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Web Site Accessibility
Today, creating Web pages that are accessible to persons with physical, visual or hearing disabilities is an important consideration and is increasingly mandated by law. This law affects agencies which receive federal funding, and Missouri has passed a similar disability-related legislation regarding agencies which receive state funding.
Accessible Web design employs consistent page layouts, simple backgrounds with sufficient contrast, and alternative text for images. When designing a site, the following is a list of elements to consider:
- Equitable Use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
- Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
- Simple and Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy-to-understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
- Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
- Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
- Low-Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue.
- Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space is provide for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.
Accessibility checks are set-up through the ACT Center, located in Memorial Union at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Other Resources Recommended
The following Web sites are excellent resources for building an accessible site:
- Universal Design of Online Courses: The University of Arkansas has provided a ten-step course in designing an accessible and usable site for anyone with or without a disability.
- WebAIM: WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind) is an excellent, very informative site, with many examples and tutorials. If you bookmark only one Web site on accessibility, this is it.
- Article: World Wide Web: Accessible Web Design: Excellent overview, not overly technical.
- Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI): EASI provides information related to serving patrons with disabilities including accessible Web design.
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0: The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) publishes the most definitive technical guidelines, which form the basis for most of the legislative requirements. These guidelines explain how to make Web content accessible to people with disabilities. The guidelines are intended for all Web content developers (page authors and site designers) and for developers of authoring tools.
Post-Accessibility Report
As a wrap-up, a report is written, based upon the initial screening and the recommendations. You will receive a personal consultation and Web site review of your Web site.
Fees
Currently, this service is only offered to those on the MU campus. There is no charge for student, faculty or staff for this service.
Appointments
For an accessibility check, call the ACT Center at (573)884-2828 or use our Service Request form.
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