Barrier-free Web Design
Accessible IT Through Podcasts, Webinars and Online Courses
Barrier-free Web Design
In 2009, EASI revised this course on designing Accessible Web pages and based it on the Web Content Accessibility guidelines version 2 (WCAG2). Even if your site's pages had been made accessible, you need to understand the changes in WCAG2. In most cases, your pages will still be accessible, but you need to be able to explain these new guidelines.
Certificate in Accessible Information Technology and Continuing Education Credits
Everyone who completes the course will receive an EASI certificate of completion. Those requesting it will receive 3 continuing education units for doing the course work. To earn the course completion certificate, participants will have to do all lessons and submit the assignment at the bottom of each lesson. There are 2 provisions to help in this situation. First anyone can get a 2-week extension to finish the course. Second, if that is not enough, the person will be able to do a free registration as a repeat for the next offering but this option will only be offered one time.
Course Registration and Schedule
Schedule: 2010 February 1, June 7, Oct. 4
Course registration is $350 with a %20 discount for students. Overseas participants and EASI Annual Webinar members qualify for the student discount.
Marisol Miranda is the lead instructor for this course. She was the Founder of Akxes Mexico A.C.and the organizer of a large conference on disabilities and information technology in Mexico City which included EASI presenters. Marisol has studied Photoshop and Dreamweaver. She has taken certificate programs with EASI and CSUN.She has worked closely with EASI since 2002. EASI is pleased to include Marisol on our instructor team.
Course Description
Web pages can be created using Universal Design principles permitting Their use by people with different browsers, different connection speeds, palm pilots, PDA's and by people with disabilities using Adaptive computer technology. They can also be created in ways that Exclude many of the above users. Barrier-free Web Design will prepare you to create web pages that are visually appealing and still permit full access by users with various technologies and by those with disabilities.
The course is based both on the Federal Access Board’s Section 508 Web standards and on the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2 which were released in Dec. 2008. BE AN EARLY ADOPTER AND BRING YOUR WEB CONTENT IN LINE WITH WCAG VERSION 2!
The course will not require an extensive knowledge of HTML as it assumes that designers are working in some Web authoring sofware that does the actual Web coding for the designer. Participants who are not currently using such applications can obtain demo versions of such software for the duration of the course. The course will be useful for Web designers, faculty, instructional and information designers, administrators, ADA compliance officials, librarians and anyone wanting to learn how to make their Web site conform to accessibility guidelines and standards.
Do you have trouble reading computer and software manuals? EASI will take the jargon out of Web design and out of the technical requirements for Web accessibility. Instructors are always available in email to provide individual support. Having technical information originally designed in acceptable technical language to promote clear technical requirements and to meet the needs of technicians is important, and the WCAG guidelines do an excellent job of this. EASI strives to translate this precise information for the many designers who, while making Web pages, are not real technical types. EASI will make creating accessible Web pages easier than you think!
The course is asynchronous and available in EASI's Blackboard system. Participants should plan to complete the course in a month. Those who are not able to finish will be automatically enrolled for the next course offering and have a second opportunity to complete the work.
Course Structure
After an introductory lesson, the course will follow the 4 principles and the 12 guidelines around which WCAG 2 are organized:
Read the WCAG Frequently Asked Questions Page
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Principle 1 Perceivable
Guideline 1.1 Provide text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms people need, such as large print, braille, speech, symbols or simpler language.
Guideline 1.2 Provide alternatives for time-based media.
Guideline 1.3 Create content that can be presented in different ways (for example simpler layout) without losing information or structure.
Guideline 1.4 Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background.
Principle 2 Operable
Guideline 2.1 Make all functionality available from a keyboard.
guideline 2.2 Provide users enough time to read and use content.
Guideline 2.3 Do not design content in a way that is known to cause seizures.
Guideline 2.4 Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are.
Principle 3 Understandable
Guideline 3.1 Make text content readable and understandable.
Guideline 3.2 Make Web pages appear and operate in predictable ways.
Guideline 3.3 Help users avoid and correct mistakes.
Principle 4 Robust
Guideline 4.1 Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies.
Section 508 Web Accessibility Standards
This is a set of Federal regulations established by the Federal Access Board and published on December 2000.
(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content).
(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.
(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.
(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.
(f) Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.
(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.
(h) Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.
(i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.
(j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
(k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes.
(l) When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
(m) When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with §1194.21(a) through (l).
(n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.
(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.
(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.
EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) is a non-profit organization, and our mission is to make information technologies more accessible to users with disabilities.
