Disability Chat Rooms

A list and reviews of disability chat rooms for the disabled members of the community worldwide, and those wishing to discuss disability issues including caregivers, baby boomers, and the elderly.

Disabled chat rooms are generally friendly places where you will find yourself making new online friends from all over the world.

Many disability related websites feature chat rooms with a larger than normal font size to allow the visually impaired to better read what is being said in the room. In addition screenreaders can be used so that persons who are blind can participate in the conversation(s).

Chat rooms present one of the more difficult web challenges for people with disabilities. Since communication in a chat room tends to be fast-paced, people who type slowly may have difficulty keeping up, and people with cognitive or learning disabilities may have difficulty tracking the multiple simultaneous threads of conversation.

For screen reader users, the accessibility of chat rooms depends in part on how they were developed. Screen readers are able to handle some HTML chat rooms, but most current chat rooms are developed using Java, with little or no attention devoted to the application's accessibility. Even accessible chat rooms, however, can be poor in the area of usability for a screen reader user and can present a confusing, difficult-to-navigate interface, particularly as new content is continually added to the page.

Courseware packages such as WebCT, Blackboard, and Toolbook typically include chat functionality, which instructors can optionally use as a component of their courses. Courseware vendors have recently made significant improvements in the accessibility of their products, but their chat features have continued to present barriers for screen reader users.

Voice chat products are becoming increasingly popular and allow users to chat verbally through their computer's microphone and speakers. Simple Software's Chatterbox is a popular example of this type of product. However, Chatterbox comes in a voice-only interface, which denies access to users who are deaf, but it also comes in interfaces that combine text and voice.

The text and voice chat features of instant messaging programs like MSN Messenger are generally accessible and are well supported by assistive technologies.

Harassing or causing distress to other disability chat room users will usually result in a permanent site wide ban for the trouble maker.

Disability Chat - Articles and Reviews

Disabilities-R-Us Chat Room and Community for Persons with Disability - The Disabilities-R-Us chat room and community was created by and for those with physical disabilities - however everyone is welcome.

GimpGirl Disability Community Chat Room - The GimpGirl chat room is mainly used by women with disabilities to communicate online.

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