Website accessibility refers to the compatibility of websites with the assistive technologies used by people who are physically challenged. For example, people who are blind, severely dyslexic, or have motor control disabilities often use assistive technologies to interface with computers. These technologies include Text-To-Speech (TTS) readers and voice-recognition software. Many web pages cannot be accessed by these devices because of their syntax and design.

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) sponsored by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has catalogued website accessibility violations. The W3C created a list divided into Priority 1, 2, and 3 violations, with Priority 1 being the most severe. These standards have been used by the Access Board to determine the guidelines for Section 508 of the Amended Rehabilitation Act of 1998. The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people who are physically challenged.

Website accessibility violations are caused by not adhering to accessibility standards. For example, improper use of frames can cause TTS readers to jump around web pages in a confusing manner. Alternatively, some functionalities, such as pop-up windows and animated GIFs, are difficult to navigate.

Management Assistance Corporation's software tools are designed to address accessibility violations as determined by the WAI and Section 508. To make a site accessible to assistive technologies, our tools correct improper formatting. We also provide textual alternatives to new technologies such as Flash and animation. In addition, our tools accomplish this with virtually no impact on the appearance of your site.

WHAT IS SECTION 508?

Section 508 (or just "508") of the amended Rehabilitation Act of 1998 extends to cyberspace the same legal guarantees of access that all physical public amenities must provide. The law requires that new Federal websites (and new portions of existing ones) make their content and function available to people with motor, visual, or auditory disabilities.

On December 21, 2000, the Access Board posted their final guidelines for 508 accessibility for people who are physically challenged. The deadline for mandatory compliance is set for June 21, 2001. Organizations must implement any necessary changes by this date, when the 6-month grace period established by the mandate expires. The guidelines are listed at www.access-board.gov/508.htm.

Much of Section 508 compliance is concerned with making websites, intranets, and web-enabled applications accessible. This affects Government agencies as well as private-sector institutions. Government agencies must make their websites and intranets accessible according to 508 standards, and they can only create or purchase web-enabled applications that are compliant with these standards. The law impacts corporations doing business with the Government because those corporations need to make their web-enabled applications and any websites built for Government clients accessible as well.

THE PROBLEM

You are proud that your website is helping your organization serve the public. But you have known for some time that your physically challenged constituents cannot gain access to parts of the site. You know you have to make future Web functions compliant with accessibility legislation, but what about your existing site? How big a job is it to make the existing site accessible? How much should you budget, what should you tackle first, and how long will it take?

THE SOLUTION

Management Assistance Corporation offers a rapid, affordable, and systematic audit service that assesses your site's level of compliance with accessibility guidelines. We make recommendations for bringing your site into compliance, including a complete list of guideline deviations by location and type. We establish priorities, create a schedule, and estimate the cost for making your site compliant.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Management Assistance Corporation focuses on the scope of the audit and confirms the needs of the agency. Our team will work closely with your staff to plan a complete inventory of your software and identification of users facing accessibility challenges. The scope can be your entire site, a frequently used area, a representative sample, or a portion that would be particularly critical for use by people with visual, motor, or auditory disabilities.

Assessment includes a rapid, top-level evaluation using software-enabled automated checking; expert review of user interface to specify design and editorial issues; expert review of programming that targets coding issues; and simulation to test user-controlled options and hardware issues. Itemized lists of noncompliant items are broken down by location and types of disability.

Finally we compile and deliver recommendations for specific actions to bring your website into compliance, a schedule for implementing these recommendations, and a budget estimate.

SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Diagnostic Report

The Diagnostic Report is a suite of reports that assesses the accessibility of your website to alternative browsers. These reports determine the specific areas and features of your website that are difficult to use or are completely inaccessible to alternative browsers.

The Diagnostic Report includes the following:

• Identification of specific HTML tags in violation of accessibility standards
• Review of design issues such as content navigation and information architecture
• Review of specific browser and usage cases
• Assessment of e-commerce accessibility issues

Retrofitting Plan

The Retrofitting Plan is a detailed methodology, project plan, and work plan which serve as a detailed roadmap to making your website accessible to alternative browsers. This plan assesses in specific terms the steps, resources, and techniques needed to fix areas or features of your site that are difficult to use or are completely inaccessible to alternative browsers.

Our team will work with your project manager and relevant web development teams to create a customized plan to make your website or intranet accessible.

The Retrofitting Plan includes the following:

• Web accessibility methodology
• Organization-specific retrofitting project outline and work plan

Retrofitting and Development Management

Retrofitting and Development Management includes comprehensive coordination of the actual "fixing" of the accessibility violations within your website or intranet. Working with proven implementation partners, we will manage the services performed in your technical environment, including HTML files, databases, and image libraries, to make your website accessible to alternative browsers.

Retrofitting and Development Management includes management of the entire process, including the following:

• Correction of specific HTML tags in violation of accessibility standards
• Enhancement of content navigation and information architecture
• Testing on specific alternative browsers and usage cases
• Enabling of accessible e-commerce

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