Accessibility Related Articles

Important Questions for Your Accessibility Consultant

Tom — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:45:07 +0000

Asking your accessibility consultant the most important questions helps you a lot in managing your accessibility project. Through the consultant’s answers, you can plan out the next steps in making your web site accessible. It can also help you avoid or prepare for setbacks in the project.

Below we will discuss some of the most important questions you should ask your accessibility consultant. Having this list is useful when you are meeting your consultant for the first time.

Minimizing the Cost of Accessibility

Julius — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:59:37 +0000

Knowing about the costs involved in making a product or web site accessible is one of the best ways to ensure the success of this task. This helps you avoid unexpected financial issues that may hinder your project.

To assist you in becoming aware of the common expenses in an accessibility project, I’ve compiled some of the most important services you may need to acquire as you make your product or service accessible. This information should only serve as a set of examples and should not be treated as the only reference regarding accessibility-related expenses.

How to Properly Start Your Accessibility Project

Julius — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:49:30 +0000

I always talk to my clients after completing an accessibility project. And I often find that one of the challenges they face is the lack of a clear set of ideas at the beginning. Some have even considered closing the project due to this issue. Very often they know that they would like to make their project accessible, but there is very little information on how to get started.

But I believe that taking on an accessibility project is one of the best decisions you can make, and that you can deal with this issue by knowing a number of important points.

Below, I will discuss the factors you need to consider so that your project can have a good start. This article is for you if you are on the initial stages of making your web site, product, or service accessible. This is also for you if you are generally interested in accessibility and how it is achieved.

Section 504 Lawsuits

Tom — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:23:25 +0000

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a law that protects persons with disabilities against discrimination. When a covered institution violates this law, qualified individuals can file Section 504 lawsuits against the covered entity.

Below, we take a look at examples of Section 504 lawsuits and the settlements made by the groups and individuals involved.

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Tom — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:01:14 +0000

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a civil rights law enacted by the US Congress. Signed into law in July 26, 1990 by President George H. W. Bush, the ADA prohibits, under specific circumstances, discrimination based on disability.

The ADA aims to help the country benefit from the skills and talents of persons with disabilities, allow all Americans to gain from the increased purchasing power of persons with disabilities, and advocate more productive lives for everyone.

This law was amended in 2008 (ADA Amendments Act of 2008). The changes took effect on January 1, 2009.

Prioritize Accessibility Tasks

Tom — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:50:02 +0000

When it comes to accessibility have you ever found yourself in the following situations?

You wanted to make your site accessible but you didn't have the money
You just finished a web site or application and then found out that it is not accessible or Section 508 compliant
You thought a site was accessible and you found out that it really wasn't
You were told that your web application needs to be Section 508 compliant by a certain date and you didn't have the time to fix it

These are all valid issues, and you are not the only one facing them. But once this is the case, it does not mean that you need to forget about accessibility as it is. There is another way to go around it, and not only to make your site accessible or to bring it to legal compliance, but to show your commitment and willingness to work on it.

Think About Accessibility Before You Start Developing Your Web Site or Web Application

Tom — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:39:02 +0000

Have you ever found out that your web site or web application is not Section 508 compliant after you put all that work into it? Even worse, have you been given a short ultimatum to fix it?

At this point, there's nothing else you can do in order for legal compliance, but fix it. But there are lessons learned you can use in your next project. Consider accessibility before you start building your site.

Is Accessibility Overwhelming?

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:24:52 +0000

Have you tried to print out all the WCAG documentation? You probably got worried after several hundreds of pages when your printer didn't stop producing more guidelines and techniques.

Have you experienced planning to make something accessible and then finding out that the required tasks overwhelm you? This can indeed be very intimidating, and it could make you doubt that you could follow the guidelines. so you in turn postpone your plans and you may even cancel them.

But does it have to be this way? Is there a way to make a product, service or web site accessible and not be overwhelmed by the tasks?

Indeed there is, and it’s quite simple. So let us analyze a seemingly “intimidating” obstacle faced by many people in making their product, service, or web site accessible. By the end of this post, I assure you that you’d have a clearer idea about this issue.

ADA Web Site Compliance

Tom — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:00:16 +0000

An important step in making your web site accessible is to understand the laws regarding accessibility. However, most people often interchange the two major accessibility standards in the United States: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508.

It is true that both of these standards focus on accessibility. But they are two entirely different things. ADA is a federal law made in 1990, while Section 508 is only a component of a law known as the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973. To further differentiate these two accessibility standards, we provide a definition of Section 508 in one of our previous posts.

Now that we have distinguished these two accessibility standards, let us focus on the ADA and what it says about web accessibility. We’ll also point out the benefits you would get from ADA web site compliance.

Section 508 Compliance: What's in It for Me?

Tom — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:18:20 +0000

When you hear about Section 508 compliance, especially when you have to be compliant on your own dime, you may think that this is just one of those requirements that your company has to pay big bucks for. Maybe you even thought about checking the box, and see what you can get away with if you don't worry about it. Maybe you thought that you are paying, and others are benefiting. In this article, I would like to show where your company can majorly benefit from Section 508 compliance.

Section 508 Lawsuits

Tom — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:14:40 +0000

Over the last couple of years more attention was brought to Section 508 lawsuits. It is due to the fact that people started taking advantage of their rights, namely, that electronic information should be accessible to them despite of their disabilities. There are many more organizations which could theoretically be threatened by a Section 508 lawsuit, and it is highly probable that in the future it will be more difficult to get away with non-compliance. It is almost a pattern that the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is part of these Section 508 lawsuits. One of the reasons is that as an organization, they support the complaints of an individual, as an organization. Also, this sends a message to agencies which choose not to comply, namely that there is an organization which will help enforcing Section 508, even if on a case by case basis.

Here, we’ll take a look at the major Section 508 lawsuits filed against agencies and businesses regarding their web sites. Our main goal is to learn from these events so we could avoid facing the same legal problems they have encountered.

Should an Accessibility Consultant be Involved with Changing My Site?

Tom — Sun, 02 May 2010 22:40:06 +0000

In one of my previous posts, I told you about the reasons why you should hire an accessibility consultant. Now let’s delve a bit deeper on the specific tasks your accessibility consultant can do.

I’ll discuss the standard output your consultant should provide, and other productive tasks this expert can work on. More importantly, I’ll help you decide on whether or not you should ask your consultant to do the additional tasks for you. This post is in response to one of our reader’s comment.

Why Hire an Accessibility Consultant?

Tom — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:52:42 +0000

When you have decided to make an accessible site or application, getting the services of an accessibility consultant can save you time and money. Read on to find out just a few of the simple reasons why.

Hiring an Accessibility consultant Vs. Doing Accessibility Tasks Yourself

Tom — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:45:14 +0000

You have a lot of options when it comes to making your web site accessible. And one of the first and most important things to decide upon is whether you would ask an accessibility consultant to help you or do it on your own.

Let us take a look at each option. This will provide you with a better understanding of the choice you are planning to make.

Sell Your Products to The Federal Government

Tom — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:18:08 +0000

Your company has developed a great product which you plan to position for selling to the U.S. Federal Government. Your product is on the GSA schedule, and now you are ready to bid for government contracts, or expecting the purchase orders.

But have you thought about accessibility to people with disabilities? Do you know if your product is Section 508 compliant?

Section 508 Update Enters Public Comment Phase

Tom — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:44:18 +0000

As earlier promised to our readers, Even Grounds will post information related to the Section 508 update.

The Access Board released its first draft of recommendations for the Section 508 updates, and is seeking public comments.

Assistive and Mainstream Technologies

Tom — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:25:07 +0000

There are so many instances where, through minor modifications, you can make a mainstream product accessible. Nevertheless, there are also situations where your only option is assistive technology.

Here, we will take a look at situations wherein creating assistive technologies is appropriate, and situations where mainstream technologies are sufficient for persons with disabilities.

Why Bother Hiring People with Disabilities

Tom — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:20:54 +0000

Persons with disabilities are now gaining recognition among companies. Blind individuals have proven that they can perform well in jobs requiring speaking and hearing skills. People with hearing impairments have displayed much efficiency in working on printed and electronic documents.

However, persons with disabilities still face much difficulty in finding a suitable job. A lot of companies are still reluctant to hire disabled people, although they may be well qualified for a specific job.

Nevertheless, it is a fact that there are a handful of reasons why hiring persons with disabilities is a good idea.

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act: Making the Web More Accessible

Tom — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:35:35 +0000

While the exact date is not decided, based on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), it is expected that in the near future web sites will have to be made accessible.

In this article, we will take a look at the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the significance of web standards such as the WCAG 2.0 to this legislation.

It's Never Too Late to Make Your Site Accessible

Tom — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:49:22 +0000

Even though you may be done developing your site, you can still make it accessible for persons with disabilities. It is true that web accessibility experts recommend implementing accessibility at the initial stages of web development.

However, there may be instances when you just recently heard of web accessibility after you have completed your site. Also, you may have heard of web accessibility, but have set it aside for a while, and now you have seen its importance.

How to Maintain the Accessibility of Your Site

Tom — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:32:13 +0000

Making your website accessible to people with disabilities is a continuous process. When you have made your site as accessible as possible, you need to do certain steps to maintain its accessibility. These steps, however, are relatively easy and they do not cost much.

Here are the things you can do to ensure your web site maintains accessibility.

Usability and Accessibility

Tom — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:23:50 +0000

Accessibility presents a lot of benefits both to developers and users of websites. But what most people do not know is that accessibility also provides a set of advantages that can affect other major fields of practice.

Take the concept of usability for instance. Generally, accessibility has principles which, if implemented correctly, can greatly increase the usability of a site.

Benefits of Audio Transcription to Accessibility

Tom — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:14:44 +0000

In this article we will examine how audio transcription is prepared, and see how it can benefit accessibility.

The Cost of Section 508 Compliance

Tom — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:07:41 +0000

Let's examine the costs and benefits of Section 508 compliance. Before we start selling to the Federal Government or working on one of its development, it is worth looking into what will cost us, what's necessary, and what kinds of benefits can we expect when we want to bring our products to Section 508 compliance.

What is he UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Tom — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:36:22 +0000

A milestone for the advocacy of the rights of persons with disabilities is now steadily gaining worldwide acceptance and support. This is known as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) refers to a document focusing on international human rights of people with disabilities. It was created by the United Nations and is being monitored by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

What Can You Do If Your Business Does Not Have The Finances To Make Your Web Site Accessible?

Tom — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:17:24 +0000

There are many situations when companies are willing to make their web sites accessible, but they do not have the finances. Of course, the answer is obvious, an accessible web site will extend your market and you will have more finances. But what happens if this is still out of the reach of a small business? I will give you a couple of ideas on how you can improve your site's accessibility without finances.

Commonly Overlooked Issues When Creating Accessible PDF Documents

Tom — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:27:01 +0000

When posting documents on web sites, they have to follow the same accessibility requirements that the site does. For example, when the web site needs to comply with Section 508, PDF documents do too. There are a few things which I find are often overlooked when creating accessible PDF documents, in the following you can read about those and ensure that you address those issues as well.

Creating An Effective Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)

Tom — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:20:30 +0000

When you create your Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), it is your chance to let procurement agents know in detail about the accessibility of your product, and show how you differ from your competition. Often times, when your competition offers similar functionality, Section 508 compliance itself can be the only deciding factor. In this article, I will show you how to put together a VPAT which effectively communicates the accessibility of your product. In addition, you can also view and download a blank VPAT that you can fill out yourself.

Should Sites Be Accessible Or Provide A Text-Only Alternative

Tom — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:24:54 +0000

In many cases we can see web sites linking to a text-only version. Both Section 508 and WCAG allow the use of text-only alternatives, as opposed to making a site accessible by default. While it seems to be very appealing in certain cases in order to take a shortcut to full accessibility, it appears to cause much more trouble than good. Besides, it is also not elective to use a text-only version, it is an option in certain circumstances.

How Do People With Different Disabilities Use The Computer

Tom — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:38:30 +0000

Recently I have posted a series of blog items about how people with different kinds of disabilities use the computer. While this list is still expected to grow, below you can find this collection at one place.

Accessibility Statement: What Is It, And Who Uses It?

Tom — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:32:41 +0000

On an increasing number of web sites you can find the phrase "accessibility statement". Sometimes it is very visible and hard to miss, in other cases we can barely find it. Did you ever read any of these accessibility statements? If you ever did, do you read it on all sites where you find them? In this article I will explain what is the accessibility statement, and give you a couple of points to decide if you need it on your web site.

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) In Simple Terms

Tom — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:07:17 +0000

Introduction

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) is a set of guidelines developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) to make it possible to provide an enhanced user experience for people with disabilities when using internet applications with assistive technologies. ARIA is an extra set of tools developers can implement into their web applications to directly communicate information to assistive technologies.

Recently there are many technical descriptions on ARIA, this article aims to explain what it is in general terms, and give you an idea of how and when to use it.

Accessibility Also Helps Those Who Live Without A Disability

Tom — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:47:04 +0000

The implementation of accessibility or accessibility features are often times opposed with the reason that it costs way too much time and money for helping a few people. However, when finally things get implemented, it turns out that it helps many more people than to whom it was designed originally. To take a simple example, though not from the world of technology: ramps were built on curbs and building entrances to aid people who use a wheel chair. In many countries, actual legislation demands it based on disability related accommodation. However, all of a sudden people found out that it is the greatest thing also for those who walk with a stroller, a shopping cart, or on ice, during the winter, for that matter.

Is Your Web Site Accessible?

Tom — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:49:32 +0000

Sometimes we would like to know quickly if a web page or a web site is accessible. Accurately determining accessibility is not a quick process, but there are some questions we can ask to figure out in a matter of minutes if our site is mostly accessible.

In the following you can read a list of questions which will help you determine if your site contains any of the most frequent errors. What you should be looking for is if you can answer with "yes" to any of the questions. If the answer is "no", most likely you will need to make your site more accessible.

The questions are designed so that they are easy to answer without having too much technical knowledge about web design, web development or accessibility.

The Challenges of Training WCAG 2.0 in South East Asia

Tom — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:34:18 +0000

Presented at CSUN, March 21, 2009

Presented by:

Tom Babinszki, Even Grounds, Director
Larry Campbell, Overbrook International Program Director

Introduction

Under the sponsorship of the Overbrook-Nippon Network on Educational Technology (ON-NET), we conducted a web accessibility course online during the first half of 2008, and face-to-face in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in June of 2008. The purpose of the course was to teach blind and visually impaired people about web accessibility, equipping them to work as accessibility consultants and trainers in their own countries. There is still much work that needs to be done in the South East Asian region on accessibility. For example, there is a need for more accessibility trainers, work opportunities, and, of course, accessible web sites. This paper will discuss the process of conducting a WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.0 course, including the challenges and lessons learned during the course and its follow-up in order to facilitate further work and share experience with those who are interested in contributing to web accessibility in the South East Asian region.

Do I Need JAWS Scripting?

Tom — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000

JAWS scripting refers to making applications more accessible for those who use the JAWS for Windows screen reader to interact with their computer. They are mostly totally blind, and some low vision people. JAWS, however, in every day terminology is unfortunately used to refer to screen readers in general. In many instances developers claim that an application works with JAWS, where the claim should be that it works with screen readers. Also, it happens often that applications are tested with JAWS for Windows and it is stated that it supports screen readers.

This article will explain what screen reader scripting and screen reader customization is, when is it the most beneficial to use it, and when should you use other methods of making applications accessible. It will also reveal the facts behinds pros and cons of screen reader customization.

Section 508 Certification

Tom — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Throughout my accessibility consulting work, Section 508 certification is one of the first questions I get.
many of my clients asked me at the beginning of a Section 508 remediation, if I will provide them with a Section 508 certificate, which states the compliance of their product. In this article, I would like to answer this question, and dissolve misconceptions about Section 508 certification.

President Barack Obama and Disabilities

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:14:15 +0000

During the elections, the subject of disabilities wasn't in the center of attention, while it effects almost one out of six Americans. While more emphasis was put on foreign policy and the economy, President Barack Obama definitely has a plan for people with disabilities. And this plan, was posted electronically on the internet, with special considerations to accessibility.

Why Do I Need To Be Aware Of Braille?

Tom — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Two hundred years ago, a blind French boy, Louis Braille invented a writing system for blind people, which is used until today, and named Braille after him. Braille letters consist of six dots, the number of dots and their combination make a Braille character. This system is widely used by blind people.

WCAG 2.0 Became The Official Recommendation

Tom — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:25:24 +0000

The World Wide Web Consortium announced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 to be the new official recommendation.

After long years of work, the new set of guidelines allows more applicability to current and future technologies. In addition, WCAG 2.0 with its new structure makes it easier to follow, and provides much more guidance.

Accessible Alternatives for CAPTCHA

Tom — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:40:10 +0000

You have probably seen forms where you need to enter a string of characters in order to submit the form. This is to ensure that only people can submit a form, but automatic systems cannot, in order to prevent spam. This original solution is, however, not accessible for many people with disabilities. In this article I will offer solutions which you can implement to ensure access to all.

If you are a web developer, you might also be interested in:

Accessibility Enhances SEO

Tom — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:47:19 +0000

What's necessary for some, is good for all. Creating accessible web sites does not only help people with disabilities, but also enhances a site's search engine optimization techniques. This article will provide examples on how accessible solutions can enhance SEO.

Accessibility Of Documents On The Web

Tom — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +0000

A frequently asked question is if documents posted on the web have to be accessible, and follow web accessibility standards and guidelines.The quick answer is "yes", but read this article to find out why.

Testing With JAWS

Tom — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:00:00 +0000

Don't forget to download our free web accessibility workbook

During my consulting practice, many times I hear that a site was speaking with JAWS, so it must be accessible/WCAG conformant/Section 508 compliant. In this article I will show how JAWS works, when can we use it for testing, and why testing with JAWS or any screen reader only, we cannot establish the accessibility of a web site. In addition, you can read about JAWS scripting.

Steps To Making A Web Site Accessible

Tom — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:00:00 +0000

As you are reading this article, you have probably decided to make your web site accessible for people with disabilities. You are on the right track to bringing many more visitors to your site. Now I will show you what steps you need to take to design accessible web sites, or to turn your current site into an accessible one. I will offer you suggestions to eliminate unnecessary costs and to minimize the time without compromising the level of accessibility.

How To Choose An Accessible Content Management System (CMS)

Tom — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Besides looking at the functional requirements of a content management system (cms), it is also important to consider picking one which will be accessible for people with disabilities. Often times, the accessibility of a CMS increases its usability as well. This article will provide suggestions on finding an accessible cms which will provide the necessary functional requirements.

Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) Explained

Tom — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 07:00:00 +0000

One way to expose accessibility features of your product is to create a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) to detail how you comply with the federal Section 508 standards. This way, you save valuable research time for interested agencies, and get much closer to sell your product to companies and government agencies who require accessibility. While VPATs are currently used to describe Section 508 compliance, any accessibility standards and guidelines, such as WCAG can be applied in a similar format to the VPAT.

Section 508 And Federal Procurement

Tom — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000

It is not widely known that a government procurement procedure includes checking for Section 508 compliance. Section 508 requires accessibility for people with disabilities when the Federal Government develops, procures, maintains and uses products. If a product does not comply with this legislation, in most circumstances it is automatically disqualified. If you were still able to sell products to the government which were not Section 508 compliant, most likely the procurement process was not properly administered.

How Accessible Is Your Web Site?

Tom — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 07:00:00 +0000

Often times we are asked to determine to what percentage is our web site accessible. While this measurement helps us fill in a questionaire, in itself it does not allow us to learn much about the extent of accessibility. This article will explain why we should not measure accessibility in percentage and what other ways we can use to provide a more accurate estimate.

Manual And Automated Web Accessibility Testing

Tom — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:00:00 +0000

There are two major approaches to testing the accessibility of web pages. The older one is manual accessibility testing, using a browser, a text editor and our best judgment. The newer method is the use of automated web accessibility testing tools. This article will explore the benefits of both approaches and will suggest how to combine both methods to achieve better results in a shorter amount of time.

What is Section 504?

Tom — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:00:00 +0000

Section 504 is the more commonly used term for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is a national law that defines the rights of persons with disabilities. Section 504 aims to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability.

Section 504 applies to institutions such as public schools, colleges, and organizations providing vocational programs. It covers public services and government agencies. Section 504 also covers employers as well as private schools and agencies that receive federal funding or support.

What is Section 508?

Tom — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:00:00 +0000

Often times we hear the phrase "Section 508" in connection with accessibility or disabilities. In this article I would like to briefly explain what it is, who should pay attention to it, provide some information about compliance, and the Future of Section 508. At the end of the article you will find links if you are looking for further information.

Why Web Sites Should be Accessible

Tom — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:00:00 +0000

Acquiring the maximum number of online visitors is the goal of any website owner or developer. And a significant factor in getting good online traffic relies on how accessible websites are. But apart from having frequent visits from many people, accessible sites would also have other compelling advantages. These advantages involve online commerce, adherence to certain laws, and better assistance for specific groups such as the blind and deaf Internet users.

What Is Web Accessibility?

Tom — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:00:00 +0000

All of us want to use the Internet with speed and ease. And for most of us, there usually is no problem in going from one web page to another. After a minute or even a few seconds of searching, we normally would find the online information we need.

But for people with certain types of disabilities, this may not always be the case. Fortunately, a number of principles and concepts known as web accessibility has been developed to address the concerns of these groups.

What Is Accessibility?

Tom — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:00:00 +0000

When a product or service is created, everyone should be able to make full use of it. However, to businesses and organizations, one common question arises with regard to users with special needs; how they could make their product or service in tune with the needs of persons with disabilities.

In response to this, government and non-government institutions have developed a practice that involves guidelines and criteria that address the concerns of persons with disabilities. This practice is known as accessibility.