Western to form web accessibility task force to ensure
access to information and services
The World Wide Web has become a major source of
information for the faculty, staff and students at Western
Carolina University. Western is working to provide reasonable
accommodations to ensure that students with disabilities
may access this Web-based source of information.
The university recently adopted a Web Accessibility Policy
which establishes stand ards for Web-based information and
services. To both promote and support these efforts Western’s
Information Technology Division, as part of its Start-IT
04 plan, is forming an Accessibility Task force.
The recently adopted Web Accessibility Policy, which is
available at http://www.wcu.edu/chancellor/index/universitypolicy/policy86.htm,
re-enforces Western’s commitment to providing equal
access to Web-based information in its programs and services
in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
All official university Web pages associated with university
administration, services, courses of instruction, programs,
and activities must conform to the Web accessibility standards
and requirements. But, according to Director of Web Management
Bob Orr, Web design best practices suggest that Web pages
should be designed to be usable by all people.
“Publishing Web content and developing Web-based
services can be a lot of work,” said Orr. “Why
would we want to put something on a Web page that keeps people
from fully using what we have created, especially considering
that meeting accessibility requirements isn’t necessarily
difficult?”
Orr suggests that good Web design should accommodate different
browsers or screen readers or those who can’t use a
mouse or detect color. Orr shared that creating accessible
Web content may be as simple as: using sans-serif fonts,
such as Verdana and Arial that are easier to read on a computer;
ensuring that a all information that is conveyed with color
is also available without color; or providing alternative
content for users with browsers that don't support advanced
functionality.
In an effort to support those who develop or maintain university
Web pages, the Information Technology Division is forming
an Accessibility Task Force this fall to suggest best practices
for creating accessible Web content.
According to Western’s Chief Information Officer Tom Franke, the task
force will explore and recommend best practices for sharing information on
accessibility and its importance. “I am forming the task force to offer
recommendations to Information Technology on training and support solutions
for those engaged in creating Web pages,” said Franke. “The task
force also will recommend helpful tools to assist in developing accessible
content while ensuring compliance.”
The Office of Web Management will be leading this accessibility
effort. For more information, contact Bob Orr in the Office
of Web Management at orr@email.wcu.edu or
call 227-7327.
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