[NFBCS] Accessibility for programmers

Tue Feb 25 21:08:57 UTC 2020

Tracy,

First, if I was one who came across as you described, it was not my intention.  My comments regarding 3270 emulation being older and less used were strictly meant to indicate screen readers don't necessarily pay attention to it or even know about it.  Particularly if one is older as I am, finishing my career using mostly 3270 emulation doesn't bother me.  I know you are some younger than I am, so you may need to be concerned as to whether you need to branch out.  Having said that, I have used some other tools and some work all right and others don't work all that well.  For the most part, I use Teradata SQL Assistant regularly and have found it to work pretty well over the years.  Kevin is correct that many programming tools are accessible.  However, I had to use an HP system for project testing that was very difficult to use.  I managed, but it took work.  I have generally been able to justify not using a Citrix connection because of some of the difficulties.  It certainly can be made to work, but it creates a more complicated environment for those of us who use screen readers.  In effect, we end up managing and coordinating two of them.  

My guess is that we have the same issues within NFBCS that Jack encountered with his effort.  It takes a lot of effort to just get changes in one company and volunteers often don't have the time or the specific knowledge.  Sometimes the issues are not all that clear as is the case with your 3270 issue.  Is it truly a problem with the 3270 software, something JAWS isn't handling, or perhaps even something within your system.  This situation isn't that unusual.  We have spent some time at and between NFBCS meetings addressing issues in Microsoft's Visual Studio as well as issues involving Windows and Linux.  We have heard from blind individuals in various jobs in the IT field to try to show that there are some good career paths to follow.  Still, it takes time and knowing where to focus efforts.  Someone within IT for a long time will almost  certainly need to deal with Project Management software and that software has proven to be difficult in many cases.  Sometimes it is the related software that can hold us back, and not even the programming software.

If people have found particular pain points in their careers that involve a lack of accessibility, I think there are things NFBCS can probably do to try to help.  Unfortunately, it can't be one person having ideas for somebody else to carry out, we have to find ways to pool our efforts and work together.  Even then, successes will take time, and success is not guaranteed.  

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NFBCS
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 9:10 AM
To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: [NFBCS] Accessibility for programmers

When I was complaining about 3270 accessibility a couple weeks ago, some
people seemed to say that it was because 3270 emulation is old and not
used so much anymore.  I see that.  I know I'm a bit of a dinosaur.
But this morning, I thought I saw an opportunity to start moving out of
the old legacy system and into another system supported by my group.  I
asked my boss about the possibilities, and he said that that would be
fine, except that system has a lot of Citrix-hosted applications, and we
know making Jaws and Citrix play together is a real pain.
Citrix is common as dirt.  I think my whole IT department uses it a lot,
but not me.  I know how to get Jaws to work with it, but it takes quite a
bit of coordination, and, if that coordination is with outside vendors,
it's even more complicated.

I think Jack is right.  We of NFBCS should be working on accessibility for
programmers.  I don't know what that would entail, but I think we need to
do it, or we'll have more and more problems.  The things we need access to
are a lot more complicated than Granny getting her email.
Now, please, tell me I'm all wet, and there are simple solutions to my
problems.
Tracy

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