The Accessible Virtual Community

Equivalent text descriptions (EqTD's) are extremely important and can be difficult to create. Here you will find a set of EqTD related documents that detail processes, purposes and levels of complexity. The origin of providing alternative text for graphic elements and a brief review of the R2D2 standard are included.

This protocol will help you to create a video with a caption track. Videos captioned with this method will be playable by older versions of QuickTime, back to QuickTime 3 (depending on video and audio code used).

A 6 minute video about screenreaders by an individual who uses one. Demonstrates both print and web accessibility. Captioned.

"On Tuesday September 28, 2010, 9:28 p.m., the "21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act of 2010" passed by a voice vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. This was the last legislative hurdle for a bill that all of us began working on several years ago. Next stop is the White House when President Obama will sign the measure, putting it into law. After that, implementation and enforcement processes start at the Federal Communications Commission, the federal agency with most responsibility."

"Video description is designed to make television programming more accessible to persons with visual disabilities, and enable them to “hear what they cannot see. Thus, the primary audience for video description is persons with visual disabilities. Estimates of the number of persons with visual disabilities are as high as twelve million. This estimate includes persons with a problem seeing that cannot be corrected with ordinary glasses or contact lenses, with a range in severity." (Quote from a Report and Order before the Federal Communications Commission, released August 7, 2000)

This link provides downloadable access symbols, provided copyright free, for closed captioning, descriptive video, and web access.

This link explains how event and training flyers can become accessible. "It’s important they are accessible for people to read and find out about your program. Announcements also should give people the opportunity to request accommodations." This Accessibility guide offers tips and example language on content, format, style, and delivery method.

"Make your computer easier and more comfortable to use by taking advantage of the many accessibility features built into Microsoft products." This link is the home page for their accessibility features, links listed by products. There are no Macintosh mentions.

This webpage includes an "Assistive Technology Quick Reference" guide to help individuals make calculators more accessible. There are also answers to frequently asked questions regarding standard function calculators, scientific calculators, graphing calculators, and vendors offering accessible calculators.

This article by Roger Hudson explains how to present data in an accessible table. He includes how to design the table, how to make it friendly to a screen reader, how to create both complex and simple tables, how to test the tables accessibility, and much more.

This webpage includes instruction and examples on how to make on-line forms accessible for users who are blind or visually impaired.

This website contains brief basics of the why and how to create accessible forms, both electronic and paper. Strategies for form design and layout are also included in this website.

This website is presented by Microsoft. This website includes documents on accessibility and creating accessibility. It contains ten documents that include not only "how", but also "why".

This website provides a brief tip sheet about making Microsoft tables accessible. A nice diagram accompanies the discussion about how screenreaders read tables.

"A site dedicated to furthering the cause of web accessibility by offering free tools and other useful resources."

This site provides awards for accessible websites based on their criteria, gives examples, and provides a good discussion of web accessibility issues. The site aims "to prove that accessible, usable web sites built with universality and standards in mind need not be boring. We will show you artfully crafted sites made by some of today's most progressive web developers."

This website provides some common technologies and terms that apply to captioning with various media players. "On the web, the primary multimedia technologies are Microsoft's Windows Media Player, Apple's Quicktime, RealNetwork's RealPlayer, and Macromedia Flash. Unfortunately, there is no fully standardized mechanism for captioning across these technologies. Each media player handles captions differently."

This website contains information on the Center for Applied Special Technology. "CAST has earned international recognition for its development of innovative, technology-based educational resources and strategies based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for designing curricula that enable all individuals to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. UDL provides rich supports for learning and reduces barriers to the curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all."

This website provides general guidelines to survey the physical accessibility of a computer lab. Some examples of guidelines are physical space, printed materials, and electronic resources.

The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) serves as a clearinghouse of information and materials on the subject of description and captioning for service to consumers, agencies, corporations, and schools. Clearinghouse offerings include numerous DCMP print and online informational resources as well as a gateway to accessibility information from the Web sites of the DCMP and its collaborators.

A provider of online training on accessible information technology for persons with disabilities. 'Committed to using podcasts, webinars, online courses, and interactive internet tools to help institutions make their computer and information technology resources more accessible to users with disabilities.'

From the Thursday afternoon workshop with Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler. This website provides a checklist of how to make conference exhibits and presentations welcoming, accessible, and usable.

An executive summary that, "identifies key issues facing disabled users of wireless technologies, including barriers to access and use, as well as opportunities for reducing those barriers."

This webpage provides and easy to use overview of Web Accessibility. This website explains the essential elements needed when creating an accessible website; some of which include layouts, tables, and graphics. A short list of references are also listed.

"This document provides an introduction to use of the Web by people with disabilities. It illustrates some of their requirements when using Web sites and Web-based applications, and provides supporting information for the guidelines and technical work of the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)."

The Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute of Lighthouse International has carried out a set of studies examining the role of several factors in reading and text legibility. The results of multiple studies are presented in short paragraphs. A list of additional readings are also included.

The CPB/WGBH has designed a web access symbol which is an illustration of a globe, marked with a grid, tilted at an angle. A keyhole is cut into its surface. "This web image may be used by webmasters to denote that their site contains accessibility features to accomodate the needs of disabled users."

Industry Canada presents this tutorial to learn the WHY and basic How-to's of multiple formats. It includes formats such as braille, large print, and described video.

Students who are deaf and hard of hearing have special needs that must be accommodated before they can fully benefit from various types of classroom presentation technology. An optimal classroom situation for learners who must depend primarily on visual input includes careful consideration of factors such as room set up, legibility of the media, and appropriate use of available technology. Teachers using media in general-purpose classrooms need to be aware of what to use and what to avoid in order to enhance a visual learner’s opportunity to take full advantage of media-assisted presentations.

This website discusses the possibility of posting a HTML- based version to increase accessible of a powerpoint. Frequently recommended on other UDE websites.

Computer accessibility solution examples. Includes discussion of the disability and the adaptation.

The federal requirements: "Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires access to electronic and information technology procured by Federal agencies. The Access Board developed accessibility standards for the various technologies covered by the law. These standards have been folded into the Federal government's procurement regulations."

"Founded in 1993, SensAble Technologies is a leading developer of 3D touch-enabled (force feedback) solutions and technology that allow users to not only see and hear an on-screen computer application, but to actually 'feel' it. The company evolved from undergraduate research done at MIT in the 1990s by industry pioneers Thomas Massie and Dr. Kenneth Salisbury."

The web page provides 14 guidelines for making websites accessible, gives a brief description of each one and some hints on how to ensure accessibility.

This web page provides detailed information, pictures, "points to ponder", and resources for assistive technology that students may be using.

This is a list of online sources for electronic books, magazines, newspaper articles, and other material. The files are in a variety of formats ranging from plain text to digital audio and digital braille. Most material is public domain literature and free of charge, although some do charge a subscription fee for content and/or proprietary software.

The journal, from the UK, explores the design, development, and meaning of web content, with a special focus on web standards and best practices. This page links you to 45 articles about web accessibility.

An excellent slide presentation considering WCAG 1.0, Section 508, and WCAG 2.0 Guidelines for web accessibility.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops specifications, guidelines, software, and tools to lead the Web to its full potential. W3C is a forum for information, commerce, communication, and collective understanding. On this page, you'll find news, links and ways to get involved. The WCAG 2.0 Guidelines for web accessibility originated with W3C, as well as over 100 other web standards toward the goal of "Web interoperability". Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web in 1989 has served as the W3C Director since W3C was founded, in 1994.

Provides an array of resources- from online and downloadable tutorials designed to help create accessible web content, to tools to help your organization build its capacity to maintain electronic accessibility.

Web Best Practices Overview: This group, lead by Jon Gunderson of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, convenes regularly "to develop best practices for web development using HTML, CSS, Javascript and Adobe PDF." Information about joining, issues and topics for discussion are found at this website.

A list of links regarding several topics in web design accessibility.

To be effective, the interfaces for online information systems must be as rich and flexible as the physical environments they replace. They must not only supply a direct path to reach the users goals, but must be able to accommodate different approaches to the task. This means that the interface design must not only organize the content for easy access, but must incorporate the right combination of technologies and interaction techniques to allow the user to work in their own style.

Comprehensive site to promote website accessibility. This website provides many links and videos pertaining to website accessibility and usability services.

From the "resources" page of the WebAIM site you may link to four simulations they created to experience the web as an individual with a disability would: Screen Reader Simulation, Low Vision Simulation, Dyslexia Simulation, and Distractability Simulation.