Hi all,

Our agency received this inquiry, which I have sent my reply to from my
experience as a person who teaches computer and assistive technology skills
to persons who are blind.  Thought I'd pass it on to you all in case you
have any interest in giving this gentleman some input.  If any of you do
care to reply, I'd love to see your answers too, so perhaps you could reply
to all, in which case he should get the answer too since I've done a carbon
copy to him.  If you wish to correspond with him directly his e-mail address
is:   [log in to unmask]

Thanks, and Take Care,

Patty Arnold

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Jason Eliot [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 12:14 AM

 Subject: conceptualizing a web page

 Dear Sir,

 I am a Master's student in the Technical Communication program at the
 University of Washington, studying Internet use by blind users. In
 particular, I am curious about how those who are blind from birth
 conceptualize a web page

 How does your institution teach blind users to understand the concept of a
 web page? Do you use a particular metaphor or concept? Is there especially
 useful language for explaining the interconnections within a website or the
 function of a hyperlink? Do your students come up with re-occurring
 metaphors, "Oh, you mean it's like a....."

 These questions are fundamental to my long-term research goals of
 understanding the information architecture needs of those who use screen
 readers.

 Any responses to the above questions, no matter how general, would be very
 helpful and greatly appreciated.

 Thank you,

 Matt Eliot


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