Really Disappointed

[abletec]

I downloaded Blesta because it looked like it would meet my needs. I had a free trial, but then decided to move the install directory after a day, which thoroughly broke that--as expected, so I paid the $12.95. I happen to be blind & use a screenreader. What I seem to be finding is that while most parts are thoroughly accessible, widgets seem to be manageable only via dragging. Seriously, gentlemen?

 

I don't actually care about the $12.95. I'm just so incredibly disappointed because it appears I won't be able to use this program after all. Web hosting is a great business for sight-impaired folks w/the appropriate technical expertise for so many reasons. But one of the huge entry barriers is that many programs that govern invoicing, ordering, paments, etc. are inaccessible, in whole or in part, to those using screenreading technology.

 

I'll poke around to see if I can find an alternate method of getting order forms, etc. I guess the point of this note was just to ask the team to maybe consider accessibility when writing Blesta.

 

Thanks.

[Michael]

Interesting idea, never thought about that myself but it would be neat if Blesta would be able to communicate with the screen reader. As for the widgets you don't need to move them around unless you really want to, unless you mean the widget plugins and other things which need to be moved to the left or right to enable and disable them.

[abletec]

Licensecart, you wrote in part:

"...unless you mean the widget plugins and other things which need to be moved to the left or right to enable and disable them."

 

& that is precisely what I'm referring to. However, having said that, it looks as though I may have at least made some headway in this regard. Time will tell, I guess.

 

The standards at w3c.org/wai are pretty clear about what constitutes accessibility. 1 of those standards requires that controls be usable via both keyboard & mouse. This actually helps others besides those w/sight impairments as well, i.e., those w/certain mobility impairments, for example, who use their computer via their voices. Failure to comply w/those standards is, in my opinion, a little like putting a sign on the door that says "Welcome to all, except those who have disabilities that require accessible accommodations." I know that's not the intent, but it is the result nonetheless, & the effect of denial of opportunities that results from inaccessible software is pretty staggering. It's clearly 1 thing if there's no way to make the program usable, but both WordPress & Drupal have implemented systems by which widgets are accessible via keyboard, so this is not an impossibility.

 

Case law is still evolving considerably regarding this whole area , but I think if one sells software in the US, it's likely wise to begin thinking about taking steps to implement accessibility, as doing so may well be adjudged to be a requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act in the very foreseeable future. Again, time will tell, I guess. I will now officially exit my soapbox & continue to see if I can make any additional headway w/this software. I really appreciate your reply.

[Michael]

I see what you mean if the software can't tell you which is enabled and disabled you can get confused. I wonder if labels would help tell the software, I just checked my own website on http://achecker.ca/checker/index.php  I have loads of issues so I'm going to try and see if I can improve my site to comply with the WAI.

I agree that it might be best if the guys did it towards the ADA, and whilst they are at it maybe a colour blind theme in black and yellow or something to help the colourblind too. The guys will be back in the office on Monday who can help you further but I do think the guys will be interested in this as it would make Blesta stand out more from the crowd too as I don't believe other systems have this.

You're more than welcome and fingers crossed the guys can put this forward.

[abletec]

Thanks, Mike, for your sensitivity & for your work on bringing your own website into voluntary compliance. If you'd like any help, feel free to contact me. Despite my posts, I actually don't bite, or, if I *really* feel the need to do so, I have all my shots lol.

 

The program I had been using was marginally accessible at best, & the last update broke even that modicum, along w/really core functions. I've been doing damage control almost the entire week, & I was really hoping I'd be able to use Blesta. I still haven't entirely given up, but I am encountering some significant hurdles. I guess we'll see. Sigh. Sometimes it all just feels so hard.

 

The developers of the program I've been using to this point have made it very clear that they don't & won't support screenreader users, so we're on our own. That's fine--I don't expect any quarter--but I do think that if you're going to sell software, that at the very least, compliance w/web standards is in order. Hopefully the gentlemen at Blesta will take the lead in all this, because, as you so aptly point out, no one to date has done so in this particular space.

 

Good luck & much success w/your ventures.

[Michael]

Yeah the Blesta guys are passionate about their software and customers so they'l have a look into it for you, and I take it you used the system which starts with W and ends with S?

[abletec]

As in Winblows, yes. Because the Linux screenreaders Orca & Speakup are strictly volunteer efforts, their development is a little bit stunted. I am seriously, however, considering a Mac, as to upgrade 1 of the screenreaders I currently use will cost me around $800 at this point, & Voiceover is free on the Mac platform. However, the consensus is pretty much that it still isn't as efficient as the screenreading technology available in Winblows. Unfortunately, when a disability is involved, sometimes one's choice of operating system is dictated by the efficiency & availability of access technologies, as opposed to simply personal preferences. I'm not complaining, mind you--I'm thoroughly grateful for the advances that have been made--but it is reality that one's personal preferences regarding the choice of an operating system are sometimes superceded by the access technologies that can be used in conjunction with it.

 

Again, Mike, thanks for the dialog, really nice making your acquaintance, & I wish you all the best in your business.

[abletec]

Well, this is starting to turn out a lot better than I thought it was going to. I finally managed to get an order form that worked. I'm not precisely certain what all the problems were, as I did an awful lot of stuff trying to get it to happen. I did finally manage to assign a package to a group, & I believe that's what actually solved that particular issue.

 

In retrospect, I'm not sure those plugin widgets actually have to be dragged. I think that once the install link is clicked, the plugin is enabled. Regarding this particular problem, there was an "Add link" by the list of assigned groups, which I finally figured out meant, "Yo, Jackie, you idiot, select the package from the available group, then click the 'Add' link to add it to the assigned group". I think my confusion would've been lessened considerably had the list of available groups populated the assign group dropdown list & then an 'Add to assigned group button been in the tab order. Or a little help blurb that said, "This package has no assigned groups yet. Choose the group you wish to use from the available groups list box, then click the 'Add' link to assign the package. In other words, the label 'Add' by itself wasn't real helpful, as it gave no context. So I'm beginning to think now that just a bit more context regarding some of these labels might be all that's required to make this program quite usable. I'll know more, of course, as I play around w/it further.

 

At 1 point I found a place where I could choose a layout. I picked layout #1 rather blindly--pardon the pun--& I don't know if that helped the order form initially appear or not, as my first problem was actually finding the link to even add an order form. I wish I knew what the different layouts represented. This has been an adventure, I'll tell yall what! & so the saga continues.