Profile: jalexander
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DOT is currently proposing that websites be required to conform to the WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility standards (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/). Do you think that these standards will not be compatible with the technology you mention? If so, what other sorts of modifications should DOT consider?
Thank you for sharing your story. These proposals would require airlines to provide web-based fares to travelers with disabilities who try to book a flight over the telephone. In your experience, do airlines follow these types of requirements correctly?
Hi, jalexander. DOT thinks that accessible redesign may benefit people with nonvisual disabilities, but has not tried to quantify that value. What issues do you feel people with cognitive, hearing and deaf/blindness disabilities have with website accessibility? In what ways would an accessible website improve their air travel experience?
Hi jalexander. Thank you for your comments. Privacy is certainly a major concern of these regulations. Can you give us an idea of what kind of changes or guidelines would help make credit card use more private at these kiosks?
Chrisa and Jalexander, at this point the proposal is limited to interactive kiosks. However, DOT recently issued a clarification of some parts of the proposal. They explained that an “automated kiosk” is “a self-service transaction machine…available at a U.S. airport to enable customers to independently obtain flight related services.” So these regulations would cover more than just check-in kiosks, in particular it would cover self-service kiosks that are past security check-points.
Perhaps these kiosks would be able to perform the scheduling functions you asked about?
That clarification is available in several forms on the agency documents page. The relevant section is on pages 16 and 17 of the PDF.
It looks like you’re responding to the Moderator’s question to you in Section 1 of the Website Implementation Post about your experiences with booking a flight over the telephone.
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I believe that these websites should be made compatable to Dragon Dictate and other programs that assist individuals with visual impairments and blindness in reading text that they cannot access visually because of disability. Also if you include a lot of visual pictures and pop up menus it makes websites more difficult for screen reading programs to navigate. It might be good to have a text only version that could be clicked into.
I know that it has been frustrating to me because I cannot access the web or websites related to airlines and when I call the airlines (it is difficult to find airline numbers because everything is so web based now). I am always told that I cannot get the same prices and options that are available on the web because I a using people to assist me with my airline reservations etc. It would be nice to see some equal access opportunities for individuals with disabilities so they would not have to incur extra charges and not be given the same opportunities that are on the web because they are not available to people who use the phone.
I believe that websites should be available to people with all types of disabilities not just visual. People with cognitive disabilities as well as people with hearing disabilities and deaf/blindness also have issues related to air travel and website accessibility.
All data on the website should be accessible to people with and without disabilities.
I know that there have been a lot of innovations and research done to create accessible machines for voting (for President etc.). The DOT might want to look at some of these innovations when designing kiosks that are accessible.
As a person with a visual and mobility disability I find it difficult to use kiosks because it is very hard to put in credit cards etc. because there is no guide (something tactile to put my credit card in before it is loaded). I know that most airlines are going to a kiosk only check in and no human person to assist and it is frustrating because I can’t see or feel where to put in information and/or get information out such as boarding passes etc.
I have had to use strangers to help me put in credit cards etc. when using a kiosk and this is very concerning to me. I am hopeful that when designing a new kiosk system there would be some privacy guidelines and/or shell so that a person can put in there ID and Credit Card for charges without having to be totally in the open.
I am wondering if there would be a way of auditorily accessing information on the display screens (that are high above and give information about whether or not flights are on time and when they will be flying). At this time it is very frustrating because even if you are at a gate and knew the initial departure of your plane the gate display does not neccesarily tell you about changes to that departure time or to the gate. I have run into situations where the gate and departure times have changed and because there was not human interaction it was hard to dealing with the situation. I also have a mobility disability and need airport assistance to get from check in to the gate and had no way to access airport assistance if my gate changed. The people that provide assistance with getting me wheelchair… more »
In my experience dealing with all major airlines I have been told that I cannot get web based pricing because I am not on the web. Disability status does not matter. Also 90% of the people I talk to on the phone are from foriegn countries and this makes things even more difficult.
Also people with cognitive disabilities have different individualized needs that may make understanding and dealing with websites difficult. These individuals can benefit from the same types of screen reading programs that benefit people who are blind because this alternative format can lend to helping them understand information more thouroughly and use information. In addition people who are deaf or deaf/blind have english as a second language. A lot of these individuals may have American Sign Language as their… more »