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Media Accessibility

Media Accessibility. Crystal Gold, M.S. Assistant Director Multimedia Development Services, UCTS University College, IUPUI. What is Accessibility?. Making information usable and understandable for EVERYONE Ensure potential audience pool is as large as possible. Why is this important to us?.

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Media Accessibility

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  1. Media Accessibility Crystal Gold, M.S. Assistant Director Multimedia Development Services, UCTS University College, IUPUI

  2. What is Accessibility? • Making information usable and understandable for EVERYONE • Ensure potential audience pool is as large as possible

  3. Why is this important to us? • Over 234 million Americans are using the Internet (2007) • About 49.7 million Americans have some level of disability • Organizations receiving federal funding are governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requiring compliance with specific guidelines

  4. Why is this important to us? • The success of an online initiative depends on it being used. • Why would you want to restrict use? Open the potential pool of users as wide as possible! • Ethically, it is good practice to make information useful for everyone - without limitations • Accessibility goes beyond federal regulations • Accessible sites tend to convert to the new technologies faster and easier (PDAs, Cell phones, etc.)

  5. What is Section 508? • Section 508 • Information Technology and People with Disabilities amendment to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 • “Section 508 requires Federal departments and agencies that develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology to ensure that Federal employees and members of the public with disabilities have access to and use of information and data, comparable to that of the employees and members of the public without disabilities–unless it is an undue burden to do so."

  6. What technology is affected? • The following that is created by or for Federal departments and agencies: • Software Applications and Operating Systems • Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications • Telecommunications Products • Video and Multimedia Products • Self Contained, Closed Products • Desktop and Portable Computers

  7. So we need to make media work for vision and hearing problems, right? • That is just the start! There are many other disabilities that affect someone’s use of electronic technologies • Cognitive disabilities • Difficulty reading • Poor vision • Difficulty with motor skills • Physical disabilities that make typing difficult or impossible • Inability to differentiate between certain colors

  8. Don’t forget old and new technologies! • People using non-color displays • People with limited or slow access may not have all of the latest plug-ins or technology • Slow connections can make page loading difficult • People on most PDAs, cell phones, and other small devices require a “stripped down” version of a page for best viewing

  9. So, why don’t we have an “Alternate Site”? • Alternate “Text-Only” sites used to be considered a great way to get information to those with older technology and slow connections, as well as those with disabilities. • UCTS has opted NOT to take this route because: • We do not want to force others to a “separate” area due to their differences • It does not meet the spirit of the regulations, just the word of the law

  10. Basic Guidelines (from W3C)Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content • Can a user read the same information that is provided in that voice-over? • Can a person use adaptive technologies to read the text to them that is provided on the page?

  11. Basic Guidelines (from W3C) Don't rely on color alone • What does it look like when in black and white? • Helps ensure that contrast is appropriate and that color is not being used to convey information.

  12. Basic Guidelines (from W3C)Clarify natural language usage • Help adaptive technologies read the text • Use correct pronunciation • Spell out abbreviations

  13. Basic Guidelines (from W3C)Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes • People may need more time to read text that is actively moving; allow them to pause or even rewind.

  14. Basic Guidelines (from W3C)Use interim solutions • Be aware of the limitations of adaptive technologies and do your best to work around them • Podcasts are too small for captioning and do not, at this time, provide auto-caption like some video. We do not yet know how to make them truly compliant.

  15. Basic Guidelines (from W3C)Use W3C technologies and guidelines • Try to stay away from technologies that require additional plug-ins (like PDFs). • Allow users to pick how they would like to receive information (provide PDF and Word files for download)

  16. But, I don’t know about media design… • If you hire someone to create ANY media piece for you, it is still your responsibility to make sure that they are skilled in ADA compliance. • Are they knowledgeable about this topic? • Do they share a commitment to making everything available to everyone?

  17. Where are we now? • We are doing GREAT for blind/auditory-only users!

  18. Where are we now? • We are doing AWFUL for low vision users!

  19. Where are we now? • These results support the changes in ADA testing. • New technology now allows us to test for low vision and see areas we need to improve. • We are focusing on improving our site for low vision users in the new redesign of the UCOL website

  20. Where can I get more information? • World Wide Web Consortium - http://www.w3.org/ • Scenarios - http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/PWD-Use-Web/#usage • ONLINE SEARCHES: • ADA Compliance • ADA Guidelines • Web Accessibility

  21. References • World Wide Web Consortium – http://www.w3.org/ • http://www.access-board.gov/ • http://www.internetworldstats.com • http://www.dol.gov/odep/faqs/people.htm

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