About Google Apps and Accessibility

What is Google Apps?

• Gmail – Google's Web-based email
• Google Calendar – Calendars to schedule people, groups, rooms and resources
• Google Talk – online chat, telephone, and voicemail
• Google Docs – Create and share a variety of online documents, word processing, spreadsheets, forms, and presentations
• Google Sites – Online websites and wikis
• Google Groups – Moderated forums and mailing lists

And Google has recently added many more Apps to Google Apps.

Accessibility Problems in Google Apps

Google Apps currently have significant accessibility problems when used on the Web, particularly with respect to the use of screen readers.

• Google Apps uses the scripting language AJAX to manage screen content. AJAX is not supported by all browsers or screen readers.
• Taking an action in one location in the screen might invoke a response in a completely different part of the screen. This might be hard to see for people with low vision, people using a screen reader, or people with learning disabilities.
  • This is particularly true of collaboration in Google Apps, which, unfortunately, is one of its most appealing aspects.
• Improper or no labelling of form elements.
• Keyboard-only navigation is often difficult or impossible.

I have a disability; what should I do?

Use the HTML version of Gmail

Use the HTML version of Gmail on the Web. You can get there from a link at the very bottom of the Standard version the Gmail Web page, or use this direct URL: https://mail.google.com/a/uic.edu/h/
(Note the "/h/" at the end of the URL.)

Use your current email program with Gmail

If set up that way, Gmail is fully compatible with accessing by personal computer or mobile device email programs, such as Outlook or Thunderbird. If you are comfortable with one of them, by all means, set your program up to do your GoogleApps@UIC Gmail email. Please see Using Email Other Programs and Devices for instructions. (But not if your "other program" UIC's Webmail; you can't use that with Gmail.)

Use Outlook for Email and Calendar

Use Outlook for GoogleApps@UIC Gmail and Google Apps Calendar; Outlook is well suited for blind and low-vision people.

These three pages should have the information that you need.

1. Google's instructions on using Outlook Express or Outlook 2007.
2. Google's instructions assume that you are using POP, I think because it was the only way that you could access Gmail from other email programs for a long time.
   • If you follow Google's instructions and use POP, you will need the POP settings to use Outlook with GoogleApps@UIC.
   • The ACCC, however, recommends using IMAP instead; in this case you will need the IMAP settings.
3. And finally, Microsoft's Product Accessibility Product page. Please select the version of Microsoft Office (and therefore the Outlook) that you are actually using.

Google's Accessibility Documentation

Google also has a page called Using Google products: How to use accessibility features. It has links to pages on for blind and low-vision users and others for deaf and hard of hearing users.

I am a teacher; what does this mean for me?

If you are an instructor or UIC service provider, please note you are legally prohibited from requiring use of non-accessible services.  This may well include some GoogleApps@UIC services other than Gmail.

Teachers,

• When deciding on technologies for your course, you are obligated by law and by decency to consider the accessibility barriers of the tools you will use and what types of disabilities may be effected by their use. Do not allow any of your students to be left out by commission or by omission.
  
• If you decide to use Google Apps, make sure that your audience has available use of alternative, accessible software.
  
• Consider a change in pedagogy to include small group participation, eliminating the need for a person with a disability to interact directly with a Google app.

There is also information of interest to instructors and researchers on the Google Accessibility Web site. (This link is to the home page, the one above is to its how-to section.)

Need Additional Help?