An Introduction to Website Accessibility


Thursday, May 5, 2022
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Everyone needs access to digital information provided by the World Wide Web. However, many websites have subtle barriers that prevent people with disabilities from using content. Fortunately, accessibility is not difficult to implement, and most accessibility features do not require significant changes to the visual presentation. This session will review what web accessibility is, how people with disabilities use the web, how to quickly identify accessibility barriers, and what are some simple solutions. Access Board IT Specialist Bruce Bailey will also clarify common sources of confusion about web accessibility and provide key resources for learning more about website accessibility. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the live webinar. This webinar will include video remote interpreting (VRI) and real-time captioning. Webinar attendees can earn continuing education credits.

Continuing Education Recognition Available

Certificate Credit hours
ACTCP 1.5
AIA CES 1.5
California Architects Board 1.5
Certificate of Attendance 1.5

Speakers:

Bruce Bailey, IT Specialist, U.S. Access Board

Questions for presenters:

1 What is the minimum font size (of a paragraph) that can be used on a web page?
2 Is there any validity or legitimacy to the term "ADA compliant (or conformant)" for websites, given that the ADA has not digital accessibility standards?
3 Section 508 includes WCAG 2.0 Level A & AA, but recently there have been some articles about the Dept. of Justice and Biden Administration aiming for and/or enforcing WCAG 2.1 Level AA. For those of us who already pushback on conformance to WCAG 2.0 what are our options for now requesting 2.1? We can't reference the law because it still says 2.0.
4 as a public college, our health science accrediting bodies require all the program information and forms to be posted on the website in PDF format. How do we meet the needs of the accrediting agencies but create an accessible website?
5 Would you please speak to: (several questions in one) Whether websites need to have either a link to contact webmaster that is monitored for questions or concerns; AND/OR do websites need to have some place where one can click to find out if there are accessible features available or who to report issues to? For example, a website might have a place to enlarge font, or it might have pictures w/o alt text, or only in english. Are there any requirements for icons or troubleshooting or reporting? Thank you.
6 My assumption is it is website accessibility via desktop monitor (I wonder how large and what resolution). Accessibility via mobile phone will NOT be covered. Many screens in educational space are between 65 and 85 inches for reference. Most desktops are landscape and 1920 res. Many desktop screens are touchscreen as well. Many laptops with smaller screens are touch. Quite the conundrum
7 What can I do to ensure a new website is accessible to AAC users?
8 What is the difference between the alt and title attributes on image tags?
9 Scope of coverge re: private, commercial, governmental. online store/manuf only with direct ship. online store with physical store. Owner websites (e.g. hotels, theaters, or sporting venues) which sell tickets online and ONLY provide digital tickets, but tickets can be sold by a 3rd party vendor (e.g. Travelocity, RCL, TicketMaster). What is the initial Owner's requirements for 3rd party non-compliant websites? What about those websites which provide 3d graphics where you can view the stage from the selected seat? And maybe not this content---but are online webinars (Zooms, GoToMeetings, GoogleMeets etc, paid online CEU webinar courses not taught thru a university) required to have a signer, closed captioning, transcriptions/CART? Is there a threshold where a group is not required to do provide these services? The transcription services are expensive set up for thousands of hours with a long term contract (works for legal, universities, healthcare, government).
10 Yea
11 For links, is it okay to open a new window?
12 What are the best tools to check your website for accessibility?
13 If you have a webpage with an image and then a heading that both link to the same url or pdf, is that okay?
14 Would should be the maximum character length for an alt text?
15 How should we address links that are accessed by clicking on pictures? I know links need to be descriptive. Should the link description be embedded in the alt text?
16 Can you provide tips for drafting alt text? Is there reference material that could provide guidance going forward?

Session Questions

This session is accepting questions from registered users. After you have registered to participate in this session you can submit your questions on your Account Manager page. Please note: the number of questions will be limited and submissions will be closed well before the session starts to provide time to prepare answers.

Privacy Statement

In order to register for this webinar you will need to create an account and provide, at a minimum, your name, email address, phone number, city, and country. If you do not wish to create an account, you may watch this webinar after it has been recorded. Webinars are typically posted 2 days after the live session. You can access our previously recorded webinars at this link. Be advised that in order to obtain continuing education credits you must register and create an account. See Continuing Education Recognition Request Policy.