This document provides tips and guidance for achieving ADA web accessibility compliance for the Tompkins County website. It discusses the county's Title VI program, which prohibits discrimination in programs and activities based on race, color, national origin, disability, and other protected characteristics. The document notes that 9.5% of the county has a disability, and for those over 65 the rate is almost 30%. It provides an overview of ADA compliance requirements and explains how assistive technologies like screen readers work. The rest of the document outlines best practices for web content, including using proper alt text, checking PDF accessibility, using unique and descriptive link names, correct use of headings, consistent navigation, and an online evaluation tool.

1. ADA WEB ACCESSIBILITY
TIPS & TRICKS FOR ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE

2. OVERVIEW
 Tompkins County Title VI Program
 ADA Compliance
 Web Content Tips and Tricks
 Evaluation Tool

3. TOMPKINS COUNTY TITLE VI PROGRAM
 Title VI is a federal statute enacted
by Congress (Civil Rights Act of
1964).
 Provides that no persons shall be
denied the benefits of or be
subjected to discrimination under
any program or activity receiving
federal funding, based on:
 Race
 Color
 National Origin
 Disability
 Another other characteristic
protected by law

4. DID YOU KNOW?
 9.5% of all people in Tompkins County have a disability
 For people over the age of 65, the rate is almost 30%

5. ADA COMPLIANCE
 ADA = Americans with Disabilities Act
 Provides specific protections for people with disabilities and their
interactions with local governments, including…
 Equally Effective Communication
 Program Accessibility
 TC ADA Program: NY Relay, Transition Plan, Reasonable Accommodation
 The Tompkins County Website can be a vital resource for residents to
access services, programs, activities, and public information.
 Thus, we must ensure accessibility for people with disabilities on our
website.

6. AN UPDATE TO EARLIER GUIDELINES

8. WEB CONTENT TIPS AND TRICKS
HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY READ YOUR CONTENT?
TOP 5 RULES FOR WEBSITE MANAGERS
WEB ACCESSIBILITY EVALUATION TOOL

9. HOW DOES TECH READ YOUR CONTENT?
 What the Author Means
 What the Web Browser can Render
 What the Assistive Technology Reads
 What the User Understands
Accessibility & the Law in the USA

10. SUPPORTED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
 Keyboard-Only Navigation
 Tool for people who cannot use a mouse
 Screen Readers
 Tool for people with visual impairments; reads content out loud
 Third-party software (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver)
 Many popular browsers contain built-in accessibility tools (e.g., Chrome,
Internet Explorer, Firefox)
 Adobe Acrobat has built-in accessibility tools for PDFs
Web ADA simulations

11. SUPPORTED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
 Keyboard-Only Navigation
 Tool for people who cannot use a mouse
 Screen Readers
 Tool for people with visual impairments; reads content out loud
 Third-party software (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver)
 Many popular browsers contain built-in accessibility tools (e.g., Chrome,
Internet Explorer, Firefox)
 Adobe Acrobat has built-in accessibility tools for PDFs
However… these tools only work if the
content is written in an accessible manner!

12. TOP 5 RULES FOR WEBSITE MANAGERS
1. Include proper alt text for images
2. Check PDF accessibility
3. Give your links unique and descriptive names
4. Use headings correctly to organize the structure of your
content
5. Consistent Navigation & Consider Reading Order

13. EVALUATION TOOL
 Free Evaluation Tool:
http://wave.webaim.org/
 Use the evaluation tool every
time you…
1. Make changes to existing pages,
or
2. Create new pages.
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=lbSBZbghif
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14. QUESTIONS??
THANK YOU!