Hi
Thinking about recent discussions on web accessibility, I've made some
changes to the Disability Archive site. Only one person mailed us directly
to ask for accommodations but I'm sure that there are others who have found
it difficult to get at the PDF files in the form they would like them.
So, I'm hoping that the changes will make text only access to the PDF files
a little easier. It's an interim fix for now but I'd welcome comments from
anyone about whether it helps.
1. As an interim solution I have added a simple form on the front page of
our archive that allows you to enter the URL of any PDF file on the Internet
and view it immediately as HTML plain text in your browser. I realise this
is not absolutely ideal, because as it involves copying and pasting the
document link into a box, but it seems to be an improvement.
2. I have also changed the instructions on downloading Acrobat Reader so
that there is now a direct link to the free Adobe plugin for Windows (this
was not clear before). However, it is worth noting that Adobe only recommend
this solution for PDF files that are not available on the Internet (i.e.
ones that you have on disk).
3. I think in the longer term, I will try to get a link or a button each
time a PDF document opens, offering the option to view it as HTML text. That
may involve reworking some of our colleagues' programming, which is all in
frames and tables, but when I've got time I'll see what I can do. :-)
The new option is available at...
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies/archiveuk/index.html
Cheers for now, let me know what you think of the interim fix.
Best Wishes
Mark Priestley
Centre for Disability Studies
University of Leeds
LEEDS
LS2 9JT
UK
tel: +44 113 233 4417
fax: +44 113 233 4415
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies
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