Web Accessibility

Creating accessible web pages is an excellent way to effectively communicate with patrons who use adaptive technology. The Committee acknowledges that not all CS-SIS members work in institutions where they can control or influence the web site design; however, many do.

This page links to accessibility guidelines and to selected organizations promoting web accessibility.  The Committee does not necessarily endorse the viewpoints advocated. The discussion of the wiki's accessibility issues occurrs after the accessibility guidelines links but before the links to selected advocacy organizations.

Accessibility Guidelines

Section 508

A federal government web site that discusses Section 508, an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act (codified in the federal regulations at 36 C.F.R.§1194.22). Section 508 applies to federal agencies. The Department of Justice has used section 508 to measure Web accessibility when reaching settlements with local municipalities. It is the simpler of the two commonly quoted guidelines for web accessibility.

Web Accessibility Initiative

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines lead to a higher level of accessibility but are also the more complex of the two commonly quoted guidelines for Web accessibility.

Accessibility Tools

WAVE

WAVE generates a report listing web accessibility errors and other elements that may require attention to make a website fully accessible. It is a service of WebAIM which is affiliated with Utah State University.

W3C Validator

Validates HTML code against accepted international standards.

Selected Advocacy Organizations

AccessIT 

Funded by the National Science Foundation and affiliated with the University of Washington.  Offers a searchable Knowledge Base.

CAST 

CAST is a non-profit organization that promotes web accessibility as one aspect of its Universal Design for Learning.

the CS-SIS  Adaptive Technology Web Pages