WordAloud software "free" to English schools

WordAloud^® - teaching English and literacy worldwide

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin

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Accessibility

In the US, accessibility is a major issue being addressed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) set up by the web consortium W3C, and by the government which expects IT and software procurement to meet Section 805 standards.

WordAloud as a browser was designed to conform to the WAI user agent guidelines 1.0: www.w3.org/TR/WAI-USERAGENT/

However WA does not attempt to be accessible from assistive technology, since it has its own assistive technology built in. For example, some aspects of WA may not be accessible from screen readers.

1.2 Target user agents

This document was designed specifically to improve the accessibility of user agents with multimedia capabilities running in the following type of environment (typically that of a desktop computer):

The target user agent is one designed for the general public to handle general-purpose content in ordinary operating conditions.

By contrast, the "Section 508" rules accept that accessibility may be built in.

All electronic and information technology contains software of some type. Do these provision apply to all software with no exceptions? To meet the standards, a product can either build all accessibility features in, or be compatible with assistive technology. Many of the provisions in this section are required to make software compatible with assistive technology. For example, how text is to be written to the display is required so assistive technology can read the text output of a program. Therefore, if the software is running on a product, such as a desktop computer, where it is possible to add assistive technology, that software must comply with this section.

WordAloud, as a 'software application' which may be supplied to US Government education department, is designed to conform to the "Section 508" rules of accessibility. For example, all features accessible from a mouse are also accessible from a keyboard.

WARNING. However an exception is in regards to epilepsy - it is possible that a user may run the word-at-a-time display at a speed that, with enlarged text, risks upsetting the user sensitive to flashing lights. See (k) "Flashing or Blinking Text", in www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.21.htm

Bridging the gap