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Web Accessibility
Build a Site
Accessibility Features
ADA/Section 508 Compliance
Accessible PDFs
Usability Testing
Translation
Many web users have special needs. Some may not be able to see, hear, move, or process certain types of information. Others may not speak the language fluently, may have difficulty reading and understanding text, or may be using assistive technology such as screen readers. (A screen reader is software that reads the text on the screen and outputs it as spoken voice or Braille. Screen reading software allows the blind and visually impaired to access the information they need.)
An accessible website employs language, design elements, coding, and architecture that make the site accessible to all of its users.
Below are some tips that will help you evaluate or build your own site. Or contact Transcend if you would like us to help you:
- Modify an existing website,
- Create a new one that is user-friendly and ADA/Section 508-compliant, or
- Produce accessible PDFs to use on your website
Build a Site
There are many WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) software that can help you build good looking websites. You can also hand code your website. Hand-coding (when you write the HTML/CSS codes yourself) is best to have complete control of all styling and graphic elements.
It is also important to have a clear and easy website navigation system. Try to avoid cluttering up the page with lots of links. The example below shows the old and revised versions of the Marin County Registrar of Voters website. The revised version has a clearer hierarchy of information and the main navigation menu is simplified to help guide users' eyes.
Accessibility Features
An accessible website follows these guidelines:
Language
- Uses simple, direct language
- Is ordered intuitively, with important information at the top
- Has appropriate ISO 639-1 standard language codes for translated pages
Design and Layout
- Has ample white space and breaks up large blocks of text
- Accommodates color-blind users
- Avoids animated pages and images
- Has explanatory text (alt attribute in the <img> tag) for sounds and images
- Contains clear, concise link text that makes sense when taken out of context
Compatibility
- Works in large and small formats (mobile devices)
- Is compatible with assistive technology
- Can be read without style sheets
- Complies with ADA and Section 508 guidelines
- Is field tested with disabled users
For details, see Web Usability. If your website is aimed at a teenage audience, you can also read about the web design preferences of teens in How Teenagers Use Websites.
ADA/Section 508 Compliance
The American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act provide accessibility guidelines so consumers with special and varied needs can access e-information.
To be Section 508-compliant, a website must be clear and use simple language, guiding headers and subheads, and graphics that reinforce meaning. For details, see the Section 508 website or read their brochure.
Accessible PDFs
An accessible or "tagged PDF" means the pdf has been modified to include basic accessibility features, including:
- alt text for all images
- active links
- properly organized content so screen readers read the text in the proper order
- logical page structure with headers, subheads, paragraphs and tables, and
- properties that automatically cue the screen reader to the document’s source language.
For more information on this topic, see Adobe's information about tagged PDFs.
Usability Testing
Once your key web pages are complete, Transcend will conduct a field test to test the usability and accessibility. To do that, we recruit typical users, some with disabilities and some without, to respond to an instrument that elicits their detailed feedback on the site’s language, design, and general usability. We’ll also test the site for its compatibility with assistive technology, ease of navigation, and more. Their feedback helps identify the site’s strengths and weaknesses, and is incorporated into the final design of the website.
For more information, see the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) web accessibility checklist.
Translation
Once your site is accessible, translation is the next step! Transcend can provide a certified translation of the site into your preferred languages and easily incorporate them into the design. For more information, contact us.
Other Services:
Plain Language
Plain Language Training
Translation
Voice Talent
Cultural Competency
