To check your website for accessibility, use the accessibility checklist published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.hhs.gov/):

·        Every image, video file, audio file, plug-in, etc. has an alt tag

·        Complex graphics are accompanied by detailed text descriptions

·        The alt descriptions describe the purpose of the objects

·        If an image is also used as a link, make sure the alt tag describes the graphic and the link destination

·        Decorative graphics with no other function have empty alt descriptions (alt= "")

·        Add captions to videos

·        Add audio descriptions

·        Create text transcript

·        Create a link to the video rather than embedding it into web pages

·        Add a link to the media player download

·        Add an additional link to the text transcript

·        The page should provide alternative links to the Image Map

·        The <area> tags must contain an alt attribute

·        Data tables have the column and row headers appropriately identified (using the <th> tag)

·        Tables used strictly for layout purposes do NOT have header rows or columns

·        Table cells are associated with the appropriate headers (e.g. with the id, headers, scope and/or axis HTML attributes)

·        Make sure the page does not contain repeatedly flashing images

·        Check to make sure the page does not contain a strobe effect

·        A link is provided to a disability-accessible page where the plug-in can be downloaded

·        All Java applets, scripts and plug-ins (including Acrobat PDF files and PowerPoint files, etc.) and the content within them are accessible to assistive technologies, or else an alternative means of accessing equivalent content is provided

·        When form controls are text input fields use the LABEL element

·        When text is not available use the title attribute

·        Include any special instructions within field labels

·        Make sure that form fields are in a logical tab order

·        Include a ‘Skip Navigation' button to help those using text readers

(Courtesy U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) If the site meets all these criteria, it is likely accessible to people with disabilities. The best test is to obtain feedback on the site's ease of use from people who are blind, deaf, and have mobility disabilities, then address their feedback with site improvements.

Conducting your own trial run will tell you where the site has too many graphics, and where HTML tags don't convey information accurately. It's wise to do trial runs with as many of the most popular screen readers available:

·        Apple's VoiceOver is built into OS X Lion

·        JAWS works with Microsoft Windows

·        Windows comes with a standard screen reader called Navigator

·        Windows Magnifier is not a text to speech screen reader, but allows visually impaired users to magnify specific parts of the screen; check your site for visibility with Magnifier.

·        WebbIE works on Windows machines, and incorporates browsing, screen reading, RSS, Podcatcher, and other tools.

·        Thunder works on Windows machines in tandem with WebbIE, and is a screen reader for accessing the computer GUI and web browsing

·        Access Firefox is a Firefox add-on that offers additional accessibility to Firefox users

·        Fire Vox is a text to speech add-on for Firefox

Development tools and tutorials exist to help web designers meet compliance standards and go beyond to offer disabled users an enjoyable experience (and keep them coming back). Check out the following for more information:

·        HTML Best Practices for accessibility

·        Microsoft's Accessibility Overview and tutorials

·        Introduction to ARIA

·        Semantic HTML

Then make your job easier with these web accessibility development tools:

·        Accessibility Evaluation Toolbar for Firefox

·        The Develop Menu in Safari's toolbar

·        WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Toolbar for Firefox

·        WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool for web sites and HTML

·        Opera

·        Web Accessibility Toolbar for IE -2011

·        VisCheck for accessibility for people with color blindness

·        mobiReady for evaluating accessibility from mobile devices

·        Stanford University's Web Accessibility Checker

The above from http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/web-designer/creating-an-ada-compliant-website/

United States Access Board - Advancing Full Access and Inclusion for All - Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (1194.22) at https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/guide-to-the-section-508-standards/web-based-intranet-and-internet-information-and-applications-1194-22

Please contact us at examiner@yennik.com if a link does not work or has changed.