Accessibility of Online Content
It has been estimated that 54 million people or 20.6% of all Americans have some level of disability. Section 508, an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requires Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public.
Allegany College of Maryland strives to make web content accessible. These materials include Web pages, Audio, Videos, MS Word documents, PowerPoint Presentations, PDF documents, etc.
Users may have a variety of difficulties accessing a web site:
- Users may not be able to see, hear, move, or may not be able to process some types of information easily.
- Users may have difficulty reading or comprehending text.
- Users may not have or be able to use a keyboard or mouse.
- Users may have a text-only screen, a small screen, or a slow Internet connection.
- Users may not speak or understand fluently the language in which the document is written.
- Users may be in a situation where their eyes, ears, or hands are busy or interfered with (e.g., driving to work, working in a loud environment, etc.).
- Users may have an early version of a browser, a different browser entirely, a voice browser, or a different operating system.
Accessible design brings a number of benefits. First, the Web provides an invaluable tool for people with disabilities because it provides greater access to information and increased opportunity for social interaction for many users. Second, making design accessible often leads to side benefits such as greater usability and download speed for all users.
- Use of Color: Color is used; however, it is mostly for decorative purposes and is not the sole means of communicating information.