In the old days, we used to talk about accessibility as something we added to our websites. Today, the conversation has shifted towards making our websites accessible as a key requirement of the development process- for complex reasons and with complex benefits. From providing accessible content for people with disabilities, to creating fully usable functionality, to support for multiple languages, we want to hear what’s going on in the innovative world of accessibility!

Please share your ideas about making web and mobile efforts accessible to a wide range of users, as part of this month’s Net2 Think Tank!

The digital divide includes the tech design divide that keeps people who are using assistive technology or who have disabilities from being able to use web sites, software and other tech tools. But making your web site and other online services more accessible isn't just a nice thing to do: it makes a web site more accessible for potential customers, clients and donors, and demonstrates an organization's commitment to usability and accessibility to everyone. In addition, for a designer or programmer, knowing how to make a web site fully accessible makes you more competitive in the job market.

TechSoup will be hosting a free, one-day online event, Using Virtual Worlds & Emerging Technologies for People with Disabilities, this Friday, February 29th.

This interactive event will take place in two online locations: Second Life, and TechSoup's Community Forums.

Jim Fruchterman was named a MacArthur genius yesterday.  You can find links to his blog and to a couple of bloggers who know him at my blog, studio 501c.

Big thanks to Best Buddies International's Virtual Volunteer Manager, Bill Maurer, for profiling his lovely organization, www.ebuddies.org on NetSquared in Action.  Best Buddies International is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. e-Buddies builds e-mail friendships between children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their peers who do not have intellectual disabilities.