| So you're finally ready to launch your website. It's | | | | descriptions help people who cannot view your |
| been carefully designed and the content is | | | | graphics understand what is on the page. |
| thoughtfully worded. There's one step, though, | | | | Don't use excessive tables and columns : |
| that many overlook, and after a recent court | | | | Tables, columns, and PDF formatted documents |
| ruling, you can't afford to miss. | | | | cannot be read by screen reading software, so |
| In September of 2006 a student named Bruce | | | | make sure you don't overload your website with |
| Sexton Jr. sued the retail giant Target because its | | | | these. |
| website was inaccessible to the blind. The lawsuit, | | | | If you're hiring a web designer, be sure to find |
| filed in conjunction with the National Federation of | | | | one who is familiar with Section 508 compliance : |
| the Blind (NFB), has drawn attention to the fact | | | | Section 508 is a law that was originally passed in |
| that many large corporate sites are not | | | | 1973 (but amended in 1998) which requires all |
| compatible with screen reading technology, which | | | | Federal agencies that use electronic or information |
| helps blind users navigate websites. | | | | technology to make their information accessible to |
| At issue with Target's website in particular was its | | | | citizens with disabilities. Whether or not you are a |
| lack of ALT tags on its website. ALT tags are | | | | Federal agency, it's a good idea to comply with |
| crucial to screen reading software, which cannot | | | | section 508 guidelines when designing your |
| decipher information that is coded differently. | | | | website. |
| Initially, Target claimed that only its stores were | | | | Make sure that people with multiple disabilities can |
| covered by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities | | | | access your site : |
| Act, a civil rights law passed in 1990), and not its | | | | Don't forget that other disabilities can also affect |
| website. Eventually though, Target settled with | | | | web users, including people who are deaf and |
| the NFB, which in part required Target to pay $6 | | | | dyslexic. Be sure you cover all your bases. |
| million to a damages fund. In addition, Target was | | | | Visit the World Wide Web Consortium |
| ordered to make its website more accessible to | | | | Accessibility Initiative site : |
| blind readers, and to pay up to $15,000 of the | | | | The World Wide Web Consortium is an |
| NFB's costs to train Target's web designers to | | | | organization founded in 1994 that develops the |
| learn the techniques for accessibility design. | | | | standards of the World Wide Web. Their |
| The lawsuit was an eye opener to web designers | | | | Accessibility Initiative website contains all the |
| everywhere. If a huge retailer like Target can be | | | | information you need to make your site |
| sued over this issue, it can happen to anyone. | | | | handicapped accessible. Visit them at |
| Ironically-and fortunately-making your website | | | | One final point: there are side benefits to making |
| handicapped accessible is not as difficult as it | | | | your website handicapped accessible. For one, it |
| sounds. There are some simple steps you can | | | | opens the door for new customers who |
| take to ensure that your website can be read by | | | | previously would not do business with you. Also, |
| screen reading software and also accessible to | | | | sites with screen reader coding are more |
| other handicapped groups: | | | | text-oriented, which raises that site's rankings on |
| Add ALT tags to HTML coding : | | | | popular search engines. Higher rankings mean |
| When read by screen reading software, ALT tags | | | | more visibility on the internet, which, as all |
| provide alternative descriptive information for | | | | business people know, is always a good thing. |
| graphical elements of your website. The alternate | | | | |