oz: the blog of glenda sims ( the goodwitch)

There is something magical about reading to a child. My mom read to me often and I cherish those memories.
One of my favorite books was a manuscript my mom had written, “Herbie Hic-up”. I’ve always dreamed of getting mom’s book published. She had sketched illustrations, but wanted an illustrator to bring [...]

...continue reading My Mommy Reads to Me

Today is Ada Lovelace Day, an international day of blogging (videologging, podcasting, comic drawing etc.) to draw attention to the achievements of women in technology and science.

I am surrounded by women in technology that inspire me. When I paused to consider who to recognize as my Ada for 2010, I knew without a doubt, it was Leslie Jensen-Inman. Leslie’s developing a model web education program at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Her students, steeped in web standards and best practices, are already producing professional level work before they graduate. I’ve met and worked side-by-side with a number of her students and can testify that Leslie’s passion for creating beautiful and usable web sites has been ignited in each of them.

...continue reading Leslie Jensen-Inman is my Ada Lovelace 2010

AccessU is Knowbility’s annual institute that provides two days of classes in how to make electronic information technology accessible to everyone – including people with disabilities. If you believe that the web should empower ALL people, if you need information about how to meet state and federal accessibility mandates, if you are a commercial web developer who wants to understand emerging best business practices for the web, AccessU is the place to be in May.

Join world renowned accessibility experts for two days of classes, many of them hands-on, to help you improve your skills and understand the both the need and the techniques for inclusive IT design. From the basics to the bleeding edge, AccessU will provide the resources you need.

...continue reading Knowbility Accessibility Conference: John Slatin AccessU May 10-12 2010

If you want people to actually read the content on your web site, what font size should you use? How I long for a guideline for minimum font size for both usability and accessibility.
Font Size and Accessibility
The good folks at WebAIM have added an alert to the WAVE for any font rendered [...]

...continue reading Font Size Matters

Do you remember when you first became a web standards believer? (or do you want to know why web standards are important?) Whether it was last week, last year or last decade, it forever changes the way you create for the web. But, when was the last time you helped someone else understand the value of web standards? Until web standards have completely permeated our industry, it is important for us to continue to spread the word while producing content that illustrates the point.

If you haven’t heard, Monday, November 30th is “Blue Beanie Day”. What in the world is “Blue Beanie Day”?

...continue reading Blue Beanie Day 2009: Support Web Standards

On Sunday, October 18, 2009, I was drawn to the site of the WTC. My hotel was just a few blocks away and I felt it was important to visit the site and honor all the people who died that tragic day.

It was a somber experience. The site was so much larger than I had imagined. I felt grief, loss and emptiness. I’m not sure what I was searching for, but I just knew I hadn’t found it yet…so I kept walking…one more block….one more block.

And then I came to St. Paul’s Chapel and I knew I had found what my heart and soul were seeking. As I walked through the gate, I experienced the feeling of quiet strength, courage and hope in the midst of the greatest loss.

...continue reading Strength Courage Hope

With many Texas State agencies developing their information technology accessibility compliance plans, there is a need for accessibility exception requests (based on TAC 213.37 and TAC 217.37. While you could consider this a big fat loop hole that allows agencies to say…”We need an accessibility exception.” I see it as an opportunity.
Every exception [...]

...continue reading EIR Accessibility Exception Requests

What SXSWi 2010 panel am I dreaming about? Without a doubt, it is:

Open Web Education Alliance: Educating the Next Generation

In the world of web standards, industry forms best practices, education instructs emerging talent—and neither the twain shall meet. A decade on, the rate of standards adoption across the school/street divide is dishearteningly poor. Join us to discover how curriculum building and strategic industry alliance can close the gap.

...continue reading Open Web Education Alliance: Educating the Next Generation