Accessibility in the Online Environment

Why is Web Accessibility Important?

Federal Laws - (ADA, Section 504) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) 1996 Department of Justice Statement – accessibility of Websites falls under the ADA UA statement regarding ADA / 504

Section 508 In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 went into effect in June, Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. ‘ 794d), agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.

Demonstration of JAWS JAWS is a screen reader program used by the visually impaired to access the computer. This demonstration quickly shows the importance of an accessible website for individuals with disabilities. Inaccessible page: – Versus an accessible site: –

Making Your Site Accessible Text Equivalents: A text equivalent for every non- text element shall be provided for every image within the web site. (Alt Tags, Longdesc or within text element) Color: Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information. The contrast between colors used should be distinct. Ex:

Making Your Site Access Cont’d Hyperlink Titles: The titles for each hyperlink must be meaningful. Titles like 'Click Here' can cause problems. Tables: When Tables are used for tabular data, identify column and row headers and associate data with appropriate heading labels. Ex: Skip Navigation: When providing a long list of navigational links, provide a way for your users to skip over the list.

Making Your Site Accessible Cont’d Forms: Form elements will be tagged with the label attribute. Contact information will be provided on each page with a form. Ex: –Database Driven forms – update the form information as user enters information. For example, I choose United States and the next field becomes a drop-down with the US States. Watch refreshing of the page and ensure that the focus does not move back to the top of the page.

Making Your Site Accessible Cont’d Flash -- Scrolling Text Refreshing Pages Cascading Style Sheets (Yes!) Uses correct markup of documents in order to display information correctly.

Web Validation Tools - A Comparison HiSoftware –CynthiaSays – Wave Color Contrast -

PDF Accessibility What you need to know to create accessible PDFs

Why make PDFs Accessible? Accessible PDF files allow access to information: –For individuals with disabilities –For individuals with low vision / using Assistive Technology –For individuals using new technologies (PDA’s, phones, blackberries, etc.)

Levels of PDF Accessibility Un-Structured: –100% inaccessible. –Typically an image-only PDF (scanned to PDF) Example 1 (Yeats) Example 2 (A World of Love) Structured: –Document is partially accessible (printed using Adobe Printer) –Simple, one column text documents are usually fine with this level of accessibility Example 1 (Transition Guide) Example 2 (DRC Brochure)

Levels of PDF Accessibility, cont’d Tagged: –100% Accessible –Tags are implemented to identify sections of document, reading order, images, etc. Example (Online Course Brochure)

Creating a PDF File Using MS Word

1.Create your document using appropriate styles Headings and Sub-Headings Use H1, H2, H3, etc. Images Add Alt Tag to images (right click on picture  format object  Web Tab  type in text Tables Go to Table  Table Properties  Row Tab: Check “Repeat as header row at the top of each page”

Hyperlinks try to have link on one line of text Lists Use the bullet / number list options in Word to create Reading Order Columns Text Boxes

2.Check your Adobe Conversion Settings Adobe PDF Menu  Change Conversion Settings Settings Tab Make sure “Enable Accessibility and Reflow with tagged Adobe PDF” is checked Security Tab Make sure “Enable text access for screen reader devices for the visually impaired” is checked

Convert your file to PDF the right way! Correct: Adobe PDF Menu  Convert to Adobe PDF OR The Adobe PDF Converter Icon on the toolbar Creates a tagged PDF Wrong: File  Print and choose Adobe PDF printer Creates a structured PDF (not tagged)

You have a PDF – Now what? Check it for accessibility! Open your new PDF File –Go to File  Properties This will show you if the document is a tagged PDF file –Text Select Tool –Zoom Tool / Reflow of Text –Advanced menu  Accessibility  Quick / Full Check for Accessibility Touch Up Reading Order Form Field Editing Settings

Working with the PDF Tags Go to View  Navigation Panels  Tags –This will open a floating window –Click and drag to tools on left side Set option so object is Highlighted if selected –Tags Tab  Options  Highlight Content Changing order of tags Changing labels of tags

Correcting Tagging Issues Use the following as a guide to making a PDF accessible: 1.Verify and repair reading order 2.Add missing text 3.Verify and add headings 4.Add text equivalents for images 5.Verify links 6.Verify and repair tables

Resources and References ADA Government Website Section WebAIM Hricko, Mary. Design and Implementation of Web- Enabled Teaching Tools. Hershey PA: IDEA Group, 2003

Resources and References Cont’d Thatcher, Jim, Bohman, Paul, et. al. Constructing Accessible Web Sites. Birmingham: Glasshaus, Thatcher, Jim, et.al. Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance (Science Library: TK W ) and ONLINE through UA Library University of Arizona Web Accessibility

Resources Adobe Sites: – – –Word to PDF Tip Sheet: accessible-pdf-from-word.pdfhttp:// accessible-pdf-from-word.pdf WebAIM Tutorial: http :// http :// W3C – PDF Techniques: http :// http ://

York University Tutorial: Ohio State University Web Accessibility Center: Book: Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance, 2006 by Jim Thatcher –Hard copy available at UA Library – Science: TK W –Available online through UA Library!!

Captioning of Media Automatic Sync Technologies: Open-Caption? Closed-Caption? Transcript? Benefits Example: Saver Heart Center

E-Reader – Electronic Textbooks Examples: –Kindle –Adobe E-Reader –I-Pad –Nook –Sony E-Reader

Contact Information Dawn Hunziker Assistive Technology Coordinator University of Arizona Disability Resource Center Phone: