In Memoriam: John M. Slatin, Ph.D.
It is with great sadness that we note the news that on Monday March 24th, 2008 Dr. John Slatin succumbed to the leukemia that he had battled so
gallantly for the last three years. John was a world renowned leader in the field of accessibility. Here at Knowbility, we depended on John's
good council, his great judgement and his deep understanding of teaching, technology and communication. John's work was always done with an
abiding sense of optimism and good humor, providing a touchstone for Knowbility as we created our programs and delivered services toward the
accomplishment of the mission that we shared with him.
John's book, "Maximum Accessibility", has come to be a standard text for anyone learning about technology access. John led the WCAG working group as they rewrote the W3C global standards for accessibility, he led the University of Texas to national leadership in the field, and he inspired countless technologists and advocates to take up the cause that he championed with brilliance and passion. An English professor with an intuitive and early sense of the power of technology to change the very nature of storytelling and learning, John was a true pioneer. He wrote of his life after the diagnosis in The Leukemia Letters.
We will all miss him terribly. We loved him and rededicate ourselves to this work in his memory.
Learn about the John Slatin Fund Accessibility Project a benefit project for John's family that matches accessibility experts with companies that would like a brief web accessibility review.
Send us your thoughts about John.
Your Thoughts About John
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008
Here’s what I remember:
John never judged me, he was one of a rare group of people, that I have the distinct honor of knowing. Every time I heard he was going to come to the offices I lit up like a child, exclaiming (in that dramatic way you know I am fond of.) “I love John Slatin, he is one of my favorite people.” – and this still holds true.
John loved life and showed me that what you see is not as important as what you feel.
I wanted him to be proud of me, yea strange when you think of it. But it is what it is. I admired his quiet strength and knowledge.
He loved his Anna. I remember when I met her it was at the Christmas party, and he beamed when he introduced her to me. His family was his pride as well as his true passion.
The things that I remember are not based on when and where, but rather on the images I have of the times I was around him and the ways in which my life was made richer by knowing him.
So, I say “Thank you, my friend”
Posted by Teenya
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008
I'm am profoundly sad by John's passing away, he was such an inspiration for many of us, he has left an indelible mark, and has been a model to follow. As many who have met John, he will stay in our hearts forever.
We have been blessed for having the possibility of his company, his sweet smile and his joy. Do not feel sad, since he died surrounded by family and friends, the same way he lived.
I am so thrilled I had attended John's accessibility panel at SXSWi four years ago. John was the reason I decided to accept UT's grad school program, and what led me in doing what I do now. His legacy will live on, no doubt!.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to spend some time with John a week ago, even with all his difficulty in speaking, he tried to ask me about my work and what I'm doing in Connecticut, and he was making jokes with the nurses.
I know that he is resting in peace with a smile on his face, as always.
Posted by Natacha Poggio
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2008
Dr. John M. Slatin
It is with great sadness to share that John Slatin passed away on Monday, March 24 after a long battle with leukemia. John was truly a survivor who embodied LIVESTRONG in each day of his life.
John lost his eyesight and became involved in accessibility issues long before the Internet looked anything like it is today. He championed web accessibility, where I first saw his name on the book called “Maximum Accessibility: Making Your Web Site More Usable for Everyone.”
He is the founding Director of the Institute for Technology and Learning at the University of Texas at Austin. He became an international leader for accessibility issues. He was co-chair of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Working Group in 2005 and 2006. He played an integral role in the development of the WCAG 2.0.
Sharron Rush, a friend of John’s and a colleague and friend of mine, told me about John’s battle with cancer in February. He started his fight in 2005 and like a true technologist, created a blog about it called The Leukemia Letters. Here, John has chronicled his treatment, his work, and his love for his wife Anna. Inspired by his story, the Foundation sent John our Manifesto poster, which his friend Jim Thatcher read to him in the hospital.
I couldn’t believe that John had cancer. It was hard for me to accept that a person who had already fought a battle against degenerative vision loss would have to face something even larger. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It didn’t care about John’s vision or his work. But John’s voice of courage and optimism can be heard between the lines of his blog as he never gave up and felt blessed being surrounded by people who loved him.
My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and to the community of people whose lives he not only touched but affected through his work. His legacy will create freedom of information available to everyone, regardless of their battles. John and his family have left an impression on me as they never backed down and never stopped sharing their love. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Posted by Bianca Taulman (LAF Staff)
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008
I'm wearing the black badge in honor of an inspiring friend, John Slatin, who succumbed to cancer late last night. Here's an actual photo of John and his dog, Dillon, taken by Joe Clark.
I can't help but think of another inspiring friend, Joe Warmbrodt, who also died from cancer a year ago, almost to the day. The timing is eery in more ways than one.
Thanks to YiMay, I first became aware of this poem when Joe died, and it is the most accurate representation of the loss I feel when a friend dies. I used to worry that repeating it for each friend would somehow dilute its meaning and dishonor Joe's memory, but time has shown that the words resonate more true each time.
John, you are now in the grand company of friends, loved ones, heroes, prophets, and kings.
...
I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.
Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains but the best is lost.
The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.
Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.
– Edna St. Vincent Millay
Posted by James Craig