Customize manager for disabled acess

I think I can hear the answer: the fabled 1.0 will meet your need

A blind musician friend needs a major website revamp. He is well able to use even reasonably accessible software with speech products and key shortcuts. That said, the current manager is, shall we say, not optimum for him - and would be overkill in any case.

Sooooo .... is it possible with 0.95 to create a stripped-down Manager? Having downloaded it (great work, guys), I’m guessing ’the fabled 1.0 will meet your need’.

Entering content is not the problem, of course. He would like to use the Manager to do some direct design and content work (working with me, not entirely on his own), but doesn’ t need it all. Also, I would like to structure the Manager to suit his working style as much as possible.

By the way, I ain’t complaining in the least. I’m sure 1.0 will be awesome. Glad to wait for it. I’m not sure I can do any better in the here-and-now with the CMS tools that I use elsewise - Textpattern or Expression Engine - though he would find TextPattern’s current admin notably easier than current MODx admin, I suspect. So, that is somewhat tempting.

So, 0.95 with some kludges? 1.0? Tips?

I don’t think there will be any significant structural changes in the 095 manager. I’d really like to see what the requirements are for your friend though... could you put up a list of specific things that would be needed?
I think it will be safe to assume that there will be no frames (as we need to nuke ’em indeed).

Ryan,

It’s still a bit of a cloud in my mind but will become clearer over the next week, since I have promised him I will propose something by then. I also admit that I still need him to educate me in the details of optimal access beyond just having text/menu selections read from the screen.

I think one safe bet is that deeply nested menus are a hassle; also any (logically) broken paths of unwinding-return from choices made. I think the Manager does a pretty good job at the latter; not as good at the former.

More broadly, I’m guessing that I would want to build from the most minimal possible subset and add superset layers as his expertise and/or interest increased. This would have a task-based component - his priorities are calendar of events (currency vital); picture gallery of performances (currency desirable); audio clips of CDs (periodic); email to supporters (periodic); biography and related (static, occasional).

In his case, since I believe text/options are read to him from top-left of screen across and then down, this will dictate some of the organization. I know he can cut across the screen but that implies that he has a stable ’map’ of the screen well-fixed in his mind - and, in turn, that multiple Manager screens maintain a regular structure.

I’m not so sure some of these items aren’t just plain good UI design for me too - I know they are. We sighted ones become only semi-conscious of the cognitive dissonance caused by structure-and-navigation ’exceptions’, but it affects productivity and user satisfaction if at a semi-conscious level. Like so many, I love MODx but find the Manager a severe discentive to regular use ... though I can’t .... quite .... put my finger on the ’why’.

I don’t envy you guys though. The Manager must Manage a heck of a lot of stuff. There is no ideal solution. Hope this was useful. Will supply more input when I have more understanding.