What is website accessibility?
Accessibility is the ability of a website to be accessible regardless of what mode the visitors are using to access the website and of disabilities. This includes blind users, screen readers, text browsers, and non javascript enabled browsers. Jon Gunderson, through the Illinois Center for Information Technology Accessibility, provides an extensive site for HTML best practices.
Why accessibility matters – even for non-disabled users
Most accessability comes down to good usability; it tends to encourage good webpage design and good flow/organization. Making a web site accessible is not limited to designing a screen reader friendly web site, although that should be an important part of it. Please keep in mind that people may visit your site with all kinds of different accessing devices and disabilities. For example, lack of a video device in a local computer can lead to website inaccessibility. Not being able to serve your users with the information they need is a handicap that must be avoided. Making the website accessible not only addresses the needs of users with disabilities but also caters to user preferences and situations.
State Guidelines
Effective as of August 20, 2007, the State drafted a law which focuses on making web sites, systems, and information technologies accessible to people with disabilities. Use the navigation below for background information surrounding the Library’s push for our content management system’s design.
State Links
- Public Act 095-0307
- Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act (IITAA)
- IITAA Frequently Asked Questions
- IITAA Standards
Campus guidelines
- Campus supports the State initiative and has formulated a similar procedure (specific to University of Illinois) at their web development guidelines site.
- Our content management system provides University identifications, uses the campus logo, and has the name “University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign” in the header or navigation section of our web pages.
- Our system also includes links to our Library unit and the campus main page. Through the OpenCMS created header, a consistent navigational scheme occurs throughout our site.
- Jon Gunderson, through the Illinois Center for Information Technology Accessibility, has combined State, Federal and WC3 accessibility standards for a comprehensive website on HTML Best Practices.