#AODA testing

[aodawebdevelopment]

How to Conduct Effective Website AODA Testing: Best Practices and Tools

As digital accessibility becomes increasingly important, ensuring that your website is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is essential. AODA compliance ensures that all users, regardless of their disabilities, can access and navigate your website easily. Conducting thorough Website AODA testing is a critical part of the process to make sure your site adheres to these accessibility standards. In this article, we will explore the best practices and tools for conducting effective Website AODA testing.

What is AODA and Why is it Important?

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was introduced to ensure that Ontarians with disabilities have the same access to public services, including websites, as everyone else. AODA compliance outlines various standards that websites must meet, including guidelines for text readability, navigational structure, multimedia accessibility, and more.

Non-compliance with AODA can lead to significant legal consequences, fines, and damage to your organization's reputation. Therefore, conducting proper Website AODA testing is a necessity.

Best Practices for Website AODA Testing

To ensure your website is fully accessible, you need to follow a few important best practices when conducting AODA testing. Here are the key steps:

1. Understand the AODA Guidelines

Before beginning the testing process, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the AODA standards and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). The AODA aligns with the WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 guidelines, which define how to make digital content more accessible. Understanding these guidelines will help you know exactly what your website should adhere to during testing.

2. Create a Testing Checklist

Developing a comprehensive checklist is an important first step. This checklist should outline all of the accessibility criteria your website must meet, such as:

Text Alternatives: Ensure images have alt text for screen readers.

Keyboard Navigation: Test that your site can be navigated entirely using a keyboard.

Color Contrast: Ensure there’s sufficient contrast between text and background.

Forms Accessibility: Make sure all form fields are properly labeled.

Video and Audio Accessibility: Provide captions and transcripts for multimedia content.

Error Identification and Suggestions: When users make errors, provide clear error messages and suggestions for correction.

By breaking down these requirements, you’ll have a clear picture of which areas to focus on during testing.

3. Test Across Different Devices and Browsers

People access websites using a variety of devices and browsers, so it’s essential to test your website's accessibility across multiple platforms. Make sure that it works on desktop, mobile, and tablet devices and is compatible with various browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.). Different browsers may interpret accessibility guidelines differently, so testing across multiple environments is essential to ensure consistency.

4. Manual and Automated Testing

Manual testing involves going through the website step-by-step to identify accessibility issues. This may involve checking if all images have alt text, ensuring that videos have captions, and navigating through the website using only a keyboard.

However, manual testing can be time-consuming and may not catch all issues, which is where automated testing comes into play. Combining both methods is the most effective way to ensure comprehensive testing.

5. Test with Real Users

While automated tools and manual checks are important, it’s also helpful to conduct user testing with individuals who have disabilities. These users can provide feedback on the challenges they face while navigating your site. By getting real feedback, you can identify accessibility barriers that may have been overlooked.

6. Fix and Retest

Once you’ve identified accessibility issues, it’s crucial to make the necessary fixes. After making updates, retest the website to ensure that the issues have been resolved and that no new accessibility issues have been introduced.

Tools for Website AODA Testing

There are several tools available to help streamline your Website AODA testing process. Here are some of the most popular and effective tools:

1. WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)

WAVE is one of the most popular accessibility testing tools. It provides visual feedback on the accessibility of web content, highlighting potential issues such as missing alt text, poor contrast, and missing form labels. It also integrates directly with browsers like Chrome and Firefox.

2. axe Accessibility Checker

The axe Accessibility Checker is a browser extension that provides automated accessibility testing directly within your browser. It checks for WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 guidelines and highlights areas where improvements are needed. It’s especially useful for developers who want to test their websites in real-time.

3. Google Lighthouse

Google Lighthouse is a comprehensive, open-source tool that performs an accessibility audit on your website. It checks for issues like color contrast, accessibility of interactive elements, and keyboard navigation. Lighthouse also provides performance and SEO insights, making it a great tool for overall website improvement.

4. Tenon.io

Tenon.io is an accessibility testing tool that provides detailed reports on your website’s compliance with WCAG and AODA guidelines. It’s known for its detailed explanations and practical suggestions for making your site more accessible.

5. Accessibility Insights for Web

Accessibility Insights for Web is a powerful tool that helps developers perform accessibility audits and spot potential issues quickly. It’s easy to use and helps streamline the testing process, making it easier for teams to implement fixes.

Conclusion

Website AODA testing is an essential part of ensuring your site is accessible to all users. By following best practices like understanding AODA guidelines, creating a checklist, testing across multiple devices and browsers, and using the right tools, you can ensure your website complies with accessibility standards.

With the help of manual testing, automated tools, and feedback from real users, you’ll be able to identify and fix accessibility issues, making your website more inclusive for all visitors. Testing regularly and keeping accessibility in mind during the design and development process will help you maintain a website that provides a great experience for everyone, regardless of ability.

[vineetacade]

The AODA Website Compliance Test: Ensuring Accessibility for All Ontarians refers to the process of evaluating and modifying a website to ensure it meets the standards set by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The goal is to make websites accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, thereby promoting inclusivity and equal access to digital content.

[return-to-twisted-wonderland]

Night Raven's Giants: Marcus Trein, Aoda Shroud, and Jacob Howl [3]

Jacob (Feeding Akela): Heya, Jack. What's up?

Marcus (Jumps out of the tree to stand next to Azul): This recipe would be best with a side of bread. I think a coat of Garlic Oil on the top would be best for a topping, ya know.

Aoda (Opens his eyes and sees Idia): Pspsps.

Kittens: *All of them sit up*

Aoda (Points at Idia): Get him.

[All the kittens, except for the one on his head, run for Idia and start climbing on him.]

Idia, covered in kittens: So happy~

Azul: We could do a test of it to see which oil works with it best.

Jack: Nothing much, just stopped by to see how you two were.

[wibehavioralhealth]

Personalized Substance Assessments and Support at Behavioral Health Clinic

If you are questioning whether or not you may be struggling with addiction, taking the first steps can often be the hardest. At Behavioral Health Clinic, we are here to help you explore those questions through personalized alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) testing services. After testing, our team can also help guide you toward the support and treatment you need, including personalized AODA counseling services.

It all begins with an AODA assessment:

An AODA assessment plays a crucial part in; determining if you are experiencing addiction, understanding your unique needs, and determining the best path forward. These assessments are valuable in uncovering underlying conditions that may contribute to substance use disorders. By identifying areas of need, the assessment can also help guide the development of a personalized treatment plan and determine the appropriate level of care that is needed.

What is an AODA assessment:

An AODA assessment is an objective assessment that consists of a questionnaire and interview conducted by a licensed professional. The assessment follows a consistent format, with the same set of questions and scoring method for everyone. This ensures results that are based on factual evidence, rather than personal opinions, and provides reliable, consistent outcomes. After the assessment process is completed, a diagnostic impression can be developed to determine whether or not a substance use disorder is present. If substance use disorder is identified, its severity — mild, moderate, or severe — can also be assessed. This diagnostic impression is developed by using evidence-based information collected during the assessment, and uses diagnostic criteria to determine the diagnosis.

What’s next:

After AODA testing is completed and a diagnostic impression is developed, the next steps can be determined. If it is determined you may benefit from counseling, Behavioral Health Clinic also offers personalized AODA counseling services that aim to meet each client’s specific needs. No matter your needs, we are committed to matching you with providers who align with your needs and preferences, and who will support you on your journey toward recovery.

Taking the first steps towards recovery can be difficult, but here at BHC we aim to provide all of our clients with the support and care needed to navigate their path to recovery. Schedule a consultation today to begin the process.

[healthandsafety79]

Fall Protection Online Training Course and Certification in Canada

Fall Protection Online Training provides a comprehensive introduction to fall protection principles, which is crucial for understanding the risks associated with working at heights. It’s essential to remember that individuals working at heights require additional training on the use of fall arrest equipment, in accordance with manufacturer instructions and safe work practices.

Course Overview

Flexible Learning: You can pause the course anytime, and it will automatically bookmark your progress, allowing you to resume where you left off. The course is fully narrated and complies with AODA standards.

Interactive Content: Detailed explanations, relevant images, and activities help reinforce understanding. Each module includes a summary and a practical training checklist. A final test at the end assesses your grasp of the material.

Course Outline

Introduction

Overview of falls and fall protection

Anatomy of a fall, fall hazards, and methods for elimination, prevention, and control

Types of fall hazards, including those from ladders, scaffolds, work platforms, etc.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Falls on level surfaces, from elevation, and from ladders

Proper ladder use and tips to avoid slips, trips, and falls

Fall Protection Equipment

Detailed explanation of various fall protection equipment, including guardrails, travel-restraint systems, and safety nets

Overview of CSA standards and personal fall protection systems (PFAS)

Anchor Systems

Explanation of anchor types: designed fixed support, temporary fixed support, and existing structural features

Discussion on safety factors, anchorage, clearance, and pendulum effects

Components of a System

Description of fall protection system components: connectors, rope grabs, carabiners, harnesses, lanyards, shock absorbers, and lifelines

Review of rope-breaking strength standards and impact indicators

Inspections

Procedures for inspecting fall equipment for damage, wear, and defects

Detailed inspection methods for harnesses, lanyards, and other equipment

Storage and Maintenance

Guidelines for proper storage and maintenance of personal fall arrest equipment

Donning Harnesses

Instructions for wearing and adjusting full-body harnesses to ensure comfort and safety

Importance of proper adjustment and attachment to a fall arrest system

Fall Protection Plan

Scenarios requiring fall protection plans

Details on plans for rescue training, suspension trauma, aerial lifts, and elevated work platforms

[changingpaces2]

AODA Customer Service Training - Changing Paces

Changing Paces stands as a pioneering force in providing AODA training, specifically tailored to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As the first firm to develop, test, and implement AODA accessible customer service training, Changing Paces has garnered widespread recognition for its comprehensive and compliant training programs. Led by Trish Robichaud, a highly regarded AODA Consultant, Changing Paces specializes in delivering personalized training experiences that ensure organizations are well-prepared to support and serve individuals with disabilities. With a team of facilitators who either live with disabilities themselves or have been caregivers to disabled individuals, Changing Paces brings a unique blend of personal experience and professional expertise to its Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act training initiatives.

[aodawebcheck]

5 Essential Steps for Conducting an Effective Accessibility Website Audit

Conducting an accessibility audit is important since it has benefits especially for your business. Therefore, it is important that you ensure effective AODA accessibility. persons living with disabilities need to feel included in society by way of making websites accessible. To ensure that your AODA accessibility audit is fruitful, here are 5 steps to follow.

Online check

Alternatively, the online check is known as an automated check. It is important to have this step in your accessibility website audit to check for the most basic requirements. It is not accurate and will require backing with a manual check. There are plenty of accessibility online checkers available online. It has the advantage of being fast and generating results.

Application of assistive technology

To make your website accessible, there must be additional technology like screen readers, speech recognition, and keyboard-only navigation. Make your website compliant with such assistive software. They are instrumental and help persons living with disabilities to easily access information on a website.

Manual testing

After running the automated AODA audit test, it is advisable to have manual testing whereby persons living with disabilities are involved. After this testing, you are 100% sure that your website is fully accessible. It is best that this step is not ignored since it identifies even the smallest inaccessible point.

Knowledgeable specialist

When you want your AODA audit to become effective, it is important to have the input of a knowledgeable specialist. The advantage they give is having knowledge, experience, and understanding of the accessibility guidelines.

Annual testing is also very important since you will keep adding more content to your website. make it a tradition in order to keep your website fully accessible. Professional AODA auditing agencies will provide the best services.

[priyanikam01]

Accessibility Testing: Ensuring Software Accessibility for People with Disabilities in JAVA Development

Introduction: In the rapidly evolving world of JAVA Development, creating software applications that are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is of utmost importance. Accessibility testing plays a vital role in ensuring that software applications meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. In this article, we will explore the concept of accessibility testing, its significance in JAVA Development, and how it contributes to a successful career in software development and Java developer jobs.

Understanding Accessibility Testing: Accessibility testing is the process of evaluating software applications to ensure they are usable by individuals with disabilities. It involves assessing the application's ability to accommodate various impairments such as visual, hearing, cognitive, and motor disabilities. Accessibility testing focuses on making applications perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users.

The Importance of Accessibility Testing in JAVA Development: In the field of JAVA Development, creating inclusive software applications that are accessible to everyone is essential. Accessibility testing helps developers identify and rectify barriers that may prevent individuals with disabilities from fully utilizing and experiencing the application. By conducting thorough accessibility testing, developers can ensure compliance with accessibility standards, enhance user experience, and broaden their user base.

Key Considerations in Accessibility Testing: To conduct effective accessibility testing in JAVA Development, consider the following key considerations:

a) Compliance with Accessibility Standards: Familiarize yourself with accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure your application meets the necessary accessibility requirements.

b) Assistive Technology Compatibility: Test the compatibility of your application with assistive technologies like screen readers, screen magnifiers, and alternative input devices to ensure smooth interaction for users with disabilities.

c) Keyboard Accessibility: Evaluate the application's functionality using only a keyboard, as individuals with motor disabilities may rely on keyboard navigation instead of mouse-based interactions.

d) Text Alternatives: Verify that all non-text elements such as images, videos, and audio have appropriate alternative text descriptions, ensuring they are accessible to users who rely on screen readers.

e) Color Contrast: Check the color contrast between foreground and background elements to ensure readability for individuals with visual impairments.

f) Form Accessibility: Ensure that form fields are properly labeled, error messages are clear, and input validation is provided to assist users with disabilities in completing forms.

g) Multimedia Accessibility: Ensure that multimedia content, including videos and audio, provide captions or transcripts for users with hearing impairments.

Benefits of Accessibility Testing: Implementing accessibility testing in JAVA Development offers several benefits:

a) Inclusive User Experience: Accessibility testing ensures that software applications are accessible to all users, regardless of their disabilities. This inclusivity enhances user satisfaction and broadens the reach of your application.

b) Legal Compliance: By adhering to accessibility standards, developers can ensure compliance with laws and regulations related to accessibility, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

c) Competitive Advantage: Creating accessible software applications gives you a competitive edge in the market by appealing to a wider audience, including individuals with disabilities.

d) Professional Growth: Proficiency in accessibility testing opens doors to rewarding career opportunities in software development. It showcases your commitment to inclusive design and positions you as an advocate for accessibility.

Career Opportunities in Accessibility Testing: With the increasing demand for inclusive software applications, expertise in accessibility testing offers promising career prospects. Roles such as accessibility specialist, user experience designer, and quality assurance engineer with a focus on accessibility are highly sought after in the industry. Demonstrating knowledge and skills in conducting comprehensive accessibility testing can significantly enhance your career in JAVA Development and open doors to exciting job opportunities.

Conclusion: Accessibility testing is a crucial aspect of JAVA Development that ensures software applications are inclusive and accessible to individuals with disabilities. By conducting thorough accessibility testing, developers can create applications that comply with accessibility standards, provide an inclusive user experience, and comply with legal requirements. Embracing the significance of accessibility testing in your software development journey not only contributes to your success as a Java developer but also fosters inclusivity, enhances user satisfaction, and broadens the impact of your applications.

[isolavirtuosa]

Starting Over (For Real?) 47-48

[fanfiction] NaruSasu

Read the previous parts here.

- 47 -

  The Land of Sound had endless underground tunnels, and I knew them all like the back of my hand.  It didn’t take long to find ninjas who were loyal to Orochimaru.

Finding the man himself proved a bit more difficult.

“Karin would be useful right about now,” Kakashi hummed as we concluded checking out yet another dead-end lead.

“Certainly more useful than you,” Sai said with a passive aggressive smile.

“I’m the taxi that got you here!” Kakashi protested, holding his hands up.

“Yes, and now you have barely any chakra left,” Sakura pointed out.

“Well they didn’t know that until you announced it loudly,” Kakashi said, gesturing towards the Sound ninjas that we had tied up after they attempted to interfere in our search.

The Sound ninjas sneered at us.

I couldn’t help the snort that escaped me.

That got me several funny looks.

“We can go now,” I said, moving towards the stairs to take us above ground again.

Sai came abreast of me as we ascended the stairs.  “Should we find somewhere to stay the night?”

“Yeah, go ahead and scout,” I said.

He nodded.  “Okay.  But you seem a bit frustrated.”

“We’ve been here over a week,” I said.  “I just want to hurry up and be done with it.”

“You want to get back to your honey?”

“I want to figure out how non-ninjas have learned how to grow God Trees and then destroy that technology forever,” I said.  “And then I want to get back to my honey.”

Sai smiled at that.  “I love you, Sasuke.”

“Back at you,” I said, shooing him away.

“You tell Sai that you love him?” Sakura asked incredulously as she came up behind me.

“Did the word ‘love’ come out of my mouth?”

“Close enough,” she said, shaking her head.  “Where’s my love?”

“Girls are icky.”

She snorted and rolled her eyes at that.  “Is Sai finding us a place to stay?”

“Yeah,” I said, looking up at the starry sky stretched out in front of us.  “Sakura, I…”

Sakura looked up at the sky with me, not saying anything.  Waiting.

“I do,” I finally said.

“Are we getting married?” she snorted.

I turned to glare at her.

She faced me as well, flashing me a grin.  “Are you trying to tell me that you loooove me?”

“Certainly not,” I said, making a face.  “I tolerate you.”

“I tolerate you, too,” she said agreeably.

“Good,” I concluded.

“Good.”

We went back to looking at the sky.

“So no one was wondering where I was?” Kakashi complained, hefting himself out of the stairwell.

“No, not at all,” Sakura said, and I nodded my agreement.

“My darling little students, what would I do without your kindness and compassion?” he hummed, squishing both of our faces with one hand each.  “One of those Sound assholes got loose.”

“And you couldn’t handle it?” I asked.

“It takes a little more effort when you use up all your chakra on a long-distance kamui.”

“And yet you still managed to take care of it?” Sakura fake-marveled.

“I remember when you at least used to pretend to respect me,” Kakashi complained.

“Try being respectable,” I suggested.

“Maybe I should just try taking off my shirt,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at me and lifting the hem of his shirt up to reveal his abs.

I didn’t mean to look, and I immediately looked away, face red.

Sakura cracked up.

Kakashi sighed contentedly as he lowered his shirt.  “Aw, yeah, still got it.”

“Love handles is what you got,” I said, laughing nervously.

“Sasuke, your crush on Kakashi is starting to get pathetic,” Sakura informed me.

“I don’t have a crush on Kakashi!” I yelled in a manly way.  Or shrieked.  Whatever.

Sakura held up her hands and looked away in a way that clearly said ‘you do, but I’ll just stay out of it since you’re in denial.’

I did not have a crush on Kakashi.  And if I ever had, I had long since grown out of it.  I was simply embarrassed by how ridiculous he was.  Nothing more to it.

“Do you think if I show Sakura my face, she’ll fall madly in love with me, too?” Kakashi asked, winking at me.

“No one could love a face like that,” I said flatly.

“I guess we’ll find out,” Kakashi said, moving his hand to his mask and tugging at it.

Sakura looked elated.

I frowned.  Not that I cared that I was the only one who had seen Kakashi’s face, but I was the only one who had seen Kakashi’s face.

There was a cawing sound from above us, a bird from Sai to lead us to our camp.

“Foiled again,” Kakashi said, leaving his mask in place and going to follow the bird.

“What is that about?!” Sakura cried, chasing after him.  “Show me your damn face, Sensei!”

Sai had found a cave for us to camp out in.  We all settled in, with Kakashi taking the first watch.  He woke me up for my watch, and then Sai was next.

Sai got up with a stretch, ready to take up his post.

“There’s something I have to do,” I whispered to him.

He looked me up and down, then nodded.

I went outside of the cave with him, then kept on going.  When I was far enough away, I summoned Aoda.

“Sasuke-sama,” he said, bowing his head to me.

“Can you find Orochimaru?” I asked.

He flicked his tongue in the air, tasting it.  “Yes.”

“Take me there.”

So he did.

It was an obvious place, decorated with giant statues of snakes.  It looked like some kind of demonic temple.

Orochimaru was waiting for me, sitting on top of one of the snake’s heads.  “I wondered when you would finally get here,” he said, smiling warmly at me.

I was relieved to look into his eyes and see the same old gold color, pushing away the lingering doubts from my brief trip inside the God Tree in Water.  The rinnegan belonged to me and only me.  “Tell me what you’ve done.”

“That’s a bit vague, Sasuke,” he said, his tongue rolling sibilantly over my name.  “I’ve done so many things.”

“The God Trees,” I said.  “These,” I added, pushing my bangs up to reveal my horns.

His grin widened.  “They’re coming in nicely.”

I knew showing him my transformation would get him talking.  I stared at him, waiting.

“What do you really want to know, my boy?” he asked.  “I made you stronger.  That’s all you ever wanted, isn’t it?”

“And Naruto?  Kakashi?”

“You three were the perfect test subjects,” he said, his expression going dreamy.  “Come inside to the lab.  I can run some tests.”

“No,” I said.  “Explain.”

“Come on now, Sasuke, you know it’s give and take,” he said.  “I give something, I take something.”

“Or I could just take,” I said, stepping off of Aoda’s head onto thin air and walking until I was standing on the snake statue, right in front of Orochimaru.

“Sasuke,” he breathed, looking delighted.  “That perfect body.”

“Try and take it,” I said.  “See what happens.”

His tongue darted out to lick his lips.  “Cocky boy.  I won’t be so easily sealed again.”

“You won’t survive.”

“I always survive.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have made me this powerful.”

“Without the kyuubi vessel, you’re still not quite there.”

I gave him a bored look.  “I don’t need Naruto’s chakra to kill you.”

“Your confidence is both your best and worst quality,” Orochimaru said cheerfully.  “Now come on inside, let’s at least have a cup of tea.”

I followed him inside because I was done posturing.  I wanted answers.

The hideout was empty except for the two of us.  Orochimaru took me into one of the labs and started boiling water.  He shuffled around, getting the teacups out and setting a tea bag in each one.

I could feel the God Tree lurking below us, deeper underground.

“No milk or sugar for you?” Orochimaru stated, because he already knew the answer.

“No.”

“So predictable,” he hummed, picking the whistling kettle off of the flame and pouring hot water into each cup.  “And yet…”

I waited.

He removed the tea bags and handed me a cup.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Would you like me to drink some first?” he asked.

“You’re immune to most poisons,” I said, bringing the cup to my lips and sipping.

Orochimaru chuckled and sipped his own tea.  “So I am.”

“You don’t want to hurt me,” I said, setting the cup down on the table.

“Of course not,” he agreed.  “You’ve always been my favorite.  And look at you now.  The long hair is beautiful, by the way.  You should wear it down.”

I stared at him.

“Oh, Sasuke,” he said dreamily.  “You look like power.”

“What did you do to me?”

His eyes got even dreamier.  “It wasn’t really me, I just… helped things along.  It was Hagoromo’s chakra and the God Tree.”

Our eyes met.

He grinned.  “Six months.  Six months only, and I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“No.”

He sighed dramatically.  “You have so much untapped potential.  I could show you-”

“No.”

“How’s your tea?”

“Fine,” I ground out.  Orochimaru did make a good cup of tea.

“The Tree can be directed,” he said.  “To take more from some than from others.”

“The kages?”

“It took it all.”

“Naruto and I?”

“That was the fun part,” he said, getting an excited gleam in his eye.  “It took it all from you, as well.  It drained you both of your own chakra.  But it couldn’t absorb the foreign chakra in your body.  So when your bodies no longer had any of your own chakra left, Hagoromo’s chakra started moving through your pathways as if it was your own chakra.”

“And Kakashi?”

“The same thing, all of his chakra was drained and replaced with Obito’s,” he said, starting to look a bit manic.  “It transformed your bodies.”

So I really was being turned into an alien.

“You know what that means, though, don’t you?” Orochimaru demanded.

He wanted to experiment.

“The sharingan could be rebirthed,” he said excitedly.  “If you put your chakra into someone’s body, and then we drained them of their chakra, and then-”

“No.”

“But Sasuke, think of-”

“No.”

“You could revive your clan without having intercourse with a woman.”

“Oh, well in that case,” I said.  “No.”

“We’ll discuss it later,” Orochimaru said with a shrug.

We weren’t going to discuss it later, but I didn’t tell him so because then he would spend all his time convincing me rather than telling me what the fuck was going on.

“Why are there so many God Trees?” I asked.

“Because I made them,” he replied easily.

“You can’t just make a God Tree,” I said irritably.

“I can,” he said grinning.

“And it takes a thousand years to produce a chakra fruit.”

“Or does it?”

“I’ve read the scrolls,” I said.

“Funny how what is written doesn’t always match up with the results of an experiment,” Orochimaru said.

“So you’ve learned how to create artificial God Trees that produce… artificial chakra fruit?”

“They’re quite real, I assure you.”

“And why do the daimyos have them?”

“I’m sure you can figure it out.”

“They’re our enemies,” I said, raising an eyebrow at him.  “They’re trying to wipe out ninjakind.”

“Well, they have deep pockets and have given me endless test subjects.”

“So you’re going to let them continue draining the life out of ninjas until…?”

“Until I’ve concluded my research, obviously,” he said.  “And don’t worry, my dear boy, I’m almost finished.  Then those silly daimyos will realize our true power.”

“So the daimyos and the ninjas are all pawns in your plot to…?”

“Would you like one?”

I looked at him.

“If you think you’re powerful when you’re juiced up on the kyuubi’s chakra…” he said grinning.

He knew everything about us, so I was starting to wonder who he’d had following us and why we hadn’t noticed, but of course it was obvious.  Karin.  The mizukage.  Whoever she was, she had been reporting back to Orochimaru the entire time.

“It’s what you’ve always wanted,” he continued.  “Ultimate power.”

“It’s what you’ve always wanted, but you haven’t eaten one,” I said.  His power wasn’t any different from before.

“I haven’t finished the experimental phase yet,” he explained.

“So I would be another test subject so you could make sure there aren’t any side effects.”

“No, Sasuke,” he said, shaking his head.  “I wouldn’t experiment on you.  You’re too valuable.  The chakra fruit is yours if you want it, but only after I’ve finished the testing phase.”

“How kind of you.”

He smiled at me again, but it was softer now.  “You’ve really grown up magnificently.”

“And you haven’t changed at all,” I said, ignoring the warmth I felt from his praise.  I did not need his approval.

“It will be incredible when we consume the chakra fruit,” he said.  “I want you by my side.”

This seemed like the part where I was supposed to show how much I’d changed by refusing the offer.

“More tea?” he asked.

I held out my cup to him.

“We’ll rule this world, Sasuke,” he told me as he poured.  “We’ll subjugate the daimyos.  Ninjas will finally have autonomy.”

“As long as they do what we tell them to?”

“Exactly.”

I thought about the Water ninjas in their concentration camp.  What the non-ninjas were doing was wrong, and-

Orochimaru looked ecstatic.

I frowned at him.

“Well, you know that the offer is on the table,” he said, sipping from his refreshed cup.

“Naruto is going to come after you,” I said.  “When he hears that you’re behind the God Trees.  Half the ninja world is following him.”

“He is a problem, isn’t he?” Orochimaru hummed, not looking troubled at all.

“I’ll be right next to him,” I said.

“That’s fine,” he replied.

There was something more.

I looked at him.

“You’re starting to look nervous, my boy.”

“I don’t think you know me as well as you think you do,” I said.

“Didn’t you stop and wonder?” he asked, putting down his empty cup.

I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of asking, “wonder what?”, but the silence dragged on for so long that I finally spat it out.

“Why some of us weren’t trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi?”

“Most of the people who were free from the God Tree had very little chakra,” I said, looking him up and down.

“A good observation, but still missing something,” he said.  “What did you think of Kakashi’s woman?”

“…his right hand?” I asked.

Orochimaru burst out laughing.  “You’ve gotten crass.  Now, come on, boy, think.”

I never corrected him when he called me stupid names.  Why was that?

“You know her quite well, I think.”

“…Miharu…?”

“Clever boy.”

“She’s not…”

“She was.”

“She isn’t from Konoha.”

“No, she certainly isn’t.”

I didn’t get it.  The pieces weren’t coming together.

Orochimaru smiled.  “Maybe we can finish this chat another time.”

“What is she?” I demanded irritably.

“That’s a pretty good question,” he said.  “Now we’re almost there.”

“Is it some kind of bloodline limit?” I asked.

“Something like that,” Orochimaru agreed.

“Then what?”

“I can’t give you all of the answers, my boy.”

“Miharu was immune to the God Tree because of… something in her lineage.”

“Oh, yes.”

“And she doesn’t… have chakra… but lives in a ninja village…”

“True.”

“She was involved with Kakashi.”

“Past tense, yes.”

“That’s why she came to Konoha.”

“Getting warmer.”

“Her family…”

There was a glint in Orochimaru’s eyes.

“They didn’t want her involved with him.”

“Of course not.  Such a rogue, Kakashi was.”

“But they thought they were so in love that they ignored her family.”

Orochimaru pursed his lips.  “Not quite.”

I didn’t get it.  If they weren’t so madly in love, why would she abandon her family and her country to come live with Kakashi on the outskirts of Konoha?  And why weren’t they still together?  Well, thinking about Kakashi, I could see how Miharu might have felt like he wasn’t all she’d expected after he slid down his mask and swept her off her feet.  He was closed off, obnoxious, and a pervert, not to mention incredibly not gorgeous in a silver fox kind of way.  Not at all.  What would make someone up and leave their-

“She was pregnant?”

“Oh, Sasuke, I was afraid you wouldn’t get there, but here we are.”

“But there’s no… Kakashi’s not...”

“Only a very special baby could survive that.”

“Survive what?” I asked warily.

“The union of Noble and Ninja blood,” he said, leaning forward excitedly.

“There are nobles with chakra…” I said.

“Not pure Nobles,” Orochimaru said, standing up and pacing along the floor.  “Not the Nobles who truly run this world.  They keep their bloodlines pure.  They consider Ninjas below them.  But of course it’s posturing nonsense.  The women often die in childbirth, the babies stillborn.  Only the strong can make it.  Miharu, she lived, but she and Kakashi weren’t special enough.”

I felt a strange twinge.  Kakashi had almost been a father.  And Miharu, who was so kind to me for no reason, had lost everything, had lost her baby, Kakashi’s baby, and that thought just filled me with an ache.

“Of course, my mother died in childbirth,” Orochimaru continued.

I looked at him.

“She wasn’t strong enough.”

I felt my brows drawing together.

“But I was.”

 - 48 -

  Aoda was waiting for me outside.  He bent down his head for me, and then we were heading back.

I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Orochimaru had had a mother.  I thought he spontaneously generated out of nothing.  Not only a mother, but also a father.

“The relationship wasn’t consensual,” he’d said with a dark smile.

The secrets that Orochimaru had told me weighed me down.  I knew everything now, but instead of feeling relieved I felt dirty.

“How do we restore the kages?” I’d asked.

“That’s easy,” he promised  “You just need to return their chakra to them.”

“From the chakra fruit.”

“Exactly, my brilliant boy.”

He was smiling too much.

“Where is it?”

“Well, you see… someone has already eaten it.”

I knew he was goading me along.

“I needed to test the effects of it,” he explained.  “But if you track him down, maybe you can extract it…?”

Who could possibly have eaten it?  But then the answer was right in front of me.  “The farmer?”

“Oh, that’s right.  You met him back in Water.  My brother.”

Sai was still on watch when I got back.  It had felt like an eternity, and yet only a couple of hours had passed.

A couple of hours, and everything was different.

“You said your mother died in childbirth,” I pointed out.  Kamenosuke was clearly younger than Orochimaru by at least a decade.

“My half-brother,” he amended with a smile.  “My father raped his noble mother, too.  Quite the cad he was.”

“Did you do what you needed to do?” Sai asked.

I looked at him.

A frown tugged at his lips, an oddly human expression on his usually robotic face.  “What happened?”

“Nothing,” I said with a shrug.

“Don’t forget, my boy,” he’d called to me as I was leaving.  “The chakra fruit is yours when you want it.”

I hadn’t said anything.

“Tsunade’s necklace looks good on you.”

His eyes crawled inside of me, even when I was out of his sight.

“Uchiha.”

I was moving into the cave, ready to sleep, but I turned back to look at Sai.

“What-?” he started to ask.

“We’ll talk about it in the morning,” I said abruptly.

“Okay…” he said, looking uncertain.

I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, and I slept right through the morning.

Sai, Kakashi, and Sakura were standing right outside the cave, whispering about me.

I sat up and stretched.  I glanced at Sakura’s bag.  The scroll with the two chakra fruit…

The whispering moved up to a louder decibel.

“How do we know Orochimaru didn’t do something to him?” Sakura hissed.

“We don’t know whether or not he even found him,” Sai said.

“I did,” I offered, standing up and rolling my neck.

“Why would you go off and look for him on your own?!” Sakura cried.

“Because I knew he’d talk to me alone,” I said with a shrug, coming out into the sunlight.

“So he talked to you?” Kakashi asked, looking disinterested.

“He’s behind it all,” I said.

Sakura gasped.

Sai widened his eyes.

Kakashi shrugged.  “That makes sense.”

“The God Trees?” Sakura asked.

“Yes.”

“The anti-ninja campaign of the damiyos?” Sai asked.

“Indirectly, yes.”

“The kages turning into zetsu?” Sakura asked.

“Yes.”

“Fake Karin?”

“Yes.”

“The food shortages?”

“In the sense that he could have woken up people to go to work producing food at anytime, I guess so.”

“The super-powered farmer?”

“Yes.”

“The ANBU turning on us?”

“I mean, I think Konoha and it’s sordid history of corruption have to claim responsibility for that.”

“So you know everything now?” Sai asked.  “You have all the answers?”

“Pretty much,” I said.

The three of them stared at me expectantly.

“Can we eat breakfast first?” I asked.

That resulted in a lot of annoying yelling.

When we were finally situated around the fire with the food cooking, I started my story, relating the basic highlights of what Orochimaru had told me.

I may have left out a few things.

“We have to find Kamenosuke,” was what Sakura got out of the whole story.

“And do what?” I asked her.

“Extract the kage’s chakra,” she said, like it would be a simple task.

“Do you even know how to do that?”

She frowned at me.  “I’m not just going to give up on Tsunade-sama.”

“I’m not asking you to,” I said.  “But we’re not going to go rushing into things without a plan.”

“You don’t think you can beat him,” Sai hummed.

I wasn’t going to admit to that.

“We need to figure out how to extract a specific person’s chakra from the chakra fruit we already have,” Kakashi said.  “Then we can figure out how to extract it from a person.”

“That could take years!” Sakura cried.

“You said you’re not going to give up,” he said, looking her straight in the eye.

She swallowed.

“We need to get Naruto out of Suna,” I said, because that was the obvious takeaway from my story.  “We need to establish a base, gather the ninjas who are loyal to us.”

“Where do we go?” Sai asked.

We all looked at each other.

“Let’s go get Naruto,” Kakashi finally said.

“I’ll get Naruto,” I said, shaking my head.  “You wait here for us.”

“You’re not going by yourself,” Sai said with a frown.  “You have the biggest target on your back of all of us.”

“I’ll use Flying Thunder God,” I said.  “I can make it back within a day.”

“You can do that without Naruto’s chakra?” Kakashi asked, studying me.

I shrugged.  They really had no idea what Naruto and I could do.

“You and the kyuubi boy, you could rule this world.  No more kages, no more daimyos…”

“And where would you fit in?”

Orochimaru had just smiled when I asked him that.

He knew that Naruto would never agree to his ideals, so why would he encourage him into a position of leadership?

“I’m going with you, Sasuke,” Sai informed me flatly.

“I can’t transport someone with me,” I said, shaking my head.

“Then we’ll walk.”

“We don’t have time.”

“Do you know something you’re not telling us?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

So many things, yet nothing to do with why I suddenly felt like I needed to rush back to Naruto.  “It’s just a gut feeling.”

“You can transport me,” Sai said, looking me in the eye.

I looked back.

“Don’t be stupid, you could get split in half or something,” Sakura scolded him.

“Sasuke wouldn’t mess up like that,” Sai said firmly.

It was weirding me out that he kept calling me ‘Sasuke’ instead of ‘Uchiha’ or ‘Best Friend’.  “Are you an imposter zetsu?” I asked squinting at him.

“Yes, and my master plan is to risk you killing me by transporting us back to Suna using a dangerous jutsu,” Sai said.

“You just said I wouldn’t mess up like that,” I said incredulously.

“I was lying to make you feel more confident.  I know how you like an ego boost.”

“That’s definitely Sai,” Kakashi said.  “I’m going for a walk.”

“Now?” Sakura asked incredulously.

“He’s done with this conversation, as am I,” I said.  “I’m going now.”

Sai caught my arm.  “We’re going.”

I rolled my eyes.  “Your funeral.”

“So that’s that?” Sakura asked, getting that exhausted look she got when she knew everyone was going to be stubborn and not listen to her voice of reason.

“Yes, see you later,” Sai said.

Traveling long distances following Naruto’s technique formulas exhausted my chakra.  Doing it while dragging along another human being doubled that.  I could only teleport so far before having to recharge.

Fortunately, my recharge rate had drastically increased since Naruto had started feeding me his chakra.  My new alien body probably helped, too.

“The Kaguya Clan were our progenitors,” Orochimaru had purred.  “I think you’ll find you’re enhanced in every way with their chakra flowing through your pathways.”

“See, Sasuke, you didn’t kill me,” Sai declared, patting me on the back after the first successful jump.

“Not yet,” I agreed.

He proceeded to turn away from me and puke.

“Shit, Sai!” I cried, crouching beside him and resting my hand on his back.

“Aw, Best Friend, you do care,” he said, turning to me happily with puke dripping out of his mouth.

I gagged a little.

He wiped it away.  “Okay, I feel better now.  Let’s go!”

“You’re not okay at all,” I protested.

“I can walk,” he said, standing up.

“Sai.”

“I’m fine, I just got a little dizzy.”

“I’m not taking you the rest of the way,” I informed him.

“Well, that’s too bad, because you don’t have a choice,” he said, clamping down on my arm.

I looked at him.

He looked at me.

We started walking.

When I had enough chakra to make the next jump, I told Sai again, “you’re not coming.”

“Afraid I am.”

“No.”

“But I am.”

“I don’t want to hurt you!” I snapped.

Sai’s face softened into this gentle expression that I’d never seen before.  “You won’t,” he said simply.

Goddamit, Sai was my best friend and I loved him.  “What if I do?”

“You won’t,” he repeated.

We did the next jump.

“See, it’s fi-” Sai started to say, and puked again.

“What the hell, Sai?” I ground out.

“Maybe it’s something I ate,” he said, already walking forward.

We were out of Sound, but we still had a long way to go to Suna.

Sai made a bird to fly us along while I built up chakra.

I studied him.

He seemed fine.  “It just makes my stomach churn when we go into that dimensional void,” he said with a shrug.  “It makes me really happy that you’re this worried, though.”

“Whose worried?” I muttered, closing my eyes and meditating.

Sai started puking less the further along we went.

The closer we got to Suna, though, the more anxious I felt.

Then it finally clicked into place.

I felt anxious because Naruto felt anxious.

“One more jump and we’re in Suna,” I said, lying on my back and staring up at the sky as Sai’s bird flew us along.  “Naruto put a technique formula at his favorite ramen place, the kazekage’s desk, and his forehead protector.”

“Wouldn’t we just go to Naruto?” Sai asked.  “Or did you want to stop for ramen first?”

I didn’t answer.

“Have you figured out why we’re in such a rush?” he asked.

I didn’t answer again.

“Let’s go to Naruto,” he decided for us.

“…okay,” I agreed, sitting up.  “I’m ready.”

Our eyes met.

“I’ve got your back, Sasuke,” he said.

“I’ve got yours, too,” I said.

We flashed through the dimensional void, straight to Naruto.

[aodawebdevelopment]

Why Your Business Needs a Website Accessibility Review: A Path to Compliance and Growth

In today’s increasingly digital world, having an accessible website is not just a moral imperative but also a legal and business necessity. A Website Accessibility Review is a comprehensive evaluation of your website’s ability to be accessed and used by individuals with disabilities. Ensuring that your site meets accessibility standards can lead to compliance with legal requirements, enhanced user experience, and opportunities for growth. Here’s why your business needs a Website Accessibility Review and how it can set you on the path to success.

1. Understanding Website Accessibility

Website accessibility refers to the practice of making your website usable by everyone, including individuals with various disabilities.

Inclusivity in Design: An accessible website is designed to accommodate users with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. This includes features such as screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and clear, easy-to-read content.

Legal Standards: The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a framework for making web content accessible. Compliance with these guidelines is often required by law in many regions, making accessibility not just a best practice but a legal requirement.

2. The Importance of a Website Accessibility Review

A Website Accessibility Review is an essential step in ensuring your site meets accessibility standards and provides an inclusive experience for all users.

Identifying Barriers: The review helps identify barriers that may prevent users with disabilities from accessing your content. This can include issues like missing alt text for images, inadequate color contrast, or inaccessible form fields.

Legal Compliance: Many countries have laws that mandate website accessibility. In the United States, for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to ensure their websites are accessible. A review can help you meet these legal obligations and avoid potential lawsuits.

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Failing to meet accessibility standards can expose your business to legal risks.

Lawsuits and Fines: Inaccessible websites can result in costly lawsuits, fines, and settlements. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in litigation related to website accessibility, making it more important than ever to ensure compliance.

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A comprehensive Website Accessibility Review typically includes the following components:

Automated Testing: Tools like WAVE, Axe, and Lighthouse can scan your website for common accessibility issues. These tools provide reports on problems such as missing alt text, low contrast, and non-compliant HTML elements.

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User Testing: Involving users with disabilities in testing your website provides valuable insights into real-world accessibility challenges. Their feedback can highlight barriers that may not be evident through automated or manual testing alone.

Comprehensive Report: After the review, you’ll receive a detailed report outlining the identified issues, their impact on accessibility, and recommendations for improvement. This report serves as a roadmap for making your website more accessible.

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After completing a Website Accessibility Review, it’s time to implement the recommended improvements.

Prioritizing Issues: Not all accessibility issues are equal. Prioritize fixes based on their severity and impact on user experience. Critical issues that prevent users from accessing content should be addressed first.

Collaboration: Work closely with your development team or a professional accessibility service to implement the necessary changes. Ensure that everyone involved understands the importance of accessibility and is committed to maintaining it.

Continuous Monitoring: Accessibility is not a one-time project. Regularly monitor and update your website to maintain compliance with accessibility standards as content and technology evolve.

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Committing to website accessibility offers long-term benefits for your business.

Future-Proofing Your Website: As legal standards and user expectations evolve, maintaining accessibility ensures that your website remains compliant and competitive. This future-proofs your online presence, reducing the need for costly overhauls down the line.

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Positive Impact on Society: By prioritizing accessibility, your business contributes to a more inclusive society. This not only enhances your brand’s image but also aligns your business with broader social responsibility goals.

Conclusion

AODA testing is a crucial step in ensuring your online presence is inclusive, legally compliant, and user-friendly. By identifying and addressing accessibility barriers, you can expand your audience, improve your SEO performance, and build a positive brand reputation. In an increasingly digital world, prioritizing website accessibility is not just the right thing to do—it’s also a smart business move. Investing in accessibility today sets your business on the path to compliance and growth, ensuring that all users can engage with your content and services without barriers.

[vineetacade]

The AODA Website Compliance Test: Ensuring Accessibility for All Ontarians refers to the process of evaluating and modifying a website to ensure it meets the standards set by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The goal is to make websites accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, thereby promoting inclusivity and equal access to digital content.

[return-to-twisted-wonderland]

|Explaination|

[On The Phone: Idia and His Parents.]

Mr. Shroud: It was a suggestion, not an order. That means a test was run on Aoda and it gave us the current information: The Unknown Genetic Code that was used to cure us of our curse was run through the system of every other sickness and disease as a promising cure. Aoda was then identified as an SS-Rank Resource for S.T.Y.X and a suggestion was Immidente Containment was listed as the best option.

Mrs. Shroud: As the Leaders of S.T.Y.X, we get every order and suggestion run across our desks with each test. Idia, dear, did you happen to run a test on Aodai's Unknown Genetic Strand?

Idia: Only to compare it to our curse. I didn't know his blood could cure other aliments. Wah... he's like a full heal.

[minnesotadruids]

Is there any issue in the druid community to where some are not 'genuine' and only use the title of druid to be different and try to be 'cool' because honestly you do not hear a lot about druids in the pagan community. They rarely come up in any conversations ..well at least with the pagans I know. So if someone claims to be a druid would you 'test them' to see what they know or does it not really matter?

For the most part, no… but it does happen in isolated occurrences. 

When it does happen, in my own experience it is mostly from Celtic Reconstructionists (henceforth CRs) who probably haven’t studied Neo-Druidry enough to actually understand it. I should point out most CRs are very well-read and friendly individuals. There is a vocal minority who has a condescending attitude toward anyone who adopts the path of druidry. CR is a close to pure practice of ancient tribal polytheism and custom. In the mind of a CR Troll, to them modern Druid Orders are all automatically just “New-Age rubbish.”

Now either these trolls haven’t got a clue what the New-Age movement is, or they haven’t got a clue that most modern druid orders do not officially incorporate New-Age concepts. Any bleed-over is mostly coincidence, or individual druids might have a syncretic practice where they combine aspects of both but I don’t think there are many in that camp.

Within the druid community, there are those who scoff at Ár nDraíocht Féin, or ADF (meaning Our Own Druidry). ADF is the largest Neo-Pagan religion in the United States. They permit Groves & Protogroves (congregations) to select a primary Indo-European pantheon to honor. This means there are ADF Groves that worship the Greek gods, or Norse gods, or Roman gods or any Hearth Culture from the Indo-European language family. 

There are some purist druids who come unhinged when they hear that some druids worship non-Celtic deities. Nevertheless, ADF has been growing in membership since 1983. This was one of the reasons there was a schism in 1988 when the Henge of Keltria broke off from ADF. They decided their druid order would focus just on Irish polytheism and the Ulster Mythological Cycle.

For things to hit close to home, among druid orders, there are a lot who don’t take the Reformed Druids of North America seriously and disregard it altogether. I have seen this attitude in Henge of Keltria members. I’ve seen this attitude in ADF members, including those in leadership roles.

Heck — even I was dismissive of Reformed Druidry for seven years!

Initially, I became intrigued when I saw it was founded in my own home state of Minnesota and is still active locally. Then I read the description: “blah blah blah the RDNA started as a prank and they still don’t take themselves seriously.” So I scoffed and continued my solo path. The thing is, that’s a tongue-in-cheek over generalization that isn’t a universal sentiment of all Reformed Druids. It wasn’t until I heard Philip Carr-Gomm of OBOD and Isaac Bonewits of ADF on the podcast Druidcast speaking of the Reformed Druid movement in a tone of sincerity that I started taking a deeper look at the Reform. These were leaders of two different druid orders who didn’t have condescending tones about the RDNA.

That’s when I started reading A Reformed Druid Anthology. It was hundreds of pages of free literature about the Reformed Druids of North America. I found out that people were finding deep meaning in this form of druidry. Once I saw past the veneer of silliness I delved deeper. I found meaning in it… in all of it. I knew that Isaac Bonewits was once very active in Reformed Druidry, trying to build it into a major religion. It didn’t pan out, which is why he ultimately created ADF. Jean Drum, the current Archdruid of ADF was ordained to the Third Order of the Reformed Druids of North America by Isaac. 

Drum has actually been trying to foster a positive attitude toward the predecessor of ADF by encouraging members of ADF to become Reformed Druids as well. In 2013 when I became a Third Order Druid in the RDNA, I was given the authority to ordain others into the First, Second, and Third Orders. I’ve ordained 27 seekers to the First Order, but since that same timeframe, Drum has ordained three or five times the number of Reformed Druids. It’s not a race, but a demonstration of his commitment to bridging the divide between the two druid groups. Later I even found out that Sean Harbaugh, a Reformed Druid and ADF member of the Mother Grove, ordained John Michael Greer (the Grand Archdruid emeritus of the Ancient Order of Druids in America, or AODA) to the Third Order of the Reformed Druids of North America.

When it comes to vetting the status of other druids, by and large there isn’t such a method. There are so many different druid orders today, each one with their own esoteric knowledge, that we can’t pass judgement on each other. I could ask a Sixth Order Reformed Druid “What is the nature of the sun at night?” and they could give me an answer, but if I ask the same of an OBOD druid, they probably wouldn’t know what I’m alluding to. That doesn’t make them any less of a druid, nor would I be any less of a druid because I don’t know the esoteric significance of the use of lanterns in OBOD.However, sometimes within the Reformed Druids, a charlatan shows up out of nowhere, claiming to be an Ordained 3rd Order Druid who needs a new copy of the Third Order ordination script. That requires vetting. Fortunately within our order, we have a method of validating those who make this claim.

On the popularity of being a druid: there’s nothing particularly edgy about being a druid. We are a small percentage of the overall pagan community. I would guess less than 10% of us use the druid label. Also, not all druids are pagan. A lot of like-minded individuals don’t even like labels, though it’s only human to fit each other into categories. Most of the pagan community practices some form of witchcraft. It’s edgy; for some there is an element of danger, therefore witchcraft is steeped in secrecy, and manipulating the course of events with spells and magic, which makes it more appealing. 

All this can also exist in druidry, though for some reason it’s just not edgy. I’m fine with this. If someone is a druid because it feels edgy, I won’t stop them, but at the same time I feel like they’re slightly missing the point. Granted, there is no universal point to druidry; it’s so subjective everyone gets something unique out of it. One of the common themes in druidry is seeking a balance with nature, rather than affecting change in accordance with will. I don’t know the rate at which druidry is growing in popularity vs other forms of spirituality, but it is indeed growing. All major druid groups (to my knowledge) allow members to have cross-memberships with other druid groups, as well as with other forms of spirituality. We just have to put the best foot forward, always seek knowledge and foster a love of learning, and hope that in time, others will gain in Awareness.

[webaccessibilityinfo]

AODA Compliance

Does Your Website Comply with AODA? Run an AODA compliance test to determine whether your website meets AODA accessibility standards

About AODA

Organizations in Ontario, Canada are familiar with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Establishments in the public and private sectors in the Province of Ontario must provide goods, services, buildings, accommodations, facilities, and employment to Ontarians with disabilities. This includes public websites and web content published after January 1, 2012.

AODA was passed in 2005 and requires public institutions such as government organizations, educational institutions, and private organizations with 50+ employees, such as nonprofits and private educational institutions, to make their websites and web content accessible by January 1, 2021, by following the international standard, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA success criteria. Text, videos, sounds, images, forms, PDFs, buttons, logins, and more are all included here. Invariably, organizations must follow WCAG to be AODA compliant.

Importance of AODA Compliance

About 24% of Ontario's population lives with some form of disability. Making accessibility more accessible is not only ethically right but also smart. Organizations with a forward-looking approach would welcome persons with disabilities and their families who would be potentially attracted by their influence. Failure to be AODA compliant will result in financial penalties of up to $100,000 for corporations or $50,000 for individuals or unincorporated organizations.

How to scan your website

Below are the basic steps on how o scan your website for AODA website compliance:

Enter a URL/domain.

Get an accurate and easy-to-understand audit (with visual illustrations and recommendations).

Share the audit report with your team.

Start fixing your site and ensure barrier-free access to people with disabilities.

How it works

The web accessibility scanner is fully automated, sorting your testing categories into:

High impact: issues that need urgent attention

Medium impact: corrections needed

Low impact: require manual review

AODA compliance checker provides a report that allows you to filter by:

Guidelines (WCAG 2.0/2.1) Level A-AAA

Priority (high, medium, and low impact)

Tags (CSS, HTML, JavaScript, etc).

AODA Compliance

AODA compliance requires all employers (with more than 20 employees) to complete an Accessibility Compliance Report following the first compliance report in 2014 and every three years thereafter. Basically, the compliance report confirms that the organization complies with accessibility regulations mandated by the province. A compliance report must be completed on the Ontario website by organizations or employers.

This act covers websites and web content, including web-based applications owned by organizations in Ontario and those that conduct business there (have at least one employee in Ontario) via a contractual relationship that permits product modifications.

FAQ - AODA

What is AODA?

Who must be AODA Compliant?

What is the deadline for AODA Compliance?

What are the requirements for AODA website compliance?

How to achieve AODA Compliance?

How do I perform AODA compliance testing?

Do you have an AODA-compliant website?

Visit AODA compliance for answers to the FAQs and get your website tested today.