Web Design for Accessibility *
The Good News:
The Internet improves the ability of disabled people to obtain information, because it makes up-to-date news and information readily available for whatever adaptations disabled people need to use (e.g., screen readers, captioned video, etc.).
Of course, this assumes the web site is designed to be accessible to the disabled.
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Difficulties the disabled face in using the Internet
Web pages without accessibility built in can be very hard for a disabled person to use:
- Pages heavy in graphics can be hard for those with low or no vision to comprehend if they do not have explanatory labels and text
- Video without written captions is hard for a low-hearing/deaf person to understand
- Physically disabled people may not be able to move a mouse to interact or navigate a page
- How can you make a Flash movie or a Flash GUI interface understandable to a disabled person?
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What does the law say?
United States Rehabilitation Act (Sections 504 and 508)
Goal is to supply a "level playing field" for the disabled
Section 504:
- Civil rights law that states that employers and organizations that receive federal funding cannot engage in intentional or unintentional discrimination against the disabled
- Universities (and other educational institutions) must make full accommodations for students with disabilities when they ask for it (not a long time afterward). This means they have to prepare ahead of time and not just wait for a disabled student to come along.
- There is an Executive Order from the CSU Chancellor's office requiring compliance
Section 508
- Prohibits the Federal government from procuring Electronic and Information Technology that is not full accessible to those with disabilities
- Extremely influential legislation, since states are adopting it
- CSU Chancellor's office has issued executive order 926 requiring compliance among CSU campuses.
- U.S. Department of Justice 508 Home page
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*See WebAIM Website.
