ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE WEB

Goal: Make all public library websites in Maryland fully compliant with Section 508 Accessibility Standards.

MARYLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT

WHAT IS SECTION 508?

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law and set of standards.

It requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

SECTION 508

Includes:software applications and operating systems

web-based information or applications

telecommunication products

video and multimedia products

self contained, closed products (e.g., information kiosks, calculators, and fax machines)

desktop and portable computers

SECTION 508

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3) maintains standards called WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, implemented in 2008).

They are international standards.

Section 508 standards will soon be updated to refer developers and site owners to to WCAG.

WCAG 2.0

WHAT IS ACCESSIBILITY?

Accessible web content is usable and meaningful for people with ANY disability, including:

Blindness

Color blindness

Poor sight

Deafness

Reduced motor skills, caused by conditions such as arthritis or amputation

Cognitive impairment

WHO DOES IT SERVE?

Provide text alternative to non-text content, including images, tables, and forms.

Provide transcripts for audio content, or closed captions for video content

Don’t use visual elements such as color or font to communicate important information.

CONTENT MUST BE PERCEIVABLE

All functions must be available from the keyboard.

Give users enough time to read and use content.

Do not use content that causes seizures.

Help users navigate and find content.

SITE MUST BE OPERABLE

Make text readable and understandable by using clear and concise writing

Make content appear and operate in predictable ways by adhering to best practice standards.

Clearly define forms and help users avoid and correct mistakes.

CONTENT MUST BE UNDERSTANDABLE

Maximize compatibility with current and future user tools, such as:Screen readers

Disabling of CSS, Javascript, and/or images

Zooming tools

Mobile devices

SITE MUST BE ROBUST

WHY YOUR SITE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE

If your website is not accessible, you will lose valuable market share.

Accessible websites are generally good examples of web design best practices, and will therefore last longer and work better.

It’s not the law yet, but it will be. There have already been successful suits filed against businesses with inaccessible websites.

WHY?

BECOMING ACCESSIBLE

Understand how people with disabilities use the web.

Try:Activating your operating system’s built-in screen reader and navigating your site blindfolded.

Navigating your site using only the keyboard.

Disabling CSS and Javascript, and see if your site is still usable.

TECHNICAL TRICKS

Add alt tags to images

Provide transcripts for audio content

Provide closed captions for video content

Give descriptions to tables and forms

PROVIDE ALTERNATE CONTENT

HTML5 has tags for almost every kind of content. Call your content what it is:

Header (<h1>, <h2>) tags for headers and subheaders

Emphasis (<em>) rather than italic (<i> is deprecated in HTML5)

Ordered list (<ol>) for numbered lists

USE SEMANTIC MARKUP

Use easy-to-read fonts

Use fluid layouts so the site displays properly at any resolution

Leave ample white space to improve readability

Use high-contrast colors

FOLLOW GOOD DESIGN PRINCIPLES

The W3 Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) website has case studies of people with disabilities using the web.

WAVE shows errors and warnings in context for individual pages

Use your operating system’s built-in text-to-voice software for experiencing your site through a screen reader.

For links to these tools and more, visit prairieskydesigns.com .

TOOLS & RESOURCES

Thank You!

jessica keyes

@prairieskygaljessica.m.keyes@gmail.

com

prairieskydesigns.com