My comments are not specifically targeted at you except that in summary,
it is possible to make the whole site usable by all and not loose the
glitz.  You are marketing to the whole world whether you want to or not
and your site no matter how accessible in other ways and other places
should bost accessibility not make it a secondary object by forcing
people to skip inaccessible content if that is in fact what it is.  This
is not a matter of moving past something, it is a matter of projecting
something.  if people want/need the glitz, they should be allowed to go
to it not leave it for accessibility.  It's sort of the back of the bus
syndrome.  those of you who cannot use this too bad, go to the back of
the bus by clicking here.  Your sales and marketing team are dead
incorrect.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rosemary Ernst" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 2:55 PM
Subject: Re: Building a web site


Hello! No harm done.

I have added a link to "Skip Intro" on the home page (for users with
slower
access) that takes you directly to a page with more content and the same
level of navigation. This is the first link on the home page.

Our use of Flash comes from a strong directive from our marketing and
sales
department. Our studies show that the organizations in the market we
target
do indeed, universally have high speed access. Again, we are committed
to
universal accessible design for our target market -- not the entire
world.
This means we are committed to using animation and other bells and
whistles
and making them accessible or as in this case, avoidable. This doesn't
mean
it is the only way we build projects. When our audience is the whole
world,
we use development techniques that address those constraints.

While the visuals may not be of value to some, they are of great value
to
many others and the value lies in keeping the animation on the home
page.

I hope you will revisit our site, move past the intro and critique the
other things we have done to improve accessibility.

Rosemary

On Thu, 14 Jun 2001 11:44:12 -0400, David Poehlman <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>I mean no harm here but there seems to be more compromise than is
>necessary or perhaps justifyable here.  the target you site is filled
>with individuals with disabilities who may or may not have a high speed
>connection and for many the flash is just purely an obstacle.  if you
>can't do without it, link to it and instruct those who want it to
follow
>that link.  Targets are non principle anyway because the web is world
>wide.  One blind guy giving you high marks is not enough.
>