Web Page Accessibility

Accessibility in terms of Web design generally refers to facilitating the use of technology for people with disabilities. Providing equivalent access to Web sites for all students, faculty, and staff at Sacramento State is required by SB302. This Senate Bill extends the requirements of Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act to the California State University.

Visit the new Accessibility at Sacramento State website for more information on handling accessibility and the Accessible Technology Initiative.

So, how do we make Web sites accessible to people with disabilities?

• A user with hearing problems will need to have video-captioning included.
• People with mobility impairments benefit from well-designed sites that allow for easy movement through the site utilizing alternate input devices.
• Users with sight disabilities who cannot see the information on a Web site benefit from accessing a site that is designed to facilitate screen reader technology.
• Learning-disabled users benefit from good design that provides consistent elements as well as both visual and aural input.

Faculty, staff, and students who develop University-related Web pages need to become familiar with Section 508 to adequately address accessibility concerns. It is also helpful to understand how text browsers, screen readers, magnifiers, alternate input devices, and other assistive technologies work.

Web Page Accessibility Resources

Note: PDF documents require Adobe Reader for viewing. Free download of Adobe Reader.

All Sacramento State-affiliated Web documents should meet Section 508 guidelines of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines set forth by the World Wide Web Consortium [W3C]. Providing text equivalents for graphics and including captions are two elements that enhance accessibility to Web sites. When you visit the Priority Levels link above, scroll down to the table which lists requirements for satisfying each checkpoint level of accessibility.

California State University Policy for the Provision of Accommodations and Support Services to Students with Disabilities (PDF) [The California State University]
This CSU Chancellor’s office document provides information on defining categories of disabilities, verifying disabilities, confidentiality, non-discrimination, academic requirements and reasonable accommodations, communications technology, reports, and more.

Creating Accessible Adobe PDF Files [Adobe]
This lengthy, though searchable, document guides you through the process of adding accessibility features to your PDF files that you may be adding to your Web page or online course. It is available online or as a downloadable PDF document.

Section 508 - Federal amendment to the Rehabilitation Act [U.S. Government]
This amendment eliminates barriers to information technology and is applicable to all Federal agencies. California SB302 extends the requirements of Section 508 to the California State University. As a result, all Sacramento State Web pages must meet the requirements of Section 508. Visit this site to familiarize yourself with Section 508 provisions.

The Access Board - a federal agency committed to accessible design [U.S. Government]
Section 508 (above) requires that access to electronic and information technology be developed and maintained, technical assistance be provided, and accessibility standards be enforced. The Access Board is the federal agency charged with these responsibilities.

W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [W3C]
Read techniques and see examples of ways to ensure that your Web pages meet accessibility requirements.

WebAIM (Accessibility In Mind) Tutorials [WebAIM]
Excellent resources for help with Web accessibility.

last reviewed: January 25, 2008