Dear AccessWorld readers,
AFB and AccessWorld staff and authors are just back from the country's largest access technology conference, CSUN, which was held for the first time in Anaheim, California, March 12 through March 15, with the pre-conference beginning Monday, March 11.
As we do each year, AccessWorld has conference coverage for CSUN in this issue; be sure to read the article by J.J. Meddaugh and Shelly Brisbin. AccessWorld is also pleased to be sponsoring Blind Bargains' podcasts from CSUN 2019, so be sure to check out all the latest CSUN coverage from Blind Bargains either by visiting its website or downloading Blind Bargains' apps. Podcast transcripts are also available on its website for those who prefer text.
With all the excitement around CSUN and accessibility, I am also pleased to let you know that AFB has unveiled a newly redesigned website that maintains the organization's proud history of accessibility, while making it even easier to find the wealth of information users have come to expect from AFB.org.
AFB was a pioneer in developing accessible websites, long before it was common practice. The new website carries this tradition forward, using a system that has a working group devoted to developing ongoing accessibility improvements. What's more, the system's structure gives AFB an opportunity to contribute to future accessibility developments, in keeping with its mission of being a leader in creating a world of no limits. The site's accessibility for people with visual impairments extends to all the back-end programming and editing functions that make the site run.
What visitors to the website will notice is a fresh, clean look and feel, with high-contrast graphics and a design that adheres to all accessibility guidelines, including functionality for screen readers. The content is simplified and streamlined, maintaining the rich experience users appreciated in the previous site, while making everything easier to find.
This newly redesigned, Drupal 8 website has been optimized for use on tablets and mobile phones. As AccessWorld readers, you need to know that due to the new, easier-to-navigate website, AFB has discontinued support for the AccessWorld app. We sincerely appreciate your downloading and using the app in past years, and we believe you will have an even smoother experience using the new web version.
Find us on the new AFB site by navigating to the new AccessWorld landing page. We understand some readers may prefer an "app-like" reading experience. For those folks, we invite you to bookmark the AccessWorld homepage on your mobile device and use the bookmark icon like a traditional app icon. Below are instructions for creating a bookmark.
Steps for Bookmarking AccessWorld on an iPhone:
Open Safari and navigate to the AccessWorld landing page.
Select the Share button from the row of buttons at the bottom of each Safari screen.
In the list that appears, select the option "Add to Home Screen."
You will be taken to a popup where you can choose the name of the icon that will be added to your Home screen. When finished, select the Add button in the top right corner of the screen.
When you select the Add button, you should be taken to your Home screen on the page where the icon is located.
In the coming months, please look forward to new, more interactive AccessWorld content and features.
As we move through this transition, if you have any feedback or questions, please send me an email.
Best regards,
Lee Huffman
AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief
American Foundation for the Blind
