- From: B.K. DeLong <bkdelong@naw.org>
- Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 11:06:10 -0400
- To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
This is the result of Web access discussions on another mailing list. The word is slowly getting out. >From: cedisabl@sprynet.com >Date: Sat, 05 Sep 1998 23:42:48 -0700 (PDT) >Subject: Re: Web Access >To: bkdelong@NAW.ORG >X-Mailer: SPRY Mail Version: 04.00.06.21 > >Hello, > >Ronald Riley's comments are very good. I was the one who posted the original >web access letter. Below I have added the data about web access and sources. >The "Harkin letter" has sources in it. "Bobby" is another good source for those >who wish to check their site and then if there is a problem a recommendation >will advise about methods to correct the problem. I have some other contacts in >case this is not enough. > >MANY MANY THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, INTEREST AND CONCERN. > >Dr Clyde Shideler > >---- > The Honorable Tom Harkin > United States Senate > Washington, D.C. 20510-1502 > >Digest of Inquiry >(July 31, 1996) To what extent does the ADA require that Internet web pages be >accessible to people with visual disabilities? > >Digest of Response >(September 9, 1996) > >ADA Accessibility Requirements Apply To Internet Web Pages > >Entities subject to title II or III of the ADA must provide effective >communication >to individuals with disabilities, and covered entities that use the Internet to >provide information regarding their programs, goods or services must be prepared >to >offerm those communications through accessible means. Such entities may provide >web >page information in text format that is accessible to screen reading devices >that are used by people with visual impairments, and they may also offer >alternative >accessible formats that are identified in a screen-readable format on a web >page. > >Text of Inquiry > >I have recently been contacted by one of my constituents who has a concern over >the administration's policy on making Web pages compatible for the disabled. I >respectfully ask you to review the administration's policy on this issue and >send me a clarification so that I might be able to respond to my constituent's >questions. It would be helpful if you could mark your correspondence with my >office to the >attention of Laura Stuber. > >Thank you in advance for your assistance on this matter. >----------------- >Text of Response > >I am responding to your letter on behalf of your constituent, {}, regarding >accessibility of "web pages" on the internet to people with visual disabilities. > >The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires State and local governments >and places of public accommodation to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and >services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with >disabilities, unless doing so would result in a fundamental alteration to the >program or service or in an undue burden. 28 C.F.R. ? 36.303; 28 C.F.R. ? >35.160. >Auxiliary aids include taped texts, Brailled materials, large print materials, >and other methods of making visually delivered materials available to people >with visual >impairments. > >Covered entities under the ADA are required to provide effective communication, >regardless of whether they generally communicate through print media, audio >media, or computerized media such as the Internet. Covered entities that use the >Internet for communications regarding their programs, goods, or services must be >prepared to offer those communications through accessible means as well. > >Mr. [] suggests compatibility with Lynx browser as a means of assuring >accessibility of the Internet. Lynx is, however, only one of many available >options. Other >examples include providing the web page information in text format, rather than >exclusively in graphic format. Such text is accessible to screen reading devices >used by people with visual impairments. Instead of providing full accessibility >through the Internet directly, covered entities may also offer other alternate >accessible formats, such as Braille, large print, and/or audio materials, to >communicate >the information contained in web pages to people with visual impairments. The >availability of such materials should be noted in a text (i.e., screen-readable) >format on the web page, along with instructions for obtaining the materials, so >that >people with disabilities using the Internet will know how to obtain the >accessible >formats. > >Cc: Records, Chrono, Wodatch, McDowney, Hill, FOIA n: >udd >hille >policylt >harkin.ltr >sc. Young-parran > >The Internet is an excellent source of information and, of course, people with >disabilities should have access to it as effectively as people without >disabilities. A >number of web sites provide information about accessibility of web pages, >including >information about new developments and guidelines for development of accessible >web pages. Examples include: > >http://www.gsa.gov/coca/wwwcode.htm >Center for Information Technology Accommodation General Service >Administration > >http://www.trace.wisc.edu/text/guidelns >Trace Center, University of Wisconsin > >http://www.webable.com/index.html > >http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/dmd/access/welcomi.htm > >These sites may be useful to you or your constituent in exploring the >accessibility options on >the Internet. In addition, the Department of Justice has established an ADA home >page to >educate people about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA and about >the >Department's efforts to implement the ADA. The address of the ADA home page is > >http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahomi.htm. > >I hope this information is helpful to you in responding to your constituent. > >Deval L. Patrick >Assistant Attorney General >Civil Rights Division > >Subject: Web Page Accessibility > >http://www.cast.org/bobby/ > >Welcome to Bobby > >Bobby is a free service of CAST that will analyze single web pages for their >accessibility to people with disabilities. Bobby will also examine a page's >HTML to see if it is compatible with various web browsers or HTML >specifications. Bobby was created at CAST (Center for Applied Special >Technology). Founded in 1984, CAST is a not-for-profit organization whose >mission is to expand opportunities for all people -- especially those with >disabilities -- through the innovative uses of computer technology. > >Three versions of Bobby are available: > > 1.Bobby 2.0 - This on-line version analyzes individual web pages for >accessibility using a list of commonly accepted accessibility barriers. All >pages on your website must receive four stars to display the Bobby Approved >icon. This legacy approval criteria may not be an option after July 1998. > > 2.Bobby 2.01 - This on-line version analyzes individual web pages for >accessibility using a subset of the February 3 working draft of "WAI >Accessibility Guidelines: Page Authoring" that can be automated. All pages >must pass to display the Bobby Approved icon. Page authors wishing to signify >compliance >with these more stringent guidelines may wish to add "with WAI 0203" below the >icon. > > 3.Bobby the Application (beta 1) - This application will test local files >and entire websites for accessibility. It is written in Java and will run >under Solaris and Windows 95/NT. Like Bobby 2.01, it uses the February 3 >working draft WAI >accessibility page authoring guidelines. To download the application, go the >Bobby 2.01 home page. > >Suggested Approach > >CAST recommends that web developers use Bobby as the first step to ensure >accessible web page design. In addition, we suggest the following: > > 1.Read the most current "WAI Accessibility Guidelines: Page Authoring". > 2.Review the "WAI Accessibility Guidelines: Page Authoring Checklist". > 3.Request feedback from visitors to your web site. > 4.Retest web pages frequently with updated versions of Bobby. > >True accessibility is ultimately a human endeavor and Bobby is only one step >in the process of making a site accessible to as many people as possible. Also >note that the WAI page author gidelines are a work in progress. Depending on >the frequency of new releases, CAST will make every effort to provide a >version of Bobby for each new set of WAI page author guidelines. > -- B.K. DeLong 360 Huntington Ave. Director Suite 140SC-305 New England Chapter Boston, MA 02115 National Association (617) 247-3753 of Webmasters http://www.naw.org bkdelong@naw.org NAW is the North American "chapter" of the World Organization of Webmasters http://www.world-webmasters.org/
Received on Sunday, 6 September 1998 11:05:18 UTC