oz: the blog of glenda sims ( the goodwitch)

My new year’s resolution, upgrade my VMWare to the latest version, and add a Windows 7 virtual machine…so I can test on Mac, Windows XP and Windows 7…all on my magical mac. So, I was happily running VMWare 3.x with no issues and still on Windows XP. JAWS was working like a charm with video [...]

...continue reading Beware of Video Intercept in VMWare 4.1.1

Want to do something meaningful for the holidays? How about sending an email to an inaccessible web site, asking them to make their site accessible? I just did it, myself! If you want to do this too, head to the great list just published over at WebAim of Accessibility Errors Found on the Alexa Top 100 Web Sites.

I picked a site, pulled it up in my browser, and found their customer service email form. Then I sent the message below (this is a generic version in case you want to copy and use it yourself):

...continue reading All I want for Christmas is a More Accessible Web – Be an Accessibility Elf

The Sims family is ever increasing. Marriages followed by new baby Sims have left the mantel at Christmas overflowing with stockings. This year we will be adding two stockings, one for baby Brynnley and one for Yana. As thrilled as I am about the newest baby in the family, I’m even more excited about the newest addition, Yana.

Yana is a beautiful 14 year old who grew up in Russia. She lived in an orphanage in Zhytomyr, which is closing. Her only living relative is an older sister, who is 18 and just barely able to support herself.

...continue reading The Beginning of Something Beautiful – Yana Sims

My mom will be turning 80 this month. My aunt and I are cookin’ up some great plans to make her birthday as special as she is. I’ve arranged to have a hot air balloon ride on the morning of her birthday. And my awesome aunt is flying in from California to help us celebrate [...]

...continue reading Mom’s 80th Birthday Cake

I’m often asked to create the business case for building accessibility in to your web process. Most organizations are very responsive when I explain the benefits of universal design, the crossover between accessibility and usability, as well as accessibility and mobile design. By the time I explain the search engine optimization benefits, they are often salivating and ready to commit to accessibility. But, what happens when I’m working with a company that is inaccessible but already has decent SEO? I remind them that the litigation risks are real and the cost of retrofitting for accessibility is significantly higher than designing with accessibility in mind from the beginning. The thoughts I want etched into their minds are:

...continue reading Design with Accessibility in Mind

I have always wanted to go to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. In fact, it has been on my list at 43things.com for over 5 years. Then, my dear friend and colleague, Sharron Rush, asked me to speak at the Southwest Conference on Disabilities (which just happens to occur in Albuquerque during the International Balloon Fiesta). I could hardly contain my excitement, as I planned my trip.

...continue reading Dreams Come True at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Can you imagine a live music performance that is fully accessible…even if you cannot hear or see? Well, you don’t have to imagine, you can experience it by coming to Sight Sound Soul in Albuquerque for the Southwest Conference on Disability. The Sight Sound Soul event will center on performances by the New Orleans jazz [...]

...continue reading Sight Sound Soul – Accessible Performing Arts that will Knock Your Socks Off!

A lifetime ago, or so it seems, I read a book that became a part of my heart. The book is “Plain and Simple” by Sue Bender. It is about the journey Sue took to live with the Amish and what she learned. For me, “Plain and Simple” was a breath of fresh air. I [...]

...continue reading Plain and Simple