Because the Worldwide Web is often a highly graphical, visual environment, most accessibility concerns relate to making information more accessible to persons for whom this visual component is not useful. However, additional accessibility concerns relate to those with auditory, mobility, and cognitive impairments.

The following sites contain a wealth of information on designing pages for accessibility. The field is so large that considerable time may be required to come to an understanding of the issues, challenges, and solutions. For a very quick introduction, see the Worldwide Web Consortium's "Quick Tips" reference card.

At FSU:

• FSU Web Style Guide: Accessibility
• Student Disability Resource Center
• ADA Program
• Department of Childhood Education, Reading and Disability Services
• Blackboard Corporation's Accessibility sub-site (FSU uses Blackboard software as its primary learning management system.)

Standards:

• WebXACT (formerly Bobby) online accessibility tester
• Web Accessibility Initiative from the Worldwide Web Consortium
• Usability.gov's Web Accessibility index (includes section 508 links)

Resources Specific to Accessibility in Distance Learning

• "'Teaching Blind' on the Internet: Distance Education", Sandy Ruconich, Council for Exceptional Children
• "Thoughts about Accessibility and Distance Learning", Sherman Dorn, University of South Florida College of Education
• "Access Guidelines for Students with Disabilities", Chancellor's Office, California Community Colleges
• "Distance learning -- boon or bane?", Art Blaser, Ragged Edge Online

Helpful Websites:

• Designing for color-blindness: see Color Deficient Vision.
• Accessibility Myths, Royal National Institute of the Blind
• Web Accessibility, American Foundation for the Blind
• Yet more related sites:
  • http://www.webable.com/
  • http://www-3.ibm.com/able/
  • http://www.htmlhelp.org/design/accessibility/tips.html
  • http://trace.wisc.edu/about/
  • http://www.abilitynet.co.uk/

Currently Unclassified (to be evaluated):

• Bb's screen reader tutorial, which only addresses the student view but can be extended to the control panel, I think
• General IE keyboard shortcuts for JAWS users
• The UID (Universal International Design) listserve: UID-FORUM@listserv.uoguelph.ca
• ReadPlease Text-to-Speech Software
• Arkansas School for the Blind's accessibility technology page
• EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)
• "Advanced Accessibility Features for Inclusive Distance Education", a 2004 article in the International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning.

Joseph S. Clark
Center for Teaching & Learning
4508 UCC | APPS@FSU
(850) 645-5638
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