Wouldn’t it be great if all websites of Centers for Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living Councils, and Associations for Centers were accessible? Sadly, that is not always the case. Sometimes the center hasn’t thought about this aspect of accessibility, but you should. Often we are using a template that someone else developed, like the WordPress Template used to write this blog. We don’t always know or understand all the underlying decisions about design. We need to stop and think and learn about it.
What makes a website accessible? Think about your potential audience — all people with disabilities. Here is a quote from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines:
“For those unfamiliar with accessibility issues pertaining to Web page design, consider that many users may be operating in contexts very different from your own:
- They may not be able to see, hear, move, or may not be able to process some types of information easily or at all.
- They may have difficulty reading or comprehending text.
- They may not have or be able to use a keyboard or mouse.
- They may have a text-only screen, a small screen, or a slow Internet connection.
- They may not speak or understand fluently the language in which the document is written.
- They may be in a situation where their eyes, ears, or hands are busy or interfered with (e.g., driving to work, working in a loud environment, etc.).
- They may have an early version of a browser, a different browser entirely, a voice browser, or a different operating system.
Content developers must consider these different situations during page design. While there are several situations to consider, each accessible design choice generally benefits several disability groups at once and the Web community as a whole.”
- Make a commitment to website access. The first thing you must do is decide that your website will be accessible.
- Know the rules. (See Web Content Accessibility above and the Section 508 Standards.)
- Review your site using a checklist.
- ASK people you know to check the access.
- Run a check using WAVE. It identifies the accessibility elements as well as the errors..
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