Web accessibility and section 508 guideline in class project

1. What is Section 508 ?
• Section 508 is an amendment to the
Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973, signed
into law by President Clinton in 1998.
• Section 508 requires that information
technology that is developed by or purchased
by the Federal Agencies be Accessible by
people with disabilities.
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2. Why Accessible is important
54 million Americans has a disability, that’s
10% of the population (2000 U.S. Census)
• 10 million Americans are Vision impaired
• 20 million Americans are Hearing impaired
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3. Vision Impaired
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4. Vision Impaired
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5. Vision Impaired
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6. How do they surf Web
• Can not see the Screen
• Can not use the Mouse or Pointer system
• Can not use Keyboard
• Can not hear the Audio
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7. Where do Seniors go?
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8. Where do Seniors go?
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9. Web Usability for Senior
Difference? Special Requirement?
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10. Web Usability for Senior
Difference? Special Requirement?
Senior Web Usability Test by Nielsen Norman Group
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11. Web Usability for Senior
Difference? Special Requirement?
Senior Web Usability Test by Nielsen Norman Group
Result: Yes! Current websites are Twice as hard
to use for seniors as for non-seniors
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12. Why Usability is Lower for
Seniors?
• Designer - Young design for senior
- Design mental model(VMM)
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13. Why Usability is Lower for
Seniors?
• Designer - Young design for senior
- Design mental model(VMM)
• Seniors - Physical changes
(vision, motor control, memory)
- Computer/Web experience
- Older hardware and software
(resolution, browser, network)
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14. Best Practice 1/3
1 Physical Improvement
• Readability – Font(>12pt), High contrast,
White space, short lines, consistent UI
• Motor Control – Large Links, Button, Menu,
standard Scrolling (<2 screen)
• Memory – Navigation, Breadcrumb, Site map
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15. Best Practice 2/3
2 Computer / Web experience
• Language - simple , 8th grade level
• Avoid using jargon, abbreviation
• Forggiving design - error,cancel,back
• Help & Contact number
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16. Best Practice 3/3
3 Older Computer Environment
• Browser – support IE6, etc
• Screen resolution –liquid layout
• Connectivity – compress file size
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17. Resources
“Making your website Senior Friendly Checklist ”
by National Institute on Aging (NIA)
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18. Is NIA site Senior Friendly?
Subpage of National Institute on Aging website
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19. Thank you !
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20. Thank you !
Questions?
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