Creating Accessible Websites

The University of Maine requires that all web pages meet accessibility standards, such as Section 508 Standards. These standards enable those with disabilities (blind, visually impaired, and the deaf) to understand the content of graphics, charts, tables, and audio clips.

Visually impaired users use screen readers (specialized software) to assist them. Screen readers read elements on the screen, window, or web browser to the user, so for screen readers to be effective text descriptions of graphical elements are needed.

Audio is inaccessible to deaf users so they depend on designers to provide captioned text that is synchronized with audio clips. Users with learning disabilities sometimes have difficulty accessing websites that are cluttered or disorganized -- do not use too many graphics, links, or flashing text.

Be sure that a user without state-of-the-art equipment can access your site. Remember there are still many Web users that have older computers or slow (dial up) Web connections, so keep your site simple, attractive, and user-friendly.

In order to meet web accessibility standards, your site must provide:
alternate descriptions of graphical elements
headers for columns and rows in tables that contain data,
use identifying language for links, and
have high contrast between background and text.
meet Section 508Standards

There are also several good websites that will freely check your individual pages and let you know if they meet Section 508 Standards. There are also programs available to check all your pages. Here are just a few:

Bobby at http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp

Cynthia Says Portal at http://www.cynthiasays.com/
AccVerify at http://www.hisoftware.com/access/newvIndex.html

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Visually impaired users use screen readers (specialized software) to assist them. Screen readers read elements on the screen, window, or web browser to the user, so for screen readers to be effective text descriptions of graphical elements are needed.

Audio is inaccessible to deaf users so they depend on designers to provide captioned text that is synchronized with audio clips. Users with learning disabilities sometimes have difficulty accessing websites that are cluttered or disorganized -- do not use too many graphics, links, or flashing text.

Be sure that a user without state-of-the-art equipment can access your site. Remember there are still many Web users that have older computers or slow (dial up) Web connections, so keep your site simple, attractive, and user-friendly.

In order to meet web accessibility standards, your site must provide:

alternate descriptions of graphical elements

headers for columns and rows in tables that contain data,

use identifying language for links, and

have high contrast between background and text.

meet Section 508Standards

There are also several good websites that will freely check your individual pages and let you know if they meet Section 508 Standards. There are also programs available to check all your pages. Here are just a few:

Bobby at http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp

Cynthia Says Portal at http://www.cynthiasays.com/
AccVerify at http://www.hisoftware.com/access/newvIndex.html

Visually impaired users use screen readers (specialized software) to assist them. Screen readers read elements on the screen, window, or web browser to the user, so for screen readers to be effective text descriptions of graphical elements are needed.

Audio is inaccessible to deaf users so they depend on designers to provide captioned text that is synchronized with audio clips. Users with learning disabilities sometimes have difficulty accessing websites that are cluttered or disorganized -- do not use too many graphics, links, or flashing text.

Be sure that a user without state-of-the-art equipment can access your site. Remember there are still many Web users that have older computers or slow (dial up) Web connections, so keep your site simple, attractive, and user-friendly.

In order to meet web accessibility standards, your site must provide:

alternate descriptions of graphical elements

headers for columns and rows in tables that contain data,

use identifying language for links, and

have high contrast between background and text.

meet Section 508Standards

There are also several good websites that will freely check your individual pages and let you know if they meet Section 508 Standards. There are also programs available to check all your pages. Here are just a few:

Bobby at http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp

Cynthia Says Portal at http://www.cynthiasays.com/ AccVerify at http://www.hisoftware.com/access/newvIndex.html

Cynthia Says Portal at http://www.cynthiasays.com/
AccVerify at http://www.hisoftware.com/access/newvIndex.html