Web site accessibility & Wikidot

Summary:

WikiDot reliance upon JavaScript may preclude screen reader access for the visually-impaired

Web site accessibility & Wikidot

pmocek 1209139868|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

After hearing the URI for this Web site spoken several times at last night's candidates forum ("C-H-C-C-dot-wiki-dot-dot-com") and thinking that this would be rather difficult for people to remember or to find via Web search, I felt it was time to start thinking again about which software to go with and to get the capitolhillcommunitycouncil.org domain in use.

I really like Wikidot but I've found a problem with it that might be a deal-breaker for a site intended to be created by and available to our community: heavy use of JavaScript making much of Wikidot unusable by text-mode browsers and thus, unusable by screen reader software. I posted a comment about this on the Wikidot Community Forum.

It's not just the spiffy drop-down menus and AJAX features that are missing without JavaScript — it's impossible to create an account or login to a Wikidot site without it.

See also: W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative, WAVE Accessibility evaluation of chcc.wikidot.com

Re: Web site accessibility & Wikidot

daniel_rizzuto 1209140959|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I'm worried about your proposal to move the CHCC wiki from wikidot. We are just starting to build momentum and moving to a new wiki could seriously jeopardize this.

I understand that it is not optimal, in terms of accessibility. However, no solution is optimal.

Let's first get the organization going before we worry about reaching every single segment of the community.

Agree?

Re: Web site accessibility & Wikidot

Phil_Mocek 1209141685|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I didn't propose that we move it. I cautioned that we may be going down a road that restricts our community-built site in an inappropriate manner. By "get the capitolhillcommunitycouncil.org domain in use" I meant "point the http://capitolhilcommunitycouncil.org/ URI at this Wikidot site" so that people can more easily find the site.

Moving a static Web site from one host to another is relatively simple. Moving a dynamically-generated site (one that is generated on-the-fly by software such as a wiki engine) is not so simple, and porting the data from one wiki engine to another is nearly impossible in most cases. Thus, the decision of which software to use is one that deserves careful and thorough consideration.

last edited on 1209142099|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by Phil_Mocek + show more

Login to one Wikidot site and you're logged into them all?

Phil_Mocek 1209141285|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Also, this is unrelated to the topic of this thread, but I created a new account (pmocek) on community.wikidot.com in order to create the aforementioned post there. I then browsed to chcc.wikidot.com and unwittingly posted using the new account instead of the one I previously created on chcc.wikidot.com (Phil_Mocek).

So it seems that when someone creates an account on one Wikidot site he is automatically registered to use others. This would be a problem for us if, for instance, we'd ever like to restrict the ability to modify wiki pages (even just certain ones) or participate in forum discussions (even just certain ones) to those who are actually part of the Capitol Hill community.

Re: Login to one Wikidot site and you're logged into them all?

jseattle 1209142506|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

We can set permissions so only 'site members' can create, edit, upload and view page options. This is current status. Those registered with wikidot can still view pages (as can anybody) and are able to post to forum, I believe, which seems acceptable.

Phil, I'll make you an admin so you can help kick the wheels. Value your expertise so thanks for helping sort things out.

Re: Login to one Wikidot site and you're logged into them all?

jseattle 1209143261|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Should have checked this first — we can also restrict participation in the forum if so desired. Currently configure so any wikidot user can create a new thread or post to existing.

Curious about a different issue — Phil, when I went to member list to change your status to admin, I didn't see an account listed for you for this site.

Re: Login to one Wikidot site and you're logged into them all?

jseattle 1209144973|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I've added a prominent JOIN section to the homepage. This is the path we want people to take to register for the site as it takes them both through process of creating wiki account and joining this specific wiki.

Re: Login to one Wikidot site and you're logged into them all?

Akira Morita 1209496526|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I've done the same thing phil did, I think (so I have an "wikidot" account), but my name doesn't come up in the community council member list either…

login issue belongs elsewhere

Phil_Mocek 1209485320|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

This sub-thread is off-topic (yes, my fault). Can we prune it off and drop it in a "site technical difficulties" forum or similar?