The workshop was full of information on web accessibility issues, concepts and guidelines and how people with disabilities use the web with some scenarios and demonstrations of assistive technologies. We also saw how screenreaders read websites and what design features to consider for websites. There was also a lot of technical information regarding the guidelines and checkpoints that go with WAI and W3C for webpages. Some webpages were evaluated for accessibility.
Web accessibility means access to the Web by everyone, regardless of disability. Web accessibility includes:
- Web sites and applications - that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with;
- Web browsers and media players - that it can be used effectively by people with disabilities, and that work well with assistive technologies that some people with disabilities use to access the Web.
- Web authoring tools, and evolving technologies - that support production of accessible Web content and web sites and that can be used effectively by people with disabilities.
The underlying concept of Web Accessibility - Tim Berners-Lee (W3C Director and WWW founder)
"One web for anyone, anywhere, on anything"
Who benefits from Accessible Design?
People with disabilities, plus:
- people using PDAs, web phones etc
- people with poor communication infrastructure
- people with old equipment
- Older people and casual users
- people working in restricted access environments
- people with temporary impairments
- people coping with environmental distractions
- people with poor literacy
Web Accessibility Initiative is explained further through a series of powerpoints that explores what W3C is doing to address these issues and examples of design requirements for people with different kinds of disabilities is also presented.
Through Web Accessibility Initiatives (WAI) accessibility guidelines for Web sites, browsers, and authoring tools have been developed which are widely regarded as international standards for Web accessibility. WAI develops strategies, resources and support materials to help understand and implement Web accessibility such as tools and techniques that make webpages more accessible to people with disabilities.
Australian Web Accessibility Guidelines and Policies that covers all sectors of government, industry and education are available from Vision Australia and you will find other useful accessibility resources at their website.
You will also find a number of useful references presented at the workshop that addressed some of these issues:
- scenarios of people with disabilities using accessibility features of Web sites and Web-based applications
- general requirements for web access by people with physical, visual, hearing and cognitive or neurological disabilities
- some types of assistive or adapative technologies used by people with disabilities when accessing the web
Given the Web's increasing integration in all aspects of society and education, access to the web is vital for all users of all ages and for people with disabilities. It is a very important issue for libraries to be aware of as we serve a wide range of users with diverse information needs and an understanding of design and usability considerations for the increasingly varied age groups and lifestyles of computer and internet appliance users that use our facilities, will go a long way towards our service provision.
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