1Natalie Ford said at 11:28 pm on July 11th, 2007:
I’ll take – but am not sure whether from a tester POV or in an organising role. I used to be a programmer, QA and usability (not the same as accessability as I am sure you know) tester – both software and websites.
I actually have on my list to chat to Julie again – she said she could put me in touch with some other people with respect to this kind of agency/venture.
You know me a little and so know a little about how the MS gets me but I would love to be involved with something like this (and be able to make some money, maybe!) on a pretty part-time (or what a non-MSer would call part time) basis.
So. What I am saying, is, do you want to be part of it and help me/us organise? ;-p
I’d love to make a contribution. Work and project commitments limit level of involvement but I’m sure I can offer some value.
3Julie Howell said at 9:46 pm on August 25th, 2007:
Hello all,
thanks for coming to that evening. There are some events at which I speak where I know I learn more from the people I’m talking to than they learn from me – and this was definitely one of them. One of the reasons for my move from the voluntary sector to the private sector was to get a better understanding of the real issues that prevent or promote greater inclusion of disabled people online, and hearing your views – both on the night and online – has certainly helped me develop my appreciate of what it’s like for designers at the ‘coal face’.
I think there is very strong support for a company or social enterprise of disabled beta testers. It’s my great regret that this hasn’t taken shape as yet. I’d hoped that when PAS 78 launched – and I said as much at its launch – that disabled people would recognise this as a business opportunity. I really, really hope that will happen.
Every developer who bemoans the lack of access to disabled user testers is right to complain about it. I think the time for waiting for this to happen is done and it’s time to be more proactive. I’m going to have a chat with a few people offline who I think are part of the way there. No promises (not enough hours in my day to do the things I need to do already) but I’ll certainly explore the matter in a bit more depth and see what might be possible. Like you all, I’m hungry for change – sitting about bemoaning the state of things has never been my thing.
I’ll take – but am not sure whether from a tester POV or in an organising role. I used to be a programmer, QA and usability (not the same as accessability as I am sure you know) tester – both software and websites.
I actually have on my list to chat to Julie again – she said she could put me in touch with some other people with respect to this kind of agency/venture.
You know me a little and so know a little about how the MS gets me but I would love to be involved with something like this (and be able to make some money, maybe!) on a pretty part-time (or what a non-MSer would call part time) basis.
So. What I am saying, is, do you want to be part of it and help me/us organise? ;-p
I’d love to make a contribution. Work and project commitments limit level of involvement but I’m sure I can offer some value.
Hello all,
thanks for coming to that evening. There are some events at which I speak where I know I learn more from the people I’m talking to than they learn from me – and this was definitely one of them. One of the reasons for my move from the voluntary sector to the private sector was to get a better understanding of the real issues that prevent or promote greater inclusion of disabled people online, and hearing your views – both on the night and online – has certainly helped me develop my appreciate of what it’s like for designers at the ‘coal face’.
I think there is very strong support for a company or social enterprise of disabled beta testers. It’s my great regret that this hasn’t taken shape as yet. I’d hoped that when PAS 78 launched – and I said as much at its launch – that disabled people would recognise this as a business opportunity. I really, really hope that will happen.
Every developer who bemoans the lack of access to disabled user testers is right to complain about it. I think the time for waiting for this to happen is done and it’s time to be more proactive. I’m going to have a chat with a few people offline who I think are part of the way there. No promises (not enough hours in my day to do the things I need to do already) but I’ll certainly explore the matter in a bit more depth and see what might be possible. Like you all, I’m hungry for change – sitting about bemoaning the state of things has never been my thing.