Accessibility in the
Online Environment
Why is Web Accessibility Important?
Federal Laws - (ADA, Section 504)
• http://uaweb.arizona.edu/why-accessible
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
• 1996 Department of Justice Statement –
accessibility of Websites falls under the ADA
• UA statement regarding ADA / 504
Section 508
• In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act
to require Federal agencies to make their
electronic and information technology accessible
to people with disabilities. Section 508 went into
effect in June, 2001.
• Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. ‘ 794d), agencies
must give disabled employees and members of the
public access to information that is comparable to
the access available to others.
Demonstration of JAWS
• JAWS is a screen reader program used by the
visually impaired to access the computer.
• This demonstration quickly shows the
importance of an accessible website for
individuals with disabilities.
Inaccessible page:
– http://drc.arizona.edu/webaccess/inaccessible.html
Versus an accessible site:
– http://drc.arizona.edu/webaccess/accessible.html
Making Your Site Accessible
• http://uaweb.arizona.edu/accessibility-home
• Text Equivalents: A text equivalent for every nontext element shall be provided for every image
within the web site. (Alt Tags, Longdesc or within
text element)
• Color: Color coding shall not be used as the only
means of conveying information. The contrast
between colors used should be distinct.
Ex: http://drc.arizona.edu/webaccess/color.html
Making Your Site Access Cont’d
• Hyperlink Titles: The titles for each hyperlink
must be meaningful. Titles like 'Click Here' can
cause problems.
• Tables: When Tables are used for tabular data,
identify column and row headers and associate
data with appropriate heading labels.
Ex: http://drc.arizona.edu/webaccess/tables.html
• Skip Navigation: When providing a long list of
navigational links, provide a way for your users to
skip over the list.
Making Your Site Accessible Cont’d
• Forms: Form elements will be tagged with the
label attribute. Contact information will be
provided on each page with a form.
Ex: http://www.webaim.org/techniques/forms/screen_reader.php
– Database Driven forms – update the form information as user
enters information.
• For example, I choose United States and the next field
becomes a drop-down with the US States.
• Watch refreshing of the page and ensure that the focus
does not move back to the top of the page.
Making Your Site Accessible Cont’d
•
•
•
•
Flash -- http://www.webaim.org/techniques/flash/
Scrolling Text
Refreshing Pages
Cascading Style Sheets (Yes!)
• Uses correct markup of documents in order to
display information correctly.
Web Validation Tools A Comparison
• HiSoftware - http://www.hisoftware.com
– CynthiaSays – http://www.cynthiasays.com
• Wave - http://www.wave.webaim.org
• Color Contrast - http://www.vischeck.com
PDF Accessibility
What you need to know to create
accessible PDFs
Why make PDFs Accessible?
• Accessible PDF files allow access to information:
– For individuals with disabilities
– For individuals with low vision / using Assistive
Technology
– For individuals using new technologies (PDA’s,
phones, blackberries, etc.)
Levels of PDF Accessibility
• Un-Structured:
– 100% inaccessible.
– Typically an image-only PDF (scanned to PDF)
• Example 1 (Yeats)
• Example 2 (A World of Love)
• Structured:
– Document is partially accessible (printed using
Adobe Printer)
– Simple, one column text documents are usually
fine with this level of accessibility
• Example 1 (Transition Guide)
• Example 2 (DRC Brochure)
Levels of PDF Accessibility, cont’d
• Tagged:
– 100% Accessible
– Tags are implemented to identify sections of
document, reading order, images, etc.
• Example (Online Course Brochure)
Creating a PDF File Using MS Word
http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/acrobat/training.html
1. Create your document using appropriate styles
•
Headings and Sub-Headings
•
•
Images
•
•
Use H1, H2, H3, etc.
Add Alt Tag to images (right click on picture 
format object  Web Tab  type in text
Tables
•
Go to Table  Table Properties  Row Tab: Check
“Repeat as header row at the top of each page”
• Hyperlinks
• try to have link on one line of text
• Lists
• Use the bullet / number list options in Word to
create
• Reading Order
• Columns
• Text Boxes
2. Check your Adobe Conversion Settings
• Adobe PDF Menu  Change Conversion
Settings
• Settings Tab
• Make sure “Enable Accessibility and Reflow
with tagged Adobe PDF” is checked
• Security Tab
• Make sure “Enable text access for screen reader
devices for the visually impaired” is checked
Convert your file to
PDF the right way!
Correct:
• Adobe PDF Menu  Convert to Adobe PDF
OR
• The Adobe PDF Converter Icon on the toolbar
•
Creates a tagged PDF
Wrong:
• File  Print and choose Adobe PDF printer
•
Creates a structured PDF (not tagged)
You have a PDF – Now what?
Check it for accessibility!
• Open your new PDF File
– Go to File  Properties
• This will show you if the document is a tagged
PDF file
– Text Select Tool
– Zoom Tool / Reflow of Text
– Advanced menu  Accessibility 
• Quick / Full Check for Accessibility
• Touch Up Reading Order
• Form Field Editing
• Settings
Working with the PDF Tags
• Go to View  Navigation Panels  Tags
– This will open a floating window
– Click and drag to tools on left side
• Set option so object is Highlighted if selected
– Tags Tab  Options  Highlight Content
• Changing order of tags
• Changing labels of tags
Correcting Tagging Issues
•
Use the following as a guide to making a PDF
accessible:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Verify and repair reading order
Add missing text
Verify and add headings
Add text equivalents for images
Verify links
Verify and repair tables
Resources and References
• ADA Government Website
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
• Section 508
http://www.section508.gov/
• WebAIM -- http://www.webaim.org/
• Hricko, Mary. Design and Implementation of WebEnabled Teaching Tools. Hershey PA: IDEA
Group, 2003
Resources and References Cont’d
• Thatcher, Jim, Bohman, Paul, et. al. Constructing
Accessible Web Sites. Birmingham: Glasshaus,
2002.
• Thatcher, Jim, et.al. Web Accessibility: Web
Standards and Regulatory Compliance. 2006
(Science Library: TK5105.888.W369 2006) and
ONLINE through UA Library
• University of Arizona Web Accessibility
http://uaweb.arizona.edu/accessibility-home
Resources
• Adobe Sites:
– http://www.adobe.com/accessibility
– http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/acrobat/training.html
– Word to PDF Tip Sheet:
• http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/acrobat/pdf/A9accessible-pdf-from-word.pdf
• WebAIM Tutorial:
http://www.webaim.org/techniques/acrobat
• W3C – PDF Techniques:
http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG-PDF-TECHS-20010913
• York University Tutorial:
http://www.yorku.ca/webaccess/pdf/index.html
• Ohio State University Web Accessibility Center:
http://www.wac.ohio-state.edu/pdf
• Book: Web Accessibility: Web Standards and
Regulatory Compliance, 2006 by Jim Thatcher
– Hard copy available at UA Library – Science:
TK5105.888.W369 2006
– Available online through UA Library!!
Captioning of Media
• Automatic Sync Technologies:
http://www.automaticsync.com/captionsync
• Open-Caption?
• Closed-Caption?
• Transcript?
• Benefits
• Example: Saver Heart Center
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcbgpiKyUbs
E-Reader – Electronic Textbooks
• Examples:
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–
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–
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Kindle
Adobe E-Reader
I-Pad
Nook
Sony E-Reader
Contact Information
Dawn Hunziker
Assistive Technology Coordinator
University of Arizona
Disability Resource Center
Email: hunziker@email.arizona.edu
Phone: 520-626-9409