TO ADD: Freire et al 2007
Created a course focused on web accessibility using an approach that used screen readers to immerse students in the problems experienced by blind users when using the web. Students were asked to evaluate websites using a screen reader, but also by asking them to either blindfold themselves or switch off their monitors to truly experience how users would interpret what they were hearing. They were asked to evaluate issues such as alternative text on images, meaningful frame names, keyboard shortcuts such as skip to contents, navigation and form field labels. It was observed in the study that using screen readers to familiarise students with how assistive technology worked helped them better understand the challenges and needs that disabled users have whilst using the web. Most students had little prior knowledge of assistive technology, accessibility awareness or understanding of the legal requirements prior to the course, but results verified and indicated with a significance that experiencing screen readers and how they worked helped learners find and recognise accessibility barriers and significantly contributed to them finding issues. One student testimonial said that the experience of screen readers and using different approaches like this helped to find different problems and have a broader view of the problems (p.85).
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