"Fable" (excerpted) by Ralph Waldo Emerson

The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarel;
And the former called the latter 'Little Prig.'
Bun replied,
'You are doubtless very big;
... If I'm not as large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry....
Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut."

Accessibility and usability

Any computing professional who has ever seen someone adept at using a screen reader work likely has experienced the same table-turning sensation -- disabilities, if that is the right word, are relative. For those of us stuck in a visual world, reliant on seeing and reading output on a monitor, we may not be nearly as capable as the person who can hear and react in a fraction of the time it takes us sighted folks.

The rub of if it is all this person needs is a little extra software and some speakers or headphones. By contrast, the sighted user requires the desk space for his or her monitor. In addition that monitor costs more to purchase and power than nearly any headphones or software.

We all possess and lack certain abilities; some just are easier to identify than others.

The promise of Internet and the World Wide Web lies in their ability to foster communication on an unprecendented scale. However, such opportunities can be brought forth only if developers adhere to good Web development practices. Toward this end, UMass Boston has formed a Web Accessibilty and Usability Advisory Committee whose focus lies mostly in helping campus Web developers and decision-makers recognize accessible practices and technologies.