Web site accessibility

The power of the Internet lies in its accessibility - the fact that any user with a computer, a connection to the Internet and a browsing application can reap the rewards of the information highway. Users with disabilities have the right to browse content on the Internet in the same way that individuals without disabilities do. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by Public Law 106-246, governs this right. All Federal agencies and their contractors must comply with this law by June 21, 2001 - the deadline for compliance.

This course will teach students to ensure compliance with this regulation and to temper site content for delivery across all audiences.

After completing this one-day course, students will be able to:

• Discuss Problems Faced by the Disabled When Navigating Web Sites
• Understand Section 508 Technical Web Standards
• Develop Techniques for Making Web Pages Accessible
  

Target audience

Students should have an excellent working knowledge of HTML gained through prior experience or from an attendance on an advanced level course. In addition, a good working knowledge of Cascading Style Sheets is also required.

Course content

Introduction Introduction to Our Case Study • Exercise 0: Downloading and Installing the Files for Class

Web Site Accessibility What Is Web Site Accessibility?

Introducing the Disabled Community Types of Disabilities • Challenges People with Disabilities Face on the Web • Many Disabilities = Many Assistive Products

What is Section 508? The Spirit of Section 508 • Section 508 Is the Law

1194.22 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Application Standards Explanation of Note to §1194.22

(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided(e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content). Images and the Alt Attribute • Images as Links: the Alt Attribute Still Applies • Exercise 1: Adding Alt Attributes to Images • Complex Images • Exercise 2: Adding a Descriptive Text Equivalent for a Complex Image • Images that Do Not Require Text Equivalents • Exercise 3: Tagging Spacer Graphics to Create a Compliant Web Page • Are Links Text or Non-text Elements? • Exercise 4: Generating Accessible Links • Animated Images • Exercise 5: Providing Alternative Text for an Animated GIF • Other Non-Text Elements

(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation

(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup

(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.

(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.

(f) 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. Exercise 6: Making a Client-side Image Map Section 508 Compliant and Accessible

(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.

(h) Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers. Data Tables using the id and headers Attributes • Data Tables using the scope attribute • Exercise 7: Identifying Column and Row Headers in an HTML Data Table • More Complex HTML Data Tables • Axis Attribute

(i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation. Exercise 8: Titling Frames

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

(k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided.

(l) Information provided by scripts shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.

(m) The Web page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with §1194.21(a) through (l).

(n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information. Explanation of an Accessible HTML Form

(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links. Exercise 9: Creating a Skip Navigation Link

(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.

Appendix A: Software Application and Operating Systems Standards

Appendix B: End Notes

Appendix C: Recommended Resources

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