Accessibility State College of Florida Less time Less

Accessibility State College of Florida Less time. Less effort. More awesome.

What is Web Accessibility? Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the web. More specifically, web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with the web and that they can contribute to the web. Web accessibility also benefits people without disabilities, including older people with changing abilities due to aging. Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities affecting access to the web, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive and neurological disabilities. Millions of people have disabilities which affect their use of the web. Currently, most websites and web software have accessibility barriers which make it difficult or impossible for many people with disabilities to use the web. As more accessible websites and software become available, people with disabilities are able to use and contribute to the web more effectively.

What is Section 508? U. S. Federal Law • Section 508 of Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 states in part: "Electronic information and data must be equally accessible to individuals with and without disabilities. “ • Prohibits discrimination on basis of disability by recipients of federal funds • Section 508 website: http: //www. section 508. gov/ Benefits • Accessible to individuals with disabilities • Comply with US Federal Law • More usable for all learners using wide variety of technologies • Accommodate different learning styles • Assist speakers of English as second language • Captions increase comprehension for all learners • Captions, Text Transcripts are Searchable • Recognize and research unfamiliar terms • Content accessed in situations not audio-friendly

Course Structure & Layout • • • Follow a simple and consistent course design Organize related content in Folders or Learning Modules Same display options for all Learning Modules Design for minimal scrolling; avoid horizontal scrolling and minimize vertical scrolling Use both icon (image) and link text on homepage Establish a consistent layout Same icon layout for all Folders Consistent color scheme Logical order of content Design for Ease of Use

Semantic Structure • Semantic structure is critical for accessibility • Use true bulleted and numbered lists rather than creating it by using the tab key and an asterisk or number. • Organize your content using true headings (sometimes labeled as “H 1” “Heading 1”, etc. ). • The document title should be a first-level heading, the next level should be second-level, etc. • HTML document should have only one H 1 • Don't skip downward levels (Ex: H 1 should always be followed by H 2 and H 2 by H 3 within a section) • Provide a table of contents for long documents. • Provide a descriptive document or page title. • Use true columns instead of other methods (e. g. , using the “Tab” key to create columns one line at a time).

Tips • Use the simplest language appropriate for your content. • Use illustrations, icons, etc. to supplement text. • Check spelling, grammar, and readability. • Be careful with abbreviations, jargon, complex language, or anything that might confuse the reader. • AVOID THE USE OF ALL CAPS. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO READ.

Color Scheme • Choose colors carefully • The use of color can enhance comprehension, but do not use color alone to convey information (e. g. , “Items in red are due this week”). Using color is fine (e. g. , “The items due this week have the red word ‘due’ next to them”), it just can’t be the only way information is provided. Ex: avoid color coding with red/green, pastels • Applies to: Text/Background, Graphics, Documents

Descriptive Hyperlinks • Avoid using "click here" or "email me" • Avoid placing links too close together • Avoid too many hyperlinks in a single document or web page ("34 is a lot") • Link text should make sense out-of-context • Good: There were many inventions during the Industrial Revolution of history • Bad: For information about the Industrial Revolution click here

Text Equivalents Alternative text serves several functions: • It is read by screen readers in place of images allowing the content and function of the image to be accessible to those with visual or certain cognitive disabilities. • It is displayed in place of the image in browsers if the image file is not loaded or when the user has chosen not to view images. • It provides a semantic meaning and description to images which can be read by search engines or be used to later determine the content of the image from page context alone. • ALT text can be added to image properties in HTML, Word, PDF, Power. Point, etc. • Alternative text should present the content and function, not necessarily a description, of an image. If you had to remove the image, what text would you put in its place? • Avoid words like “picture of, ” “image of, ” or “link to. ” • Use the fewest number of words necessary.

Multimedia Content Audio Only • Text-only Transcript of audio component • Transcript must be an accessible document Audio+Video • Synchronized captions are required • Text-only Transcript of audio component • Video Description (unless talking head) Example: http: //www. hort. uga. edu Example (talking heads): http: //webaim. org/intro/#people Can combine Text Transcript and Video Description: W 3 C Combined Example

Captions vs. Subtitles Captions • Assumes viewer cannot hear ambient sounds, include references • Accessible • Separate text stream (independent of video) • Archived, indexed, searched • Most often appear below the video • Can be turned on/off Subtitles • Assume viewer can hear ambient sounds but not understand dialogue • Not accessible • Part of the video stream • Subject to loss of quality during video compression and delivery • Most often overlaid so may block important visual cues • Cannot be turned off

All Online Electronic Content • Web Accessibility is not limited to websites or web applications but include Microsoft Word, Power. Point, Excel and PDF documents. • The guides and tutorials on the GSA 508 website are an excellent resource when developing your materials • http: //www. gsa. gov/portal/content/103565

Accessibility Checker – Built into Microsoft

Disability Resource Center Contact Information: DRC Bradenton Office: 941 -752 -5295 or drc@scf. edu Patricia Lakey, Coordinator- lakeyp@scf. edu Angela Powell, Advisor II- powella@scf. edu Jennifer Meier-Venice Campus Liaison- meierj@scf. edu

Online Learning Staff Gary Baker Director Phone: 941 -752 -5431 Fax: 941 -751 -8185 Email: bakerg@scf. edu Dale Drees Lead Instructional Designer Phone: 941 -752 -5345 Fax: 941 -751 -8185 Email: dreesd@scf. edu Kendi Judy Specialist, Instructional Designer Phone: 941 -752 -5437 Fax: 941 -751 -8185 Email: judyk@scf. edu John Ewing LMS Administrator Phone: 941 -752 -5254 Fax: 941 -751 -8185 Email: ewingj@scf. edu Melanie Wallace Staff Assistant Phone: 941 -752 -5237 Fax: 941 -751 -8185 Email: wallacm@scf. edu