Web Accessibility Resources
Testing | Tools | Laws | Articles
Resources: General | Browsers | Specific
Impairments
Presentations: EDUCAUSE 2001
Testing Your Web Site for Accessibility:
Bobby
Bobby is a Web-based public service offered by the Center for Applied Special
Technology (CAST) that analyzes Web pages for their accessibility to people with
disabilities as well as their compatibility with various browsers.
The WAVE
Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology. A tool that helps you determine your page's accessibility by presenting the "linearized" reading
order, ALT text for images—and image map areas—and the applet alternatives.
TOM, the Text-Only Maker
Developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications
(NCSA), TOM will convert graphical Web pages into text-only pages or text
and graphics Web pages.
W3C http://validator.w3.org
This service checks HTML documents for conformance to W3C HTML and XHTML recommendations
and other HTML standards.
Lynx Viewer
This service allows you to see what your pages will look like when viewed with
Lynx, a text-mode Web browser.
Net Mechanic
Net Mechanic doesn't check for accessibility, but it does check your Web site
to find broken links, perform HTML validation, optimize your images, and
monitor your server's performance.
Assistive Technology Software Tools
Jaws for Windows from
Freedom Scientific
Screen reader software that allows those who are blind or visually impaired
to use the Web and other software applications.
Homepage Reader from IBM
Free 30-day trial download available. Home Page Reader (HPR) provides an interface for computer users who are blind
or visually impaired to navigate and manipulate Web page elements and uses
IBM's ViaVoice Outloud text-to-speech synthesizer for speaking.
QuickTime Pro
May be helpful in adding synchronized captions to your video and multimedia
presentations.
LiveStage Pro
An authoring tool for developers and digital media producers, also offers the
option of adding synchronized captioning.
Zoom Text Xtra
It is a screen magnifier and some versions also include a screen reader.
Window Eyes
It is a speech synthesizer that works with the Windows operating system to
access popular software applications and the Internet
Assistive Technology Hardware Tools
Headmaster Plus
The HeadMaster Plus Headset is a mouse system that is operated by head movements.
JOUSE
Home Page Reader (HPR) provides an interface for computer users who are blind
or visually impaired to navigate and manipulate Web page elements and uses
IBM's ViaVoice Outloud text-to-speech synthesizer for speaking.
IntelliKeys
It is an alernate keyboard, which provides large keys that are easy to see
and touch. The light-touch surface can be operated with finger, foot, head,
or plonker-stick. Overlays give the user a customizable keyboard.
Information on Laws Pertaining to Web Accessibility
U.S. Department of Justice, Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Enforcing the ADA—A
Status Report from the Department of Justice
Section
504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 508 of the U.S.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973—Department of Justice site.
Section 508: The Road to Accessibility—U.S.
General Services Administration's Office of Governmentwide Policy site.
Section 508: Academic Community—Resources from various academic institutions.
Electronic and
Information Technology Accessibility Standards from Section 508 of the U.S.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI) Disability
Law Related to Information Technology site.
Resources - General:
Wright State University Web Accessibility Guidelines
Web Accessibility Initiative
As part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WAI is focused on Web accessibility
through five areas: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach,
and research and development. WAI is currently drafting Accessibility
Guidelines for Web Authors
Equal Access to Software and Information
This site contains links to accessibility-related Web sites and other resources.
Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI) also offers workshops on
accessible Web design, publishes an electronic journal (Information Technology
and Disabilities), and sponsors related listservs.
IBM Web Accessibility Center
Features an accessibility checklist and information on each guideline.
Microsoft
Accessibility Technology for Everyone
This site explains the importance of accessible Web sites and provides resources
including guidelines, tools, a checklist, and examples of accessible sites.
access.adobe.com
This website provides tools and resources to help people with visual disabilities
access information in Adobe¬ PDF.
CPD/WBGH National Center for
Accessible Media
A research and development facility that works to make media accessible to
people with disabilities, minority-language users, and people with low literacy
skills.
Accessible
Web Page Design
Resources that may be helpful in creating accessible Web pages.
Adaptive Technology Resource Centre
University of Toronto Information Commons.
The Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ATRC) provides information and consultation
on alternative methods of accessing information technology for people with
disabilities.
AbilityHub—Assistive Technology Solutions
This site will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods
available for accessing computers.
Eve Resources
This site contains information about color blindness.
Resources - Browsers:
WebTV Viewer
The WebTV Viewer simulates WebTV on your personal computer. Download either
Windows or Mac free software, which creates the simulation.
Fast Browser
Talking browser that adds voice-synthesizing software to Microsoft’s Internet
Explorer (Windows only)—creating spoken-word Web pages.
Microsoft Internet
Explorer
Version 5.x and higher (full install) has a special access technology called "Microsoft
Active Accessibility" (MSAA)
Resources for Specific Impairments:
Blindness Resource Center
A list of resources on the blind, including sources on Web access. An alternate
large font page is provided.
Vischeck
Vischeck's color vision model allows you to simulate how the world looks to
people with various sorts of color deficiency.
Colorfield
Shows images filtered using the Colorfield» Insight plug-in to simulate various
types of colorblindness.
Articles about Accessibility:
Murie, Michael. "QuickTips:
Captioning QuickTime," DV.com magazine. May 5, 2001.
Paciello, Michael G. "Getting
to Know the Disabilities Community," Web Review. March 9,
2001.
Discussion Groups and Listservs:
AXSLIB-L
A discussion list on the problems and opportunities for libraries to become
more accessible for persons with disabilities. To subscribe, send email to: listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
with the message: sub axslib-l Firstname Lastname The AXSLIB-L
Archives are also available.
EASI
A general discussion on adaptive technology with a special focus on its uses
in education. To subscribe, send email to: listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu with
the message: sub easi Firstname Lastname The EASI
Archives are also available.
Presentations:
EDUCAUSE 2001
Web Accessibility: What Is
It and How Do We Get It? (PowerPoint presentation); Example
of Accessible Web Page; Example of Nonaccessible
Web Page.
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