Accessibility 101ObjectivesPoints to take awayBenefits to learnersJAWS DemoWhat is accessibility?Types of disabilitySome working numbersAccessibility in law and policySection 504 and Section 508Section 508 Web Standards508 Standards in 3 CategoriesEvery Page AccessibilityAlt Text: ProvisionAlt Text RequirementsAlt Text Examples & No-NosAlt Text ExerciseSkip Navigation LinksSkip Navigation ExamplesStyle SheetsStyle Sheet EssentialsAccessible TechnologiesData Tables: ProvisionsTable Examples: Simple TableTable Example: Complex TableForms: The ProvisionForms: The IssueForm Requirements: Position PromptsForm Requirements: Associate Prompts with ControlsForm ExamplesMultimedia: The ProvisionTranscripts, captions, and descriptionsTranscriptsCaptionsAudio descriptionMultimedia ExamplesOther Multimedia IssuesTesting and EvaluatingAutomated Testing: BobbyCompliance Checking: Bobby’s User ChecksExpert ReviewUser TestingParticipate in AIR-Austin!Participate in AIR-UT!Contact Information1Accessibility 101Dr. John Slatin, DirectorAccessibility InstituteUniversity of Texas at Austin2ObjectivesParticipants will learn:A working definition of accessibilityAccessibility guidelines and standards, including Section 508 federal standardsSpecific techniques for improving Web accessibilitySpecific things to avoidTools and resources for testing accessibility3Points to take awayGood design is accessible designThe goal is to support full participation in learning for allSeparate is not equal: text-only is a last resortAccessibility is good for learners and for you4Benefits to learnersInstructional resources are accessible to learners and faculty with disabilitiesInstructional resources are better suited to multiple learning styles and multiple intelligencesImproved design makes instructional resources more engaging and effective for all participants5JAWS DemoScreen readerReads top to bottom, left to rightReads on screen text; also parses HTML source, and for some applications relies on MS Active Accessibility APIDemo at www.freedomscientific.com6What is accessibility?Accessibility is not “in” the Web pageAccessibility is experiential: User is able to use data, information, and services as effectively as someone without a disabilityAccessibility is environmental: it depends on the interaction of the page with browsers, assistive technologies--and people7Types of disabilityCognitive/learningAuditoryVisualMotor/physicalSpeech8Some working numbers54,000,000 Americans have disabilities1 in 5 (1 in 2 for people over 65)5.9 million children with disabilities in U.S. schools (462,000 in Texas)Only 428,000 in all higher ed (1998-99)9Accessibility in law and policySection 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (rev. 1998)10Section 504 and Section 508Section 504 of the Rehab. Act (1973):all programs and activities of educational institutions receiving federal funds must be accessible to otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilitiesComplying with Section 508 accessibility standards is best way to meet 504 requirements where IT is concerned11Section 508 Web Standards16 specific provisions, (a) – (p)Effective date: June 21, 2001We’ll concentrate on the most important provisions of Section 50812508 Standards in 3 CategoriesEvery page accessibility (3 provisions)Apply to virtually every Web pageWe’ll add a few moreAccessible technologies (9 provisions)Appear on specific pages for specific purposesPrecautions/things to avoid (4 provisions)13Every Page AccessibilityText equivalents (a)Skip navigation (o)Cascading Style Sheets (d)Plus…Relative sizes for fonts, etc.Clear, informative link text14Alt Text: Provision(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided(e.g., via alt, longdesc, or in element content)The issue: Imagine listening to all pages or using a browser that shows only text. Without text equivalents (alt text), people using these would be lost.15Alt Text RequirementsEvery image element must have an alt attributeImages that don’t convey meaning should have empty alt attributes (alt=“”)Image links must have meaningful alt textGraphical buttons and image map hotspots also need meaningful alt16Alt Text Examples & No-NosAccessibility Institute How-Tos and Demos athttp://www.utexas.edu/research/accessibility/resource/how_to/index.html17Alt Text ExerciseWhat should the alt text be for the following:A blue arrow that links to the next page;A blue arrow repeated around the borders of a pageThumbnail photo of of blind woman that links to home page from every page on site about blindnessSame image linked to information about the woman In the photo18Skip Navigation Links(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repeated navigation links.The issue: Because screen readers read left to right and top to bottom, users often have to listen to all navigation links before getting to the main content on every page.19Skip Navigation ExamplesUT Home Page at www.utexas.edu20Style Sheets(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.The issue: Style sheets are best for Web layout. But the visual order can be different from the order for reading aloud, so authors must take care to preserve readability.21Style Sheet EssentialsStyle sheets are an asset to accessibility but are ignored by ssistive technology (screen readers, etc..). So:Don’t use style sheets to convey essential information!Pages shouldn’t depend onstyle sheets for contentBe careful with color and positioningCheck pages with style sheets turned off22Accessible TechnologiesForms (n)Tables (g, h)Multimedia (b)Applets and plug-ins/media players (m)Image Maps (e, f)Scripts (l)Frames (i)23Data Tables: Provisions(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. Issue: Tables are meant for the eye, not the ear24Table Examples: Simple TableIdentifying row and column headershttp://www.utexas.edu/research/accessibility/resource/how_to/table/headers/headers.html25Table Example: Complex