Using Technology to Ensure Accessibility

Accessibility / Usability

• Accessibility is the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible.

• Usability is the extent to which a device, service, or environment can be used by to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use.

Why accessibility?

The Practical Reasons

Accessibility benefits ALL users:• Speech or hands-free software (in the

car)• Older technology (software/plug-ins)• Slow internet connections• Mobile devices• Prefer text only• Email size quotas

The Practical Reasons

30% of web users (under age 60) are affected by one or more:

• Severe Visual Impairment• Low Vision• Colorblindness/Color Deficiency• Deaf and Individuals with Hearing Loss• Impaired Mobility• Learning Disorders• Other Neurological Impairment

The Legal Reasons

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 • First anti-discrimination law for persons

with disabilities. • Prohibited discrimination in any

program or activity receiving >$2,500 in federal funds.

The Legal Reasons

Section 504 • Prohibits discrimination on the basis of

disability in any program or activity offered by an entity or institution that receives financial assistance from the federal government.

• Specifically, postsecondary institutions must provide “appropriate adjustments and provide reasonable accommodations that allow students with disabilities full participation in activities and programs available to students without disabilities.”

The Legal Reasons

Reasonable Accommodation for Students

A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are customarily done in the workplace, campus, or academic environment that permits a qualified person with a disability to enjoy equal educational opportunities.

The Legal Reasons

Section 508 • Amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of

1973 • All electronic and information

technology used by the federal government must be accessible to people with disabilities.

• Technology is “accessible” if it can be used as effectively by people with disabilities as by those without.

“It is unacceptable for universities to use emerging technology without insisting that this technology be accessible to all students.”

2010 White House letter to all college and university presidents celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Socially Responsible Reasons

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes access to information and communications technologies, including the Web, as a basic human right.

The SU Policy ReasonsSU’s “Non-Discrimination, Students with Disabilities Policy” states that:

…the University will provide reasonable accommodations. All members of the University community are responsible for promoting compliance with this policy.

SU’s “Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability Policy Statement” states:

Syracuse University is committed to compliance with Section 504 …, the Americans with Disabilities Act …, and all other applicable laws prohibiting disability discrimination.

The “Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy Statement” states:

The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on … disability… This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.

10 things you can do now to make your

emails more accessible

1. Do not use email “stationery”

2. Use simple fonts, 12 point or larger

DecorativeFonts

Pick me!

I Look Great

!

3. Color is important.

BadBetter

OkayBest

4. Refrain from placing images in the email body. If you must, make sure to use alt tags.

5. Don’t rely on colors, bold, italic, ALL CAPS, or other formatting tricks for emphasis.

Instead, make your point with language, or organize the email with important information first.

6. Do not use unnecessary punctuation!!!!!!!!*Special characters*, lines of punctuation to mark a section break, and other non-standard uses of punctuation are all very confusing for screen readers.

:(

7. If an email is important enough to forward, take the time to do it right. Ensure that it is accessible before you send it on.

8. Spell out hyperlinks:

YES: Syracuse University at http://syr.edu.

NO: “Click here” (without context)

NO: Incomplete URL’s, i.e. syr.edu

9. Skip the soapbox

≠Email signature

Personal manifesto

10. Know youraudience

Email Examples

Accessibility Toolkit and other resources:

http://its.syr.edu

http://Answers.syr.edu

Your Organization’s Accessibility Team

Names, contact information and local online resources