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W3C's WAI WCAG 2.0

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

What the hell does that title mean? To translate, it means that (warning: read slowly if this is all new to you!):
The The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is on the verge of releasing the first major update (since 1999) to their Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) under their movement called the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).
The nearly complete revision of the "official" guidelines on web accessibility has taken a big hit from Joe Clark, a well-know accessibility and standards guru. I find the guidelines pretty technical, quite extensive, and organized from a different perspective. But at least the Checklist is still quite usable.

I'm not defending the W3C, but I suppose the lengthy time it took and the wordy, complex language is a product of the massive, highly corporate authoring process. Sad, but true.

Overview of WCAG 2.0 Documents >>

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Accessible Acrobat (PDF) Files

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Guidelines on how to create accessible Adobe Acrobat (a.k.a. PDF) files. Note that Acrobat files should only be used as supplemental content on a web site, not as primary content.

Download Web Axe Episode 19 (Acrobat Files)

Great links:
We know about PDF files. Our PDF converter allows you to convert PDF to Word as well as PDF to Excel so you can use and analyze without retyping.

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Accessibility law in the U.S

Monday, May 15, 2006

Most of us know that federal web sites in the United States must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act for web accessibility.

Many people overlook the fact that any non-federal entity that receives federal monies needs to comply with Section 504 (of the Rehabilitation Act) to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. This includes any university, city, county, and state government which receives federal funding. Although the sites do not have to be 508-compliant specifically, adhering to Section 508 requirements can be used as an easy and more thorough method of meeting Section 504 obligations.

Most states have passed some type of policy, standard or law on web accessibility. States have adopted standards as defined by Section 508, the W3C, a mix of the two, or developed their own standards.

Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 also addresses web-related accessibility issues. The Act requires telecommunications products and services (including computers with modems and internet connections) to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Note that a phone number or other means as a work-around for an inaccessible web site does not satisfy Section 508.

Learn more here (ITTATC)

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Dennis Lembree is the founder of web development company Web Overhauls, which specializes in web usability, standards, and accessibility. Follow Dennis on Twitter: @dennisl

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Ross Johnson runs a web design company (3.7 Designs) that takes a wholistic view on the web and art of constructing pages. They strive to be creative and unique. Follow Ross on Twitter: @3pointross

 

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