Disabilities and Computing Program

Universal Design = Universal Access

Applying universal design concepts to your Web site will make it accessible to all Internet users, including those with disabilities, those with graphics turned off, and everyone using a variety of Web browsers and versions (device independence). Site designers and webmasters can take advantage of the DCP’s free web accessibility review service to assist in maximizing the effectiveness of their sites.

For more information Project EASI maintains a list of links on web accessibility issues.

A. General Web Site Accessibility Guidelines

Quick Start

• “HTML Commandments” (@ U Toronto ATRC)
  Quick reference with specific recipes for accessible Web pages.

Next Steps

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (incorporates previous work at TRACE )
  Comprehensive & detailed Web site design guidelines. Official Recommendation of W3C as of March 24, 1999.
• Starling Accessible Web Page Design
  Detailed analysis of the problem with practical solutions.
• IBM Accessibility Center (formerly Special Needs Systems)
  Contains guidelines for accessible design in hardware, software, Lotus Notes, Java and Web environments.

B. Web-related Disability Access Efforts

General

Java

• Java Access Team (@Sun; also includes GNOME Unix projects)

PDF: Portable Document Format

• Access At Adobe (see also Proxy servers, below)

Captioning and Audiodescription

• WGBH Media Access

International Web Access Efforts

• W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative; Working groups to further Web accessibility standards and browser design.

Accessible Web Browsers

• IBM HomePage Reader
  Converts HTML to speech output.
• JBliss Imaging Systems
  A variety of low-vision and speech-output products, including: “VIPinfoNet 1.00, a highly configurable Low Vision Internet Browser for both Blind and Visually Impaired.”
• NETTAMER
  All-in-one Web Browser, Mail and News Reader for DOS (perfect for old machines. There is also a version for palmtops.)

Proxy Servers

• Simple PDF to HTML Conversion by Form

Web Page Accessibility Logos

• Bobby 5.0 Web Page Checker
  Bobby is a service of Watchfire, offering on-line and downloadable tools to check a site against the WAI Page Authoring Guidelines. Sites receiving a 4-star rating may display the Bobby-approved logo. While not foolproof, Bobby can be a useful way to draw attention to needed accessibility features. Full product available for $299; more from Watchfire Bobby site .
• NCAM Web Page Accessibility Symbol
  “This image may be used by webmasters to denote that their site contains accessibility features to accommodate the needs of disabled users. The symbol should always be accompanied by its description and alt-text tag.” (Note that this indicates a good-faith effort to use accessible design, but is not linked to specific standards.) (Project discontinued?)

C. General Topics of Relevance (Not Disability-related sites)

HTML

• HyperText Markup Language (HTML) (@W3C)HTML is a markup language for hypertext which is used in WWW clients. This site provides an overview of all HTML related materials at W3C and around the web.

XML

• SGML, XML, and Structured Document Interchange (@W3C)XML, or Extensible Markup Language is a simplified version of SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language, an ISO standard system for defining and using document formats), suitable for Internet applications.

Style Sheets

• Web Style Sheets (@ W3C) “Style sheets describe how documents are presented on screens, in print, or perhaps how they are pronounced. By attaching style sheets to structured documents on the Web (e.g. HTML), authors and readers can influence the presentation of documents without sacrificing device-independence or adding new HTML tags.” (from W3C)