FW: Languages and 508 for the Web

Sorry for the multiple listing.....................


> Big issue!  I just got the word  Doug Wakefield of the Access Board, this
> morning. 
> 
> At least for federal websites, which is what we were talking about, so
> presumably true for the rest of the 508 standard.
> Any foreign language that is made available on a US government website
> will be covered under section 508 for accessibility. Meaning, that alt
> text must be available for all images of text - in the language it is
> portraying, etc.  In other words, avoid the use of images of the font, it
> should be use the actual unicode or ascii code for that particular
> language.
> (There is information on this in the Internationalization area of the W3C
> website)
> 
> The font for the language must be made available to the assistive
> technology devices used.  Where the text is character based, Japanese and
> Chinese, alt text of comparable content of the image, must be provided.
> Apparently, screen-reader's Braille Language Tables, are not standardized
> across the differing vendors machines.  The Braille Language Tables are
> mapped-to the high-bit ascii characters. The safest way to ensure
> accessibility for Braille displays is to have the high-bit ascii text
> available in the page. (This info is from a Braille expert at the Library
> of Congress, Judy Dixon)
> 
> 
> Katie Haritos-Shea
> 508 Coordinator / Webmaster, CIW
> NTIS/Fedworld 
> Department of Commerce
> 5285 Port Royal Road
> NTIS WebLab for Accessible Design
> Room  # 2025
> Springfield, Virginia, 22161
> ph 703-605-6426  fax 703-605-6826
> mailto:kshea@fedworld.gov
> mailto:kshea@ntis.fedworld.gov
> 
>