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:
•
•
•
•
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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 Reasons
SU’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
Pick
me!
Decorative
Fonts
I Look
Great!
3. Color is important.
Bad
Better
Okay
Best
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
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 your
audience
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