Need ADA Compliant Dreamweaver Interface, main.less

[MindyKatzen]

I just upadated Dreamweaver and am spending way too much time trying to get it readable for ADA compliance (Americans with Disabilities Act).

I'm talking about the DW program interface, main.less, not the program pages.

Is there a main.less template that is ADA compliant that I can download? I already added *{font-weight:600 !imortant} but that doesn't work with the color tones and brightness of the text.

Or, perhaps import the styles from my old DW 5.5?

Thank you.

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FYI - For those of you creating websites for USA clientele, I noticed that lately the fashion is to make pages with light text. E.g., this page uses font-weight:300 (too low) , and color:#3e3e3e, too light. It should be at least font-weight:500 and color:#000000 and deviate slightly from that.

Someday your client may be approached with an ADA compliance issue and that becomes a legal lissue that can cost $thousands or more. It's already been done. Amazon, Burger King, and Hulo were sued for their websites not being ADA compliant.  Here is one reference: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/behavioral-competencies/global-and-cultural-effecti...

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[Nancy OShea]

Your computer's operating system has onboard tools for improved user access & assistive technologies for visually impaired people. 

WINDOWS 10 & 11:

================

1.  Windows > Control Panel > Ease of Access Center.

2.  Windows > Settings > Display.  Adjust font & icon sizes, decrease screen resolution.   See screenshot.

3. Invoke Windows Magnifier:   Windows Logo Key + Plus (+) sign.  See screenshot.

Hope that helps.

[MindyKatzen]

Thanks, but no thanks. I am talking about the Dreamweaver, not the Windows system.

[Nancy OShea]

ADA compliance for Websites is a whole other matter.  Dreamweaver is merely a code editor.  It can't check your sites for ADA compliance.  Sorry.

There are several online tools for scanning your site's code and checking it for ADA & WCAG compliance.  A Google search will reveal more...

• https://www.audioeye.com/your-website-accessibility-checker/
• https://accessibe.com/
• https://www.accessibilitychecker.org/blog/examples-of-ada-compliant-websites/

[B i r n o u]

I'm probably wrong, but I understood that @MindyKatzen was asking the question at the level of main.less which manages the visual interface... for DW and not for the pages which are produced with DW... but well... I'm not too good at understanding things... the neuron I have left has gone into hibernation mode for some time now

[Nancy OShea]

In my first reply, I said interface settings are controlled at the OS level.

Dreamweaver has no ADA features for that.

[B i r n o u]

yes, agree, but in the same sense you answer later that it can be imported some styles, for the code editor, which are better for people with some vision problems.

also in his original question, @MindyKatzen , talks about main.less... and even importing some styles already done in DW 5.5... hence the question about DW and not the OS

Is there a main.less template that is ADA compliant that I can download? I already added *{font-weight:600 !imortant} but that doesn't work with the color tones and brightness of the text.

Or, perhaps import the styles from my old DW 5.5?

By @MindyKatzen

[Nancy OShea]

Mindy asked about making the Interface (menus, dropdowns, panels, icons, etc...) ADA compliant.  There's no mechanism for that except through the OS settings.

[B i r n o u]

Well... indeed we have a reading that differs from the @MindyKatzen 's question.

And I certainly must be wrong, because being French, I necessarily misinterpret the English... I do frenglish :)... because by Francizing this question...

I'm talking about the DW program interface, main.less, not the program pages.

By @MindyKatzen

I understood, that someone who speaks about file main.less (dedicated to the code editor)... on the one hand, talking about this file specifies that one knows what one speaks about. ... I'm not sure that it's easy to find main.less in the documentation ... and on the other hand ... by going further with specifying "not the program pages" ... that insists that we are not talking about the DW user interface ... but the code editor

[Nancy OShea]

Whatever they wanted, the OP hasn't come back.  I assume they got what they wanted and moved on.

[B i r n o u]

Anyway, this does not explain if my reasoning is correct or if I am in the cabbage

[MindyKatzen]

Birnou is correct.

[B i r n o u]

by the way @MindyKatzen did you find your way ?

[Nancy OShea]

Not sure if this will help you.  But Dreamweaver has Preference settings for Dark and Light app themes.  Personally, I prefer darker tones as it's less fatiguing on my eyes. 

Edit Preferences > Interface.  

Similarly, I use a high contrast code theme called Ruby Blue which I obtained from GitHub.

https://github.com/Brackets-Themes/

[Dee28407999w8d7]

ADA is a law in the USA, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (https://www.ada.gov/). It covers not only those with sight disablities but others as well.

Brick-n-mortar stores have been sued and lost because they were not ADA compliant.

Now, online companies are getting sued. Here is one article about it https://news.mobar.org/confronting-the-rise-in-ada-website-accessibility-lawsuits-against-businesses...

Software like Dreamweaver is in that category to be sued, and the entity/person suing doesn't have to be disabled.

Therefore, Adobe, you should seriously think about bringing your software up to ADA compliance for all disabilities. Dreamweaver is far from ADA compliance.

[Nancy OShea]

@Dee28407999w8d7,

You're talking about oranges & orangutans. 

1. Dreamweaver is NOT a website. It's platform-driven software for code editing.

Unlike websites, desktop software runs on Windows or Mac operating systems which have accessibility features  built-in.  For example, screen readers, magnifiers, high contrast color settings, speech to screen writers, etc. Optionally, users may add ergonomic keyboards and other assisting peripherals if required. 

2. Websites are browser-based apps & services that should cater to ALL users on ALL devices, regardless of disability.  I am a big proponent of WAC Guidelines on the web.  But those decisions are made by site owners & stakeholders in consultation with the development team who builds the site.  No software can force anyone to follow WAC Guidelines anymore than it can force developers to build responsively.  That's the user's choice to make.  Software doesn't build websites, people do.