Web Accessibility
Articles:
Christensen, S. How We Work to Make the Web Speak. (Computer
in Libraries, 21(9), Oct., 2002). http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/oct01/christensen.htm
Distance Learning over the Internet: Access for the
Disabled. http://www.appassionato.org/NACUA/distance_learning.htm
Heim, Judy. Locking Out the Disabled. Office
buildings have wheelchair ramps, TV has closed captions, but many web sites are
inaccessible to people with disabilities. Things don't have to be that way. http://www.pcworld.com/features/article.asp?aid=17690
This article from PC World provides an excellent, readable overview
of the problems, issues and solutions in making web sites accessible to people
with disabilities.
Maxwell, Christine. Global Trends that will Impact
Universal Access to Information Resources. http://www.isoc.org/isoc/unesco-paper.shtml
A paper submitted to UNESCO on
behalf of The Internet Society, July 15, 2000.
Waddell, Cynthia D. Applying the ADA to the Internet: A
Web Accessibility Standard. http://www.rit.edu/~easi/law/weblaw1.htm
"Universal Design calls for the development of
information systems flexible enough to accommodate the needs of the broadest
range of users of computers and telecommunications equipment, regardless of age
and disability."
Web Sites:
Access Aware:
Extending Your Reach to People with Disabilities. http://www.ataccess.org/resources/acaw/default.html
Seeks to redefine human potential by making technology a
regular part of the life of people with disabilities.
The Access Board. http://www.access-board.gov/indexes/aboutindex.htm
An independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for
people with disabilities. Key responsibilities include: developing and
maintaining accessibility requirements for …electronic and information
technology; providing technical assistance and training on its guidelines and
standards; enforcing accessibility standards for federally funded facilities.
Accessible Web Authoring Resources and Education (AWARE). http://aware.hwg.org/
AWARE's mission is to serve as a central resource for web authors
for learning about web accessibility.
Accessible Webpage
Design: Resources. http://library.uwsp.edu/aschmetz/Accessible/pub_resources.htm
This site was created to promote awareness about the need
for accessible web design and to steer those who wish to learn more about the
topic into the right direction.
ADA Project: Great
Plains Disability & Business Technical Assistance Center. http://www.adaproject.org/t-dl_schedule.htm
A web-based tour of of methods and applications for
improving electronic access for people with disabilities.
All Things Web. http://www.pantos.org/atw/35412.html
Promotes an inclusive approach to web design to accommodate
those who are blind or visually impaired.
The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA). http://www.ataccess.org/
"Connecting children and
adults with disabilities to technology tools…"
The Best Web Accessibility Sites. http://aware.hwg.org/sites/
Presents the best places to get
information on accessible web-authoring practices.
Beyond ALT Text:
Making the Web Easy to Use for Users with Disabilities. (Nielsen Norman Group).
http://www.nngroup.com/reports/accessibility/
Designs guidelines for web sites and intranets, based on
usability studies with people with disabilities.
Bobby. http://www.cast.org/bobby
A free service provided by CAST ( Center for Applied Special
technology) to help web page authors identify and repair significant barriers
to access by individuals with disabilities.
The Brain Spot. http://www.unc.edu/depts/recreate/spot/
A site designed for persons who are learning to use the
Internet or are frustrated by other complicated web sites.
The Center for an
Accessible Society. http://www.accessiblesociety.org/
A national organization designed to focus public attention on
disability and independent living issues by disseminating information developed
through NIDRR( National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research)-funded research to promote independent living.
Center for Applied
Special technology (CAST). http://www.cast.org/
Believes that the most effective strategy for expanding
educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities is through the
development of learning models, approaches and tools that are usable by a wide
range of learners.
Center for Computer
Assistance to the Disabled - CCAD. http://www.c-cad.org/
A non-profit organization whose mission is "enhancing
the quality of life and employment options of persons with disabilities through
the use of modified personal computers, adaptive devices, and custom
software."
Closing the Gap. http://www.closingthegap.com/
Works to "enhance the lives of persons with special needs
through technology."
Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI). http://www.rit.edu/~easi/dislearn.htm
EASI intends to create a resource for information on
distance learning and students with disabilities.
IBM Accessibility Center. http://www-3.ibm.com/able/index.html
Through the Accessibility Center, IBM brings together
product and service information to people with disabilities and for human
resources professionals who are proactively seeking knowledge about solutions
or empowering persons with disabilities to ensure a productive working
environment.
Project Archimedes. http://archimedes.stanford.edu/intro97.html
"Seeks to promote equal access to information for
individuals with disabilities by influencing the early design stages of
tomorrow's computer-based technology."
Special Needs
Opportunity Windows (SNOW). http://snow.utoronto.ca/access/courseware/index.html
A listing of sources on web
usability, accessibility and people with disabilities.
Trace Center. http://www.trace.wisc.edu/about
The Center is a part of the College of Engineering,
University of Wisconsin-Madison. Founded in 1971, Trace has been a pioneer in
the field of technology and disability. Its mission is to prevent the barriers
and capitalize on the opportunities presented by current and emerging
information and telecommunication technologies, in order to create a world that
is accessible and usable for as many people as possible. Trace Center is
currently working on ways to make standard information technologies and
telecommunications systems more accessible and usable by people with
disabilities.
UseableNet. http://www.usablenet.com/
Offers leading industry information and expertise in the
form of simple, easy to use tools that automate usability and accessibility
testing for web site developers.
Web sites for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. http://www.dpa.org.sg/DF/
WebAble. http://www.webable.com/
A leading provider of Web accessibility technology,
consulting and training to ensure that its clients' web sites are fully
accessible to people with disabilities and in compliance with Section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act.
Web Accessibility in Mind (WebAim). http://www.webaim.org/about/
The goal is to improve accessibility to online learning
opportunities for all people; in particular to improve accessibility to
individuals with disabilities who currently may have a difficult time getting
access to post secondary online learning opportunities.
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). http://www.w3.org/WAI/
Pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas
of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research
and development.