I agree with this point and I think that this problem is central.
People with defective vision already uses text-to-speech solutions as client application.
So the problem is another: are the pages of Wikimedia projects adapted to be read by TTL client program?
I think that the exaggerated use of templates is the main obstacle to have wikimedia projects compatible with WAI standard (http://www.w3.org/WAI/).
So the question is different: before adapt the pages to WAI, after check them with a TTL client program, and after define if it makes sense to introduce a TTL integrated to the web interface.
Someone with low vision or blind probably cannot find or read the instructions to use the TTL with Wikipedia, he has his own program and is able to use it.
regards
On Sun, Jan 25, 2015 at 1:00 PM, Tomasz Ganicz polimerek@gmail.com wrote:
We were discussing it with an association of blind people in Poland - and they told us - that for them the most important thing is clear and logic structure of the website - plain main text, menu/navigation in plain text and descriptions of media in plain text. They are using their own free text-to-speach software to which they are used to. Such software simply reads everything on the screen in the same neutral way. So they don't need any other tools for voice reading - if other websites provide it - they usually do not use it. Maybe in some other languages the situation is different - but it would be better to discuss it with relevant associations before investing time and money for such solutions. Fortunately, Wikipedia actually is quite text-to-speach friendly at the moment.