#26788
Accessibility of AJAX Applications
AJAX is a smorgasbord of web technologies put together to allow dynamic client-server interactions to occur in web applications without requiring pages to reload or refresh. AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript And XML. AJAX itself is not a technology--it is a combination of technologies used in a certain way.
WebAIM (2006). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Ajax
#22971
Accessibility of Online Chat Programs
This article will evaluate the accessibility of three types of popular synchronous communication tools: IRC, Web-based chats and instant messengers.
WebAIM (2003). Articles>Collaboration>Accessibility>Online
#22974
Accessibility of the Internet in Postsecondary Education: Meeting the Challenge
This article explores the many-faceted nuances of the challenge of trying to make Web content accessible in higher education. It includes an analysis of the seriousness of the problems that students face as well as an optimistic vision for the future.
Rowland, Cyndi. WebAIM (2000). Design>Web Design>Accessibility
#22957
An Accessible Method of Hiding HTML Content
Though somewhat rare, there are occasions when the accessibility needs of screen reader users appear to be at odds with the needs of visual users. This kind of conflict occurs when Web developers put form elements inside of a data table matrix, when they want to use images as headings instead of text, and in other situations. Adding extra text helps screen reader users, but can complicate the visual layout, thus reducing understandability. One solution is to use CSS to hide the text from sighted users in a way that is still accessible to screen readers. The details of this technique are discussed, along with the technical reasoning behind it.
Bohman, Paul. WebAIM (2002). Design>Web Design>Accessibility
#22965
Accessible Taxes? A Blind Consumer's Experience with the US Tax System
One of the most common, and least enjoyable, experiences of citizens of the United States is that of filing income tax forms. This year, Sachin Pavithran, who is blind, attempted to complete the forms and file them without assistance from sighted friends. Find out whether he was successful or not.
Bohman, Paul, Shane Anderson and Sachin Pavithran. WebAIM (2004). Articles>Web Design>Accessibility>Government
#22997
Accommodating Various Abilities and Disabilities
Training sessions invariably have participants that come from a wide array of backgrounds and have various talents and levels of expertise. Some will be outspoken and others more withdrawn. Some will already have a background in accessible design, while others may have never heard of Web accessibility. Your participants will also have a wide range of technical expertise. You may have die-hard developers that program in text editors or an administrator who doesn't know what HTML stands for. It's important that you gain an understanding of what your training participants' talents and knowledge levels are, and then take advantage of their skills and abilities.
WebAIM (2005). Articles>Education>Accessibility
#22986
Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Techniques
Some sites would hardly exist at all if they took down their PDF files (PDF stands for 'Portable Document Format'). This format is an incredibly useful format for some situations, providing a method to post content on the Web that will print exactly as the author intended it to. Creating PDF files is faster and easier than creating HTML files in many cases. This increases its allure for Web developers.
WebAIM (2004). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Adobe Acrobat
#22975
The Applicability of the ADA to the Internet
As the Internet has increased in prominence in all sectors of society, interested individuals have begun to question whether or not the Internet should be included in the regulations set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Right now there is no explicit reference to the Internet in any of the language of the act.
Bohman, Paul. WebAIM (2000). Articles>Web Design>Accessibility>Policies and Procedures
#22988
There are two methods for adding captions in QuickTime. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. The first allows you to maintain a single file, making the captioned video easier to distribute. The second approach allows you to easily deliver a captioned and non-captioned version of your movie, but requires an understanding of SMIL (it's not too hard).
WebAIM (2003). Design>Multimedia>Accessibility>Video
#22990
RealPlayer uses SMIL to combine media content with a RealText (.rt) file. The .rt file contains the captions themselves and information about how and when they should appear. The SMIL file is really just a pointer file. It contains information about where and how your captions and media content should display.
WebAIM (2003). Design>Multimedia>Accessibility>Video
#22989
Windows Media Player adds captions using Microsoft's Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI). SAMI, like SMIL, which is used by Quicktime and RealPlayer, is an XML-based text language. A SAMI file contains the captions and definitions for how and when the captions should display.
WebAIM (2003). Design>Multimedia>Accessibility>Video
#23013
Considering the User Perspective: A Summary of Design Issues
A table which indicates some accomodations web designers may choose to build into accessible websites.
Bohman, Paul. WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility
#22958
Creating Accessible Cascading Style Sheets
For years, the only way to format HTML in a visually appealing way was to use tables, even though tables were originally created to display tabular data. As the Web evolved and became more sophisticated, designers wanted to do more than just display text, they wanted to emulate printed documents. They wanted to make an artistic statement. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, tables can be used for layout without ruining the accessibility of a Web site. Yes, it's ok to use tables for layout. Still, you can take your Web design to a higher level by eliminating tables entirely. The way to do this is through CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).
Bohman, Paul. WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>CSS
#22992
Macromedia Flash is a vector-based, interactive animation creation program designed to enable the addition of dynamic characters, scenes, interfaces and motion graphics animations to Web sites. Macromedia Flash materials are created using the Flash authoring program, the most recent version of which is Flash MX.
WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Flash
#22959
When we talk about the accessibility of forms, we are usually referring about their accessibility to screen readers and the visually impaired. People with other types of disabilities generally are less affected by 'faulty' forms that are missing some of the HTML accessibility features.
WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Forms
#22960
A frameset is a Web page which defines a collection of at least two other separate Web pages, which are combined in the same visual space. Visual users usually experience framesets as a cohesive entity. They can scan the contents of multiple pages all at once. Those using screen readers cannot quickly scan the contents of multiple pages. All of the content is experienced in a linear fashion, one frame at a time. Frames are not inaccessible to modern screen readers, but they can be disorienting.
WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility
#22961
Some people think that graphics are bad for accessibility. The truth is that graphics can be of great benefit to the accessibility of a Web page by providing illustrations, icons, animations, or other visual cues that aid comprehension for sighted individuals. Too often we forget that when we design for people with disabilities, we are not designing only for the blind. We must consider disabilities of all types. Graphics can be especially useful to individuals with certain reading disabilities, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, or cognitive disabilities.
WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility
#22962
Creating Accessible JavaScript
JavaScript is available on the Web to allow programming type processes that are not allowed with static HTML. In most cases, JavaScript does not overtly affect accessibility. Most browsers and screen readers are capable of accessing JavaScript items. You should, however, teach that many people cannot or choose not to allow JavaScript within their Web browsers or assistive technologies. Important content or functionality should not rely on JavaScript alone. JavaScript should usually be used to supplement content.
WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>DHTML
#22956
In practice, tables are perhaps most commonly used for page layout. Layout tables do not have logical headers that can be mapped to information within the table cells.
WebAIM (2005). Design>Web Design>Accessibility
#22987
Creating Captions Using MAGpie 2.0
MAGpie allows the captioning of Web audio and video content for use in QuickTime, RealPlayer, and Windows Media Player.
WebAIM (2004). Resources>Software>Accessibility>Video
#22969
Do Accessible Web Sites Have to be Boring?
All too often, designers think that accessibility means boring. Forget about text-only versions. Be true to your design instincts. Find out why accessible Web sites can be just as exciting as any of the cutting edge sites out there. Or if you prefer, go ahead and make it boring. Either way, the site can be accessible. It's all up to you
WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility
#22999
Engaging Learners with Various Training Methods
While preparing these workshops, I knew that I would be addressing people from many backgrounds. My own background is in education. In pursuing my Master's program in Instructional Technology, I began working on a distance education project for special educators. It was my first introduction to Web accessibility. I eventually came to work at WebAIM where Web accessibility has become my primary interest. Currently, I am coordinating WebAIM's K-12 education initiative. My path to Web accessibility is very unique, as is yours. I would love to hear why you are here learning how to become a better accessibility trainer.
WebAIM (2001). Articles>Education>Accessibility
#23000
Expanding Your Training Skills and Knowledge
Becoming an effective accessibility trainer and teacher does not happen overnight. For some, the ability to effectively teach others comes naturally. For others, a lot of work is involved. An accessibility trainer must be a Jack-of-all-trades, and an Ace of a few as well. The more tools you have at your convenience, the more effective you will be.
WebAIM (2005). Design>Web Design>Accessibility
#22970
Fast Track to Web Accessibility in 5 Steps
Sometimes you don't have the time to sit down and plan out the ideal Web site. Maybe you've just recently been appointed as your organization's webmaster, or have recently been assigned to oversee accessibility operations at your organization, and you discover that your Web site has gaping holes in its accessibility. Rather than panic, you should start with the biggest problems and work your way through the site until you have fixed all of the accessibility errors. After you've 'plugged the holes,' then you can start thinking about a new design, but not until then. This workshop presents a 'fast track to accessibility' that prioritizes your tasks of sorting through and fixing your site's accessibility problems.
Bohman, Paul. WebAIM (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Project Management
#23010
Most developers don't think about individuals who are deaf when they think of Web accessibility. For too many developers, Web accessibility consists of adhering to a few guidelines that ensure accessibility to screen readers for the blind. On one level, this is understandable. People who are blind will have the most trouble, since the Web is a visual medium...or is it?
WebAIM (2001). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Audio
