Does Accessibility Matter? Introduction to issues of accessible web and technology design Teaching and Technology Trends Symposium October 20, 2006 Sharron Rush & Glenda Sims © Knowbility, Inc. All rights reserved

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc2 Objectives Introduce accessibility terms / history / laws Understand the need for universal design Experience the problem of access barriers Answer your questions Provide resources for further exploration

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc3 Accessibility terms

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc4 what is accessibility? When all users - regardless of disability - can obtain the same information and perform the same functions.

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc5 why is accessibility important? More than 50 million Americans have disabilities. 750 million worldwide Numbers increasing as population ages. $1 trillion in aggregate annual income. Emerging best business practices. Government and institutional mandates.

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc6 For most people technology makes things easier. For people with disabilities, technology makes things possible. President’s Council on Disabilities Because of technology, our society has the unprecedented potential to include children and adults with disabilities in independent living options. We can not ignore the human cost of failing to realize that potential.

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc7 Accessibility History Who cares about accessibility? ….more people every day.

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc8 Accessibility in law and policy In the US: > Americans with Disabilities Act and others > The Rehabilitation Act – Section 504, Section 508 > States: Example -Texas Administrative Code Title 1, Chapter 206, Subchapter B State Web Sites > Institutions: Example - University of Texas Guidelines Internationally >Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) >Equivalent laws in Europe, Japan, Australia, others

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc9 Brief Look at WCAG Developed by consensual process Comprehensive: Includes over 60 checkpoints Widely accepted: European Union, Canada, Australia have adopted WCAG. Three levels of compliance declaration > Priority 1 (Meets minimum goals) > Priority 2 > Priority 3 (Most accessible)

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc10 Brief Look at Section Legally applies only to federal agencies: Shorter: 508 has 16 checkpoints, WCAG over 60 Experience: 508 based on WCAG’s most critical accessibility checkpoints. Measurable: 508 standards developed to be objective and measurable.

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc11 States also developing standards New York, California, Florida,Texas, Michigan, others…. Texas Administrative Code, managed by Department of Information Resources Chapter 206 State Web Sites Texas House Bill 2819 Often inadequate measures of enforcement and/or support for adopted standards.

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc12 But…is the Web a “public place?” So far, no definitive court ruling…. Some indicate YES > NFB vs AOL > New York State vs. Priceline Some not so clear >Southwest Airlines Some in progress >Target Don’t wait for law suit !

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc13 Accessibility in Higher Education Universities, colleges, community colleges, schools May be affected by state regulation Enforcement is difficult Guided by policy

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc14 Accessibility in Community Colleges Research at Cornell University on Accessibility of Community College Web Sites June 2006 – Sharon Trerise

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc15 Creating a culture of UT

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc16 UT Austin’s Experience 2000-Present Leader: Accessibility Evangelist Proactive Review: Manual and/or WebXM Resources: Hands-on Accessibility Training Help:1-on-1 Accessibility Consulting Guidelines: Accessibility Policy Competition: Accessibility Internet Rally

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc17 the need for Universal Design

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc18 devices must work together standard hardware meets AT requirements adherence to same standards of design and interoperability make accessibility possible compatibility

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc19 Assistive Technology ANY device that allows someone with a disability to perform daily tasks. May be > Low tech (pencil grip, slant board, cane) > Mid-tech (motorized wheelchair, scooters) > High-tech (computer based technologies) Appropriate AT depends on task, environment, and individual need

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc20 web assistive technology Alternative Keyboard, Alternative Mouse, Slo-Mo Software, Refreshable Braille Display, Screen Magnifier, Screen Reader… Examples of Screen Magnifiers/Screen Readers: Zoom Text by AI Squared - screen magnifying software that makes computers accessible/friendly to low-vision users. JAWS by Freedom Scientific – popular screen reading software. Uses internal speech synthesizer and computer’s sound card to read info from computer screen aloud. Home Page Reader by IBM – a web access tool for blind and low vision users.

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc21 what kind of disability is affected? Visual – blind, low vision, color blind Motor/Physical Auditory Cognitive/Learning

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc22 Visual Issues Graphics Color Icons Point and click AT solutions Screenreaders Magnification Keyboard access Voice input Braille output

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc23 Motor/Physical Potential Issues May not use mouse May not use key combinations Timed response AT solutions Track Balls Modified keyboards Voice input “Sticky keys”

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc24 Auditory - Deaf and hard of hearing Issues Music Auditory cues Audio tracks Webcasts AT solutions Augmentive listening Text transcripts Visual cues

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc25 Cognitive / Learning Potential Issues Learning modes Timed response Attention span others AT solutions Multi-modes of access AT combinations user control

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc26 your turn….. What assistive devices are in common use, designed for people with disabilities but used by much wider audiences everyday? wheelchair ramps / curb cuts automatic door opener closed captioning others?

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc27 Quasi-Disabilities These conditions create experience similar to that of users with disabilities: Slow Internet Connection Old Browser Missing Plug-ins No Speakers Small Display Eyes Busy / Hands Busy Noisy Environment Access

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc28 navigate the web …with a screen reader

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc29 Universal Accessibility supports all people supports all technology generally makes site better for all relationship to usability search engine optimization avoid a separate “text-only” version “Web for Everyone. Web on Everything.” -

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc30 Resources for further study knowbility.org jimthatcher.com utexas.edu/learn/accessibility/ Contact Knowbility for accessibility training classes offered monthly knowbility.org

© All rights reserved. Knowbility, Inc31 wrap-up What Questions Do You Have? T H A N K S ! ! For your interest in accessibility Glenda Sims Sharron Rush