“Accessibility allows us to tap into everyone’s potential.” ― Debra Ruh, Founder of TecAccess and supporter of rights for persons with disabilities.
Learner Description: This page was designed to define and explain the importance of web accessibility, describe disabilities, and access helpful links to ensure web accessibility for all.
What is accessibility? Accessibility is the ability to enter, reach or obtain something. For example, when out in public, ramps are available to help people who have physical disabilities access buildings. Braille is also located in places such as banks for people who have a visual impairment.
So what then is Web accessibility? When a person interacts with a computer, web accessibility means all persons can retrieve information on a page despite impairment or disability.
Technology and the world-wide-web are reaching more and more people every day. It is vital to make sure a web page does not discriminate based on impairment or disability. Everyone needs to be able to access a site. How do you make sure this happens? The first question is, “What disabilities would prevent a user from having full access to a web page?”
Below is a list of disabilities that can be a barrier to access information on the web.
Auditory-People who have a mild to severe loss of hearing
Physical-Physical disabilities can affect the muscular system and impede or limit muscle control and movement
Speech-A person who is challenged with producing coherent speech
Cognitive-Cognitive disabilities can affect how people learn and process information
Visual-People who have some level of loss of vision or have color blindness
These two websites are the key to web accessibility. They include information and guidelines on how to make sure a page is accessible to all.
Section 508-These are the standards of web accessibility.
How to Meet WCAG 2.0- Guidelines for meeting WCAG 2.0 requirements
All web pages have different color schemes. Color makes the page pop and drawers the reader in. But is it accessible to people who have color blindness? Check out these websites to make sure your page does not discriminate towards people who have color blindness.
Accessibility Color Wheel-When designing a page, this is a great place to start. This information helps to choose appropriate foreground and background colors for people who have color blindness.
Colorblind Web Page Filter- Download the URL on this site and see what people with varying forms of colorblindness see.
Color Laboratory-This site simulates colors identified by a person with colorblindness.
Below, you will find a few more helpful websites that will ensure your web page is accessible to all.
Access IT- This website says it all! Whatever question you have about making sure all online work is accessible, this site will get you there.
Cynthia Says-Want to make sure your site is accessible to all? This is the place to go! Cynthia Says will check a site for free and make sure it is compliant with WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 web accessibility guidelines.
Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List -The programs and tools on this site aid in figuring out if a site meets all of the necessary accessibility guidelines.
Now you are ready to give access to all!