Web Site Usability

Chapter 6 - Accessibility Helps Everyone

Accessibility: In the web world, the word "Accessibility" is usually a synonym for "Usable by People with Disabilities." But just as in the non-web world, modifications which are made to help one group of people end up helping many groups.

For example, ramps originally built reluctantly in order to accommodate wheelchairs end up helping people with rolling backpacks carrying their computers, mothers with strollers, and the delivery guy!

Similarly, web accessibility guidelines like using font specifications which are not fixed in size may have been mandated for assisting the visually impaired, but end up helping teachers showing web sites on projection screens and everyone over the age of 42 who has resisted thus far buying reading glasses...

Also in this section, we will discuss the chronic headache of browser (in)compatibility, and the use of the @media property in Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to make web sites more accessible in places other than your desktop or laptop computer.

We will also find out what the W3C means by "user agent" and where it fits in the "cascade" of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). See Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 from the W3C.org web site.

1. Accessibility Issues
• Alternate Output
  • Large type, dark backgrounds
  • Braille terminal
  • Screen Readers
  • Wireless Devices - PDAs, cell phones
  • Printers
• Alternate Input Devices
  • Voice recognition
  • Touch Screen
  • Access Keys
2. It's the Law: Section 508
• "Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities."
3. Testing your site for accessibility
• Bobby
• W3C Validation Service
• Web Design Group Validator
4. Browser (in)compatibility
• Viewable with any Browser Campaign
• Standards for Web Authoring
5. Tricks with @media
• @media screen
• @media print
• @media aural
• @media handheld (really!)
• @media braille
• @media projection
• W3C media types
6. How do CSS, XML and XSL fit in? What is XHTML?
   • CSS - Cascading Style Sheets
   • XML - Extensible Markup Language
   • XSL - Extensible Stylesheet Language
   • XHTML - Extensible Hypertext Markup Language

Sites:

• AWARE (Accessible Web Authoring Resources and Education center)
• Web Authoring Tips from AWARE (good!)
• W3C Accessibility Guidelines (long)
• W3C Checklist for Accessibility (medium)
• W3C Quick Tips for Accessibility (short)
• Iowa Dept. for the Blind (excellent synopsis of tips)
• University of Wisconsin (excellent synopsis of all of this)
• Microsoft's Accessibility Site
• See what a site looks like in a Lynx browser (text only)
• Web Design Group on Accessibility

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