It is important to make your site as accessible as possible for visitors who have some form of disability-- conditions such as blindness, colorblindness or conditions affecting motor coordination. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has developed guidelines for developing Web sites that accommodate these disabilities. Review the Web Accessibility Initiative.
Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act is also based on these general standards. Section 508 was "enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals." Section 508 Web-based standards are summarized here.
Rules of thumb to help you make your site accessible and compliant with AAES/ACES/COAG Web standards include the following (similar suggestions are found under the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative):
• If you are using images or graphics of any kind, including graphs and charts, on your site, use ALT tags to describe these elements.
• If you are using image maps, use client-side image maps and ALT text for hot spots.
• If your site has audio or video components, provide captions and transcripts of audio and written descriptions of video.
• For links in text, describe the link rather than using "click here” or providing the URL directly.
• Use a consistent structure in organizing the pages of your Web site.
• Do not use non-breaking spaces ( ) for text alignment on pages.
• If you are using scripts, applets or plug-ins, provide alternative content for all features that may not be accessible in every browser.
• Do not use frames.
• If you wish to use Flash, do not use Flash as the primary or exclusive navigation tool on your site. Use it only as an auxiliary component of your site. Also, create a mirror site that does NOT require Flash.
• Use the accessibility verification tools available on the ACES/AG IT Web development site (see usability and accessibility resources).
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