Web Accessibility

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Web Accessibility

• October 21, 2003

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Overview

• Definition of accessibility
• Laws, Guidelines and Us Policy
• How to evaluate accessibility
• Build an ADA compliant website
• Common tools
• Resources

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Web Accessibility

• Web has become an integral part of home and work
• E-mail
• E-commerce
• Web-based productivity tools
• News
• Entertainment
• Registration, grades, tuition

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Web Accessibility

• Web accessibility means access to the Web by
  everyone, regardless of disability.
• This includes the browser, platform, preferences
  or configuration.

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What is ADA Accessibility?

• In general, an information technology system
  is accessible to people with disabilities if it
  can be used in a variety of ways that do not
  depend on a single sense or ability.

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ADA Accessibility

• Web sites and applications that people with
  disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate,
  and interact with
• Web browsers and media players that can be used
  effectively by people with disabilities, and
  that work well with assistive technologies that
  some people with disabilities use to access the
  Web
• Web authoring tools, and evolving Web
  technologies that support production of
  accessible Web content and Web sites, and that
  can be used effectively by people with
  disabilities.

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ADA Accessibility

• Estimated 20 of the population in the United
  States has some kind of disability.
• Estimated 10 has a severe disability.
• Individuals with severe disabilities are limited
  in the way that they can use the Internet.

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ADA Accessibility

• Types of Disabilities
• Visual
• Hearing
• Mobility
• Cognitive
• Seizure Disorder

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Vision Blindness

• Assistive technologies that read text elements
  in a page.
• Keyboard used to navigate.
• Tab key to get from link to link.

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Vision Low Vision

• Use software to enlarge the screen.

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Vision Color Blindness

• Approximately 10 of men and 0.5 of women have
  some color blindness.
• Example Deuteranope- difficulty in
  distinguishing reds and greens.

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Hard of Hearing/Deaf

• Cannot hear audio content.
• Dont assume they can read lips.
• Dont assume they know sign language

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Motor Impairments

• Use assistive technologies like
• Raised spaces in between keys
• Puff and Sip switch
• Head switch
• Head wand
• Voice recognition
• Iris recognition
• Mouth stick and
• Trackball

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Cognitive Impairments

• Confused by complex visual layouts.
• Difficulty understanding lengthy text.
• Problems that affect ability to process visual
  information.

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Seizure Disorders

• Stimulated by quick movements such as animations,
  causing seizures.

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Student Experiences with Accessibility

• http//www.webaim.org/info/asdvideo/

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Standards, Laws, U Policy

• Standards Guidelines W3C
• Laws Section 508 of Rehabilitation Act
• University of Utah Policy

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W3C Standards

• W3C started in 1994 as a world wide organization
  of over 400 members
• The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is
  widely accepted as standard.

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W3C Standards

• 14 guidelines, 60 checkpoints
• 3 priority levels
• 3 conformance levels

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W3C Standards

• Quick Tips
• Priority Checklist

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W3C Standards

• Compliance Logos

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Section 508

• Federal IT Accessibility Initiative (FITAL)
• In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act
  to require Federal agencies to make their
  electronic and information technology accessible
  to people with disabilities.

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Section 508

• Technical Standards for
• Software Applications OS.
• Web-based intranet and internet information and
  applications.
• Telecommunication products.
• Video and multimedia products.
• Self contained, closed products.
• Desktop and portable computers.

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Section 508

• Applies to Federal Government Institutions only
• Does not apply (yet) to industry

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Section 508 Standards

• 1. A text equivalent for every non-text element
  shall be provided.
• Examplehttp//uuhsc.utah.edu/Example
• http//www.ut.regence.com/

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Section 508 Standards

• 2. Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia
  presentation shall be synchronized with the
  presentation.Example Skull ValleyExample
  Loras College

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Section 508 Standards

• 3. Web pages shall be designed so that all
  information conveyed with color is available
  without color. Example UGive
• Example Need another example

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Section 508 Standards

• 4. Documents shall be organized so they are
  readable without requiring an associated style
  sheet.

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Section 508 Standards

• 5. Redundant text links shall be provided for
  each active region of a server-side image map.

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Section 508 Standards

• 6. Client-side image maps shall be provided
  instead of server-side image maps except where
  the regions cannot be defined with an available
  geometric shape.

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Section 508 Standards

• 7. Row and column headers shall be identified for
  data tables. Example need to have ltthgt tags

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Section 508 Standards

• 8. Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the
  screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2
  Hz and lower than 55 Hz.

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Section 508 Standards

• 9. A text-only page, with equivalent info or
  functionality, shall be provided to make a web
  site comply. The content of the text-only page
  shall be updated whenever the primary page
  changes.Example U of U homepage

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Section 508 Standards

• 10. When pages utilize scripting languages to
  display content, or to create interface elements,
  the information provided by the script shall be
  identified with functional text that can be read
  by assistive technology.

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Section 508 Standards

• 11. When a web page requires than an applet,
  plug-in or other application be present to
  interpret page content, the page must provide a
  link to a plug-in or applet.
• Example E Reserves- Marriott Library

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Section 508 Standards

• 12. When electronic forms are designed to be
  completed online, the form shall allow people
  using assistive technology to access the
  information, field elements, and functionality
  required for completion and submission of the
  form, including all directions and cues.Example

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Section 508 Standards

• 13. A method shall be provided that permits users
  to skip repetitive navigation links.
• Example WebAim

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Section 508 Standards

• 14. When a timed response is required, the user
  shall be alerted and given sufficient time to
  indicate more time is required. Example Hotwire

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Screen Reader Demo

• JAWS
• WebAIM Screen Reader Simulation

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Validation Applications

• ADA Accessiblity http//www.cast.org/bobby/
• Validate your HTML http//validator.w3.org/
  
• Other Validation Resources http//www.w3.org/WAI/E
  R/existingtools.html

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Using Tools

• Dreamweaver
• Flash
• PDF files
• PowerPoint

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Resources

• http//www.webaim.org
• http//www.uwm.edu/Dept/dotedu/accessibility/
• http//aware.hwg.org/
• http//bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp
  
• http//www.microsoft.com/enable/
• http//ncam.wgbh.org/
• http//www.sun.com/access/
• http//trace.wisc.edu/world/web/
• http//www.w3.org/WAI/

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Accessibility Links

• http//www.webaim.org
• http//www.w3.org
• http//bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp
  
• http//www.Section508.gov
• http//www.ibritt.com/resources/ac_articles.htm
• http//www.ibritt.com/resources/ac_design.htm
• http//www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/solutionsacc
  .html

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Tutorials

• http//www.microsoft.com/enable/training/default.a
  spx
• http//www.webaim.org/howto/
• http//www.w3.org/Talks/WAI-Intro/slide1-0.html
• http//www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productin
  fo/tutorials/gettingstarted/
• http//www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility
  /mx/dw/
• http//studio.adobe.com/expertcenter/main.html