Instructional Technology Conference
Middle Tennessee State University
Building Communities of Learners
April 3-5, 2005
Using Accessibility Tools
Track 1
Effective Technology-Based Learning Resources
Examples and How-To Sessions of Technology-Based Resources
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Harriette L. Spiegel Connie Shih Workshop |
Abstract
This two-hour hands-on workshop will provide instruction and practice in using various web accessibility tools. Accessibility tools enable the designer of Web pages to ensure barrier-free access to the information on the Web by users with disabilities who rely on various assistive technology devices to interface with the computer. The participant should have basic computer skills, expertise in designing simple Web pages, and experience in manipulating HTML.
Description
This proposal is for a hands-on workshop to facilitate learning about Web accessibility tools. The participants should be computer-literate, have minimal expertise in designing Web pages and have experience in manipulating HTML. The participants will become familiar with some of the accessibility tools available to Web designers, and learn the issues related to their use. Accessibility tools have been developed to help Web designers produce computer products that are accessible to a wide audience of computer users, especially those who have any of a variety of physical or mental disabilities.
The computer has presented many opportunities for users with (and without) disabilities to both learn about and interact with the rest of their world. For many computer and Internet users, various assistive technology devices are used to facilitate access to the information retrieved through the computer. These assistive technologies include screen readers, speech recognition software, alternative pointing devices, and many other alternative input and output technologies. For instance, a visually disabled user might access the information on the Internet with the aid of a screen reader, which reads aloud the code. A hearing impaired user might rely on transcripts provided by the Web designer to understand the information contained in an audio file. A physically disabled user might use a mouth-held pointer to interact with the computer.
However, Web pages often present barriers for these users in accessing information on the Internet. For instance, a visually disabled user using a screen reader to access a Web page will not be able to access the information contained in a graphic image on a Web page without a description of some sort being designed into the Web page code. "Unless Web content is presented in ways that are compatible with the full spectrum of possible Web access devices" (from http://www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?241), all users will not be able to access the information available to others. The tools presented in this workshop are used to ensure that a Web page is accessible.
Efforts have intensified to encourage designers of all computer products, but especially designers of Web pages, to design with Web accessibility in mind. These efforts were given impetus by the 1998 passage of the Section 508 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This legislation required the appropriate design of computer products, especially Web pages, so that Web accessibility was guaranteed to all users with disabilities. We have referred frequently to resources at the Web site for WebAIM, Web Accessibility in Mind at http://webaim.org/intro/.
Especially in response to the legislation, many accessibility tools have been developed to aid the designer of Web pages in reaching full accessibility. These tools include Bobby, Wave, Accessibility Valet Demonstrator, AccMonitor Online, and Cynthia Says. Individuals new to Web accessibility need to understand some of the general characteristics of Web accessibility tools. It is also important to be familiar with the standards and guidelines used by accessibility tools. These tools provide Web designers, developers and evaluators with a great first step toward Web accessibility.