Web Accessibility

Web Accessibility CommitteeMemorial University of

Newfoundland

Presentation to Webdays 2005

Creation of Web Accessibility Committee

Membership

What is happening at Memorial in this area?

Presented By Paul Whittle, Web Manager

University Relations Gerry Porter, Graphic Artist

Distance Education & Learning Technologies

Ruth North, Student Affairs OfficerGlenn Roy Blundon Centre

Kier Martin, Program Co-ordinator Independent Living Resource Centre

University & Universality

"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect."

Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web

What is Web Accessibility?

“Web accessibility simply means making your

site accessible to people with a variety of disabilities or to people using different types of assistive devices. This includes people with color blindness, hearing impairment, blindness, and motor skill impairment as well as people using wireless and handheld devices—Web-enabled phones, handheld computers, etc” (Zehno, 2005).

Web Accessibility Committee

Short-term goals:

• Get institutional commitment (resources) to support committee’s work

• Build awareness about Web accessibility

• Develop a set of best practices for campus Web development community

Longer term goals:

• Create & implement guidelines/policy through a series of recommendations for updating pages over time using accepted tools (e.g. A-Prompt, Bobby, W3C) & best practices

• Provide guidance, consultation & resources as required to those wishing to address accessibility

• Build accessibility standards into Site Builder & other Web tools

What is happening atMemorial in this area?

Why is Web accessibility important?

• Legal Considerations• Human rights legislation

• Ethical Considerations• It’s the right thing to do!

• Practical Considerations• Promotion & recruitment tool• Increased usability for all people

How can you make your site more accessible?

Top Ten Solutions from W3C

Images & animations: Use the alt attribute to describe the function of each visual.

Image maps. Use the client-side map and text for hotspots.

How can you make your site more accessible?

Multimedia. Provide captioning & transcripts of audio, and descriptions of video.

Hypertext links. Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example, avoid "click here.”

Page organization. Use headings, lists, and consistent structure.

Use CSS for layout and style where possible.

How can you make your site more accessible?

Graphs & charts. Summarize or use the longdesc attribute.

Scripts, applets, & plug-ins. Provide alternative content in case active features are inaccessible or unsupported.

Frames. Use the noframes element and meaningful titles.

How can you make your site more accessible?

Tables. Make line-by-line reading sensible. Summarize.

Also remember to check your work. Validate. Use tools, checklist, and guidelines at:

http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG

Demonstration

www.dis-it.ca

Questions?

Further References

http://wic.ucs.mun.ca/wac (WAC Home Page Also Under “About

MUN.ca” on Main Page)

http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/QuickTips/(W3C Web Accessibility Initiative)

Other References

http://www.mun.ca/student/disabilities(Glenn Roy Blundon Centre)

http://www.ilrc.nf.ca/programs/ilrc_cap.htm

(Independent Living Resource Center Computer

Resources)