing anything wrong but Snap was making his viewing experience so miserable. He reads the words with his mouse to keep track of where he is and Snap kept popping up making him lose his place. He now won’t visit any WordPress.com blogs except mine because he knows I’ve turned that annoying feature off.

It’s sad that what could be an interesting feature is foisted upon so many unsuspecting. The opt-out plan is dumb. These things should come with an opt-in option and carry a warning on all blogs using them. Or some distinctive quality like the text link ads with double lines under them - something that says “Don’t come near unless you want interference between you and the content.”

In my humble opinion.