Accessibility

• 508 Standards for Web-based intranet and internet information and applications (1194.22)
  The 16 rules of Section 508 are lettered A through P. These provisions of the standards provide the requirements that must be followed by Federal agencies when producing web pages. A web site will be in compliance with the 508 standards if it meets paragraphs (a) through (p) of Section 1194.22.
• Section 508
  From the U.S. General Services Administration: "Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. The Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA), in the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Government wide Policy, has been charged with the task of educating Federal employees and building the infrastructure necessary to support Section 508 implementation. Using this web site, Federal employees and the public can access resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of Section 508." Also available on this web site are information and registration options for The 508 Universe training program.
• AccessIT
  The AccessIT (The National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education) web site of the University of Washington provides a knowledge base of accessibility information. Funded by the National Institute on Disabilty and Rehabilitation Research, the site contains information on training resources, upcoming events, and frequently asked questions about accessibility. Sample clips of the video Surfing the Web with a Screen Reader describes how helpful a compliant web site can be.
• Accessibility in Online Learning Management Systems
  Preliminary results from a project undertaken at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to evaluate the accessibility of four LMSs: Blackboard 4, Blackboard 5, Prometheus 4, and WebCT 3.0. Content authored by AnnMarie Johnson and Sean Ruppert.
• Accessible Education Through Assistive Technology
  An article by Elizabeth A. White, Shelley B. Wepner and Donna C. Wetzel, Widener University, in T.H.E. Journal, February, 2003. "Teachers are increasingly confronted with how assistive technology can be used and, in particular, how learning disabilities can be successfully addressed. "
• Computer Access: In Our Own Words
  This video is produced by the DO-IT Program (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) of the University of Washington. Students with disabilities share computer access issues and solutions and demonstrate their uses of adaptive technology, computer applications and the Internet.
• CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM)
  NCAM is a research and development facility dedicated to the issues of media and information technology for people with disabilities in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. Also, the Resource Center for Developers of Rich Media is a growing collection of resources for developers and users interested in ways to make rich media accessible to people with disabilities.
• Designing More Usable Web Sites
  From the Trace Center at the University of Wisconsin this authoritative site profiles and expands on a number of interlocking and interrelated efforts. Included are discussions on guidelines, web access tools, governmental efforts and other areas.
• Dive Into Accessibility: 30 days to a more accessible web site
  By Mark Pilgrim. Twenty-five tips are presented to help web developers create accessible sites. The book illustrates how simple and common sense changes can make a site available to the five characters who represent different disabilities. Tip are on a single concept, and provide examples of who can benefit when each concept is implemented.
• EASI: Equal Access to Software and Information
  EASI's mission is to serve as a resource by providing information and guidance in the area of access-to-information technologies by individuals with disabilities. EASI provides courses, hosts informal chat sessions and offers networking opportunities to both members and non members.
• Evaluating Web Site Accessibility
  This March, 2004 article on the WebAIM web site is by Jared Smith. Sections such as checking for keyboard accessibility, testing with a screen reader, checking your pages for WCAG compliance, and other areas describe practical and easy to understand steps to help you learn how to achieve accessibility in your Web site design.
• Evaluation, Repair, and Transformation Tools for Web Content Accessibility
  From WAI of W3C, this is a collection of information on tools that can be used by web content developers and users to make the web more accessible. The site links to dozens of tools such as Bobby, Lift, MAGpie, Colorfield Insight, AccVerify just to name a few.
• Introduction to the Screen Reader
  This short video demonstrates how screen readers assist the blind to navigate the web, access the electronic page, and more. It features Neal Ewers of the Trace Research Center and is itself an example of how to multimedia presentations can be accessible. Produced by University of Wisconsin-Madison, it is one of several video resources available.
• National Center on Accessible Distance Learning (AccessDL)
  The AccessDL site contains resources and links for distance learning administrators, educators, web designers and students about how to ensure that distance learning is accessible to students and instructors with disabilities. Categories of resources include discussion lists as well as publications and streaming video for distance learning designers, instructors, trainers, webmasters and editors. AccessDL is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and located at the University of Washington.
• Nielsen Norman Group
  The philosophy of the Nielsen Norman Group is to help companies enter the age of the consumer, designing human-centered products and services. Usability differs from accessibility, but is also relevant to the users of the Internet. Web Usability Guidelines are included in the Publications section of NN/g site and are available for purchase.
• Screen Magnification and the Web
  This is another short video produced by University of Wisconsin-Madison. In it, Neal Ewers of the Trace Research Center interviews John Klatt, a UW graduate student who uses a screen magnifier to access web pages. The video provides examples of how the use certain web design features can make it easier for users to read a Web page.
• Should Online Course Design Meet Accessibility Standards?[pdf]
  A summary of an online discussion by Peter Paolucci in the journal: Educational Technology and Society; published by International Forum of Educational Technology & Society and endorsed by IEEE Learning Technology Task Force, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 2004 and based on an online discussion period taking place in October 2003.
• Universal Design of Distance Learning
  An article by Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D., University of Washington in Information Technology and Disabilities,Vol. VIII No. 1 January, 2002. The article discuss access issues and present design considerations for assuring that a course is accessible to potential instructors and students with a wide range of disabilities. The field of universal design provides a framework for this discussion.
• WAI Resources
  This resource list from the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) provides information on web accessibility in areas such as "Getting Started: Making a Web Site Accessible". Also included are Quick Tips and FAQs. Links to the WAI official Guidelines and Checklists are also available.
• WebAIM
  Articles, demos, tips and 'how-to' tutorials are all included on the WebAIM web site. For example, a step by step guide to captioning is available with individual lessons. The WebAIM site itself is a demonstration of how to present material in accessible formats. The Web Accessibility In Mind (WebAIM) goal is to improve accessibility to online learning opportunities for all people; in particular to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities who currently may have a difficult time getting access to postsecondary online learning opportunities.
• Web Accessibility for All
  A three year project from the Center on Education and Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in collaboration with the university's McBurney Disability Resource Center, whose goal is to "provide an array of resources, links, and tutorials designed to help individuals and organizations create and maintain accessible web content." The web site includes tutorials and a "Learn by Example" section to "illustrate best practices for accessible web design."