Slides for talk given at IWMW 1998 held at the University of Newcastle on 15-17 September 1998. See http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/webmaster-sep1998/materials/

1. Web AccessibilityWeb Accessibility
Paul Booth
Project Officer
DISinHE Support Centre

2. 2: What is web2: What is web
accessibility?accessibility?
Making sure your information is available
to everyone. Regardless of:
• Software
• Platform
• Ability……..

3. 3:3: Why is itWhy is it
important?important?
Prevention of barriers to information
• Higher quality of material
• Increase in potential audience
• Happier end users
But also:
• Legal issues

4. 4: Accessibility =4: Accessibility =
Dull web sites?Dull web sites?
• Not at all! Be creative and accessible.
• Only takes a bit of forward planning &
common sense.
• Web masters can still use up to the
second technology - just remember to
provide for those who cant support it.

5. 5: How do I go5: How do I go
about it?about it?
There is a lot to web accessibility, but the
fundamentals are basic:
• Plan
• Check
• Think!
Rule of Thumb: Make sure everything
fails gracefully.

6. 6: Is there any help?6: Is there any help?
Yes! There are lots of on-line resources.
In particular:
• W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative pages:
http://www.w3c.org/WAI
• Bobby - online accessibility checking:
http://www.cast.org/bobby
• November launch of the DISinHE centre...

7. 7: What is7: What is DISDISininHEHE ??
A central clearing house for Information
Technology for Accessibility, and
Disability in Higher Education.
Funded by JISC.

8. 8: Dissemination8: Dissemination
• Index of R & D and service provision
• Website with signposts to other work
• Good practice guides for equipment
and support strategies for institutions
• Database of key people and institutions
• Attend national and regional
conferences, and workshops for policy
makers and IT providers
• Case studies & other commissioned
work

9. 9: In a nutshell….9: In a nutshell….
We’re here to keep track of the issues….
….So you don’t have to!

10. 10: To Find out more10: To Find out more
Our Web site is under development and is
due to Launch in November.
Please look us up at:
http://www.disinhe.ac.uk