Accessibility doesn’t have to be boring!
Written on November 11, 2005 – | by Lois (admin)
Does the thought of accessibility conjure up images of bland web pages pared down to make them comply with someone else’s needs? Whoa there! You’ve obviously not been to Lorelle and Brent VanFossen’s website, Taking Your Camera on the Road. Their website demonstrates that accessibility is just the opposite of boring. It is inviting. It says, “Come in, we’ve got a place just for you!”
Lorelle says on her Accessibility page, “It is our policy to make our site as ‘accessible’ as possible, not just for our physically challenged users, but to make this site accessible via cell phones, hand held computers, all different kinds of Internet browsers, and readable from whatever country you are in.”
Lorelle describes how they “sold off most of our possessions and hit the road full-time” in 1996. Their experiences are interesting, but the thing that makes their website stand out is it’s feel. Just click on any link, and you’ll immediately feel at home. The site almost beckons you to grab a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, prop up your feet, and enjoy a cozy winter afternoon with the keyboard in your lap. Or maybe take your laptop to the porch swing for a lazy summer afternoon. Oh well, we can dream!
Lorelle shares the qualities of an award-winning site here:
- Easy to read
- Easy to access and navigate
- Clean and clear design and layout
- Meets Web Standards
- Using interesting and/or novel eye catching techniques
- Presents information in a distinctive way
- Contains well proofed quality information and content
Lorelle has accomplished all this and much more. I’m not able to curl up with that blanket and chocolate and read for very long because of vision constraints. Others are hindered by time constraints. Yet Lorelle has managed to make a blog that is delightful whether you have a minute or a day. She has put the important information in sidebars and other highlighted areas. Everything there seems to beckon, “Come spend an afternoon with me.” But at the same time, it says, “I know you only have a few minutes. I’ve made it easy for you to find your way around. Take a short break, enjoy yourself, and come again sometime.”
And Lorelle, I plan to do just that!
Lorelle and Brent VanFossen graciously permitted me to use the photos above from the galleries on their website. Hover over them with your mouse for a description, and click the photos to see a larger view.
3 Responses to “Accessibility doesn’t have to be boring!”
By Lorelle on Nov 27, 2005 | Reply
I’m on the road traveling right now, but I wanted to take time again to really say thank you for the wonderful article about our site. Thanks so much for mentioning us, and for being a fan. Knowing others like what we write and the information we have to share, and that our audience is being served by the hard work we do to make our site accessible to everyone…it really matters. Thanks so much! This is the stuff that keeps us going. Thank you so much.