implementing accessibility & web site standards october 6 , 2005

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Implementing Accessibility & Web Site Standards

October 6 , 2005

“Deployment of accessible technology, including websites, serves all Virginians, regardless of

ability/disability, and fulfills Governor Warner's vision of citizen-centric government using

information technology.”- Lem Stewart, CIO of the Commonwealth

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Introductions

Mr. Kenneth H. Knorr, Director,

Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS)

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Opening Remarks

Mr. James A. Rothrock, Commissioner,

Department of Rehabilitative Services

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Opening Remarks

The Honorable Eugene J. Huang, Secretary of Technology

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Accessibility Requirements

Virginia’s Accessibility Requirements for Electronic and Information

Technology

Linda W. Harris, JD Disability Services Administration

Tidewater Community College

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Accessibility Requirements• Virginia’s Accessibility Requirements for Electronic and

Information Technology:

– Meet, but do not exceed, the Federal requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act;

– Create binding and enforceable provisions;

– Require technical standards be used in all electronic and information technology (EIT) acquisitions;

– Do not eliminate the requirement for reasonable accommodation.

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Accessibility Requirements (cont.)Non Visual Access Requirement versus New

Accessibility Standards• Non Visual Access

– Requires only that the product have non-visual access and does not provide standards

• Accessibility Requirements– Requires that

acquisitions of electronic and information technology meet specific technical standards

– Ensures that all individuals with disabilities have equal or equivalent access

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• Why is it important?

– Eliminates barriers for people with disabilities

– Benefits everyone• Prepares for changing workforce

– Achieves legal compliance• Minimizes risk of complaints

Accessibility Requirements (cont.)

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Let’s Look at the Law


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Accessibility Requirements (cont.)CHAPTER 237

An Act to amend and reenact § 2.2-2012 of the Code of Virginia, relating to accessibility standards for information technology and telecommunications

procurements. [H 1360]

Approved March 29, 2004 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

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• That § 2.2-2012 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

Procurement of information technology and telecommunications goods and services; computer equipment to be based on performance-based specifications.

A. Information technology and telecommunications goods and services of every description shall be procured by (i) VITA for its own benefit or on behalf of other state agencies and institutions or (ii) such other agencies or institutions to the extent authorized by VITA.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+2.2-2012

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Accessibility Requirements (cont.)Such procurements shall be made in accordance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.), regulations that implement the electronic and information technology accessibility standards of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794d), as amended, and any regulations as may be prescribed by VITA. In no case shall such procurements exceed the requirements of the regulations that implement the electronic and information technology accessibility standards of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

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Development & Maintenance.

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Accessibility Requirements (cont.)• Virginians with Disabilities Act

– § 51.5-1. It is the policy of this Commonwealth to encourage and enable persons with disabilities to participate fully and equally in the social and economic life of the Commonwealth and to engage in remunerative employment.

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Accessibility Requirements (cont.)• To these ends, the General Assembly directs the

Governor [and the following agencies]…to provide, in a comprehensive and coordinated manner which makes the best use of available resources, those services necessary to assure equal opportunity to persons with disabilities in the Commonwealth. Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy, Department for the Aging, Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Housing and Community Development

Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, Board for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities, Department of Rehabilitative Services, Department of Social Services, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

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• E&IT Examples include:– Telephones– Information Kiosks – Transaction Machines – Multimedia and Video (videos, CD, web)

– Websites (Internet and Intranet) – Services (including support services and

maintenance)

• Information Documentation and Support – User guide and technical support

Accessibility Requirements (cont.)– Computers– Software– Firmware and Similar

Products– Office Equipment (i.e., copiers/fax

machines)– Ancillary Equipment– Related Resources

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• What E&IT is not:– EIT does NOT include any equipment that

contains embedded information technology that is used as an integral part of the product, but the principal function of which is not the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information.


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• Web-based Internet information and applications:– The criteria for web-based technology and

information are based on access guidelines developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium.

– The standards do not prohibit the use of web site graphics or animation. Instead, the standards aim to ensure that such information is also available in an accessible format.


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– The standards apply to Commonwealth web sites but not to private sector web sites (unless a site is provided under contract to a state agency, in which case only that web site or portion covered by the contract would have to comply).

– Accessible sites offer significant advantages that go beyond access.


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Accessibility Requirements (cont.)Other Resources• www.section508.gov

– Buy Accessible– Training– 508 Coordinators– Background Information

• www.access-board.gov – Standards and guides to the standards

• www.itic.org – VPAT guidance for vendors

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Accessibility Conversions

VITA’s Implementation of the Standards

Michael Logan & Michael TreagyVITA Business Systems Services

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• What Standard applies to me?– Accessibility Standard:

• All Web stuff, regardless of where it is, what it is (application or website), or who can access it.

– Web Site Standard:• All Web stuff that’s “publicly accessible”. This includes

a publicly accessible application. This does not include a password-protected application/website, even if select citizens can access it (i.e. an extranet). This does not include intranets or applications only used within an agency.

Accessibility Conversions (cont.)

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• The VITA Web site is mostly accessible, but we’re still a work in progress:– VITA public website has roughly 1,500 pages

(ColdFusion).

– Currently 85% of the pages are compliant with the Accessibility Standard.

– Most issues have been alt tags for images and <label>s for HTML form elements.


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• Current BSS Development Standards:– All new Web Application Development must be

accessible.– Old applications are being redeveloped

systematically.– Our Web Application Development Standard

says:• “VITA shall support the Commonwealth of Virginia’s

Accessibility Standard. The current Accessibility Standard is in draft mode, however, VITA shall continue to make applications accessible.” This obviously changes when the PSGs are promulgated (in force).


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• VITA’s Web application development cycle:.


VITA’s Web Application Development Standards include checking Accessibility during and after development.

WebApplicationDevelopmentCycle

Unit Testing

Microsoft FxCopAnalysis

Spell Checking

AccessibilityTesting

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Accessibility & Usability Conversion Overview

Daniel J. Ross, WebmasterThe Disability Services Agencies,

Department of Rehabilitative Services

Accessibility & Usability Conversions

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Web Testing Tools

Diane Stottlemyer, MSQA Virginia Assistive Technology Systems

Web Testing Tools

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Web Testing Tools• Web testing tools can be used to test your site

for accessibility.

– 508

– WAI Level 1

– WAI Level 2

– WAI Level 3

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Web Testing Tools• Free Tools are Available• VATS’s & VITA’s Selected Tool

– HiSoftware• AccVerify• AccRepair

– AccVerify and AccRepair are complete Web testing solutions.

– Reduces the time required to build, test, and repair a Web site.

– Provides content and application quality

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Web Testing Tools• VITA & DRS Provided Resources for Agencies

– VITA and DRS will make available a seat license for HiSoftware’s verification and repair tools at no cost to agencies who desire such assistance in addition to our online resources.

– Contact Information: For Seat License Determination:

Daniel Ross Phone: 804-662-9112 Email: [email protected]

For Testing Tools: Diane Stottlemyer Phone: 804-662-9990 Email:[email protected]

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Anticipated Implementation• Accessibility

– New Technology: Accessibility-related procurements, newly developed information technology, and substantially modified or substantially enhanced technology begun 60 days after the effective date must be completed in compliance with the requirements of the Standard.

– Implementation Plan: Within six months of the effective date of the Standard, each agency must develop and submit an implementation plan describing how they intend to meet or how they have already met the requirements of the Standard.

– Existing Technology: The agency must bring its existing technology into compliance as addressed in its implementation plan. Existing technology uses 60 days from the effective date of the Standard as its baseline. If the technology was developed prior to that date, it will be considered existing technology.

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Anticipated Implementation (cont.)Web Site• New Web Sites: Within three months of the effective date new

Web sites must be developed in compliance with the Policy and Standard.

• Implementation Plan: Within three months of the effective date of the Standard, each agency must develop an implementation plan describing how they intend to meet or how they have already met the requirements of the Standard.

• Existing Web Sites: The agency must bring its existing Web sites into compliance with the Standard not later than one year of the effective date of the Standard.

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Anticipated Implementation (cont.)Timeline

* KEY• WSS = Web Site Standard• AS = Accessibility Standard• Note: There is no grandfathering of old sites/applications.

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Contact InformationDRS - Technical• Daniel J. Ross

Department of Rehabilitative Services8004 Franklin Farms DriveRichmond, VA 23288Phone: (804) 662-9112Email: [email protected]

VITA - Governance• Eric B. Perkins

Virginia Information Technologies Agency

411 E. Franklin St., Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219

Phone: (804) 786-0516 Email: [email protected]

TCC - Legal• Linda W. Harris, JD

Disability Services AdministrationTidewater Community College315 Granby StreetNorfolk, Virginia 23510Phone: (804) 662-9112Email: [email protected]

VATS - Testing Tools (HiSoftware)• Diane Stottlemyer, MSQA

Virginia Assistive Technology Systems8004 Franklin Farms DriveRichmond, VA 23288Phone: (804) 662-9990Email: [email protected]

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Questions?

implementing accessibility & web site standards october 6 , 2005

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