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Transcript of [email protected] Web Accessibility and You A Web Validation Saga.
The World Wide Web
Once upon a time there was no Internet Now the Internet impacts society through
– Electronic commerce– Information acquisition– Community operations
The Internet has become a collection of communities and technology
– A Brief History of the Internet http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtml#Introduction.
Change and the Internet
Evolution of the Internet brings new challenges Architecture of the Internet and WWW has been driven
by designers As the Internet grows its stakeholders grow and new
demands are put upon the architecture of the WWW– A Brief History of the Internet
http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtml#Introduction.
Information Technology Has Changed the World
An estimated 54 million people in the United States have a disability
The number of people with disabilities will grow as the population ages.
Problems of disability and inaccessible technology are linked to demographics, economics, and issues of justice
– National Council on Disability (NCD, 2001). The Accessible Future. Retrieved May 10, 2004, from http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2001/accessiblefuture.htm
Currents in Electronic Literacy
The Imagination Gap: Making Web-based Instructional Resources Accessible to Students and Colleagues with Disabilitiesby John Slatin
http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/currents/spring02/slatin.html
Federal Mandates
Section 504 (1973) A Rehabilitation Act which is considered civil rights legislation for
persons with disabilities
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) Prohibits discrimination in employment, programs and services
Section 508 (2001) Requires accessible web and electronic resources for local, state,
federal government and government contractors – http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=122/
ADA & the WWW
ADA 1990 requires state, local government and “places of public accommodation” to communicate effectively with individuals with disabilities
The effective communication rule applies to covered entities using the Internet for communications regarding their programs (Waddell, 1999)
Chisholm, W. (1999) Creating Accessible Content for the WWW and Distance Education Aug 99
Section 508, the WWW, and MnSCU
Went into effect June of 2001 requires agencies accepting federal funds to be accessible to persons with disabilities
MnSCU states that there is, “sufficient legal basis to require that our sites are accessible.”
Minnesota web accessibility standards(2002) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities(MnSCU) Retrieved May 10,2004 from http://www.its.mnscu.edu/webmaster/access/
Disability Types
Physical disabilities Cognitive, language, and learning disabilities Auditory disabilities Visual disabilities
– http://www.microsoft.com/enable/aging/default.aspx
2 Kinds of Disability & the WWW
Disabilities caused by physical, cognitive, auditory, and visual disabilities
“Technology disabilities” related to outdated technology
Both of these “types” can be excluded from your materials without adherence to W3C, WAI, and Section 508 (2001) guidelines
– Horton, S. (2000). User-centered design for media-rich web sites. Syllabus: New Dimensions in Education Technology 14,(22-26)
Web Accessibility Initiatives/W3C
Access has been a concern for the web since its beginning
In 1997 the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was formed to watch over the Internet
A spin off of W3C called Web Accessibility Initiative was charged to develop accessibility guidelines
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)(2002) Retrieved May 10,, 2004 from http://www.w3.org/WAI/
WC3 Guidelines
Images & animations - use alt attribute to describe visuals
Image maps - use client MAP & text for hotspots
Multimedia - provide captioning, transcripts of audio, descriptions of video, and accessible versions
More WC3
Hypertext links - use text that makes sense if read out of context
Pages - use headings, list, and use CSS (cascading style sheets) for layout when possible
Scripts, applets, plug-ins - provide alternative content in case features can’t be supported
Last of WC3
Frames - label with the title or name attribute Check your work - validate the HTML, use
evaluation tools and text-only browsers to verify accessibility
– Section 508 mimics these guidelines
Web Validation Information
Web validation can be done by following guidelines for Section 508, WAI, or using a web validation software such as Bobby (2002)
Bobby will view your URLs and assist your web validation efforts.
– Bobby (2002) Watchfire Corporation Retrieved. May 10,2004 from http://www.watchfire.com/products/desktop/bobby/default.aspx
Bobby’s Seal of Approval
Bobby software analyzes pages for accessibility
You may display a Bobby Icon after making changes to comply with WAI and Section 508 guidelines
Example of Section 508 User Check
Bobby checks for html code compliance with 508
Requires one to review the checks triggered on the page
Some may not apply to your page
Sample addresses how an organization physically checked their compliance
http://www.wids.org/accessibility_508statement.asp
Compliance page Retrieved June 1, 2004
What Do I Need to Know?
Basic HTML Computer Skills Internet and Keyboarding skills Reading and Decoding skills How to ask for help from college staff
Webmaster Chief Information Officer Computer savvy colleagues
Accessibility Web Tutorial 1
Thatcher, J. (2003)ITTATC Web accessibility course.Information and Technology Technical Assistance Center.
Retrieved May 10, 2004 from http://www.ittatc.org/training/webcourse/
Accessibility Web Site Tutorial 2
WebAccessibilityInMind.(2002)Section 508 Web accessibility checklist
Retrieved May 10, 2004 from http://www.webaim.org/standards/508/checklist
Accessibility Web Tutorial 3
Doyle, C. (2001) Making your module accessible in BlackBoard 5.5. University of Wales Institute.
Retrieved May 10, 2004 from http://www.uwic.ac.uk/ltsu/5min_guide_module_accessible.htm
The Center for Applied Technology
CAST is an excellent resource for accessibility information their stated purpose is:
– To expand opportunities for people with disabilities through the use of technology
Also does research and product design on curriculum, and software for schools and colleges
Excellent sources for web validation, eReaders, universal design, teaching and learning
– The Center for Applied Technology (2000) Cast, 39 Cross Street, Peabody, MN 01960. Retrieved September 10, 2002 from http://www.cast.org
Who Benefits from Accessible Technology?
According to a recent Microsoft study the majority of computer users will benefit– People with mild difficulties (37%)– People with severe difficulties (25%)– People with no difficulties to minimum difficulties
least likely to benefit (37%)– Identifying Who is Likely to Benefit from the Use of Accessible Technology
Retrieved May 10, 2004 from http:www.microsoft.com/enable/research
Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI) Retrieved May 10, 2004 http://easi.cc/workshops/adaptit.htm
“Today's distributed computer environment means that providing support for the technology needs of students and professionals with disabilities is a global responsibility. It requires extensive planning and cooperation across several departments. "If it takes a village to raise a child, then, it takes the global commitment to support the adaptive technology needs of students and professionals with disabilities. It is no longer the sole province of the computer. It cannot be relegated to the disabled student office either. Seamless service requires campus-wide cooperation.”
