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Overview
Accessibility Resources and Training
Section 508 Accessibility Standards
for Web Sites
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 Overview
This guide lists resources to help you create web pages that
are accessible for people with disabilities. There are a few
easy steps you can take to get started:
1. Learn more about accessibility
Take advantage of workshops on campus and online training to
learn more about accessibility.
2. Keep the WAI Quick Tips
in mind
The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C) has developed a set of Quick Tips that will
help you remember key concepts. Once you have mastered the Quick
Tips, check into the WAI's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
and the Federal government's new Section 508 Web Accessibility
Standards, which are both more comprehensive guidelines. Here
are the WAI Quick Tips:
Quick Tips to Make Accessible Web Sites
- Images and animations. Use the ALT attribute
to describe the function of each visual.
- Image maps. Use client-side MAP and text
for hotspots.
- Multimedia. Provide captioning and transcripts
of audio, and descriptions of video.
- Hypertext links. Use text that makes sense
when read out of context. For example, avoid "click here."
- Page organization. Use headings, lists,
and consistent structure. Use cascading style sheets (CSS)
for layout and style where possible.
- Graphs and charts. Summarize or use the
longdesc attribute.
- Scripts, applets, and plug-ins. Provide
alternative content in case active features are inaccessible
or unsupported.
- Frames. Use NOFRAMES and meaningful titles.
- Tables. Make line by line reading sensible.
Summarize.
- Check your work. Validate. Use tools,
checkpoints, and guidelines at www.w3.org/TR/WCAG.
copyright W3C (MIT, INRIA, Keio) 2000/02
www.w3.org/WAI/References/QuickTips/
For complete guidelines, see www.w3.org/WAI
3. Check your work
for accessibility
Some tools, like HoTMetal Pro, and Dreamweaver, with its Check
Page for Accessibility extension, can help you build more accessible
pages. But whatever tool you use, there are several ways to check
your work. Simple checks include turning off images in your browser
or using Lynx for a graphics-free view of your work. Use the
WAI Quick Tips as a checklist, or the WAI List of Checkpoints
for a more comprehensive review of accessibility. Or use online
validators such as CAST's 'Bobby' or WAVE to check your work.
A note for faculty
CU-Boulder's courseware application, WebCT Campus Edition version
3.8, complies with priority level 1 of the WAI guidelines
and Section 508 guidelines . However, though
the WebCT framework is compliant, content pages that you create
may not be. Also, you may wish to encourage students with web-based
class projects to check for accessibility. For information on
WebCT, see www.colorado.edu/its/webct.
[Overview] [Accessibility
Resources and Training] [Section 508 Accessibility
Standards for Web Sites]
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