Alt Tags

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SXSW 2004: The AltTags Wrap-Up

Accessiblity was on the radar in a big way at SXSW 2004. Not only was there a track devoted to learning more about accessibility, but people in, well, non-accessible sessions were talking about the subject. The topic of accessibility appeared during sessions on web standards, CSS, and usability. And, much to my surprise, it was part of a discussion on a mailing list completely unrelated to web development. People are thinking about accessibility.

I attended all the sessions in the track, and have to say the presenters did an excellent job of introducing the subject to those who were new to the concept — and they kept the sessions challenging for those of us who know about accessibility. The accessibility workshops, whether by design or sheer luck, reinforced a common theme, one that we at AltTags preach: accessible websites are universally usable.

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Double Your Trouble

Both Section 508 and the WCAG state that, as a last resort, a separate, accessible website must be provided. As a last resort. Meaning a second site is created if you absolutely cannot achieve accessibility in any other manner.

Wow. If you have to create a mirror site, it makes me ask just what, exactly, is going on with your site in the first place? The sheer amount of effort required to make a site so inaccessible that a second site is required boggles my mind. I can only imagine the effort and maintenance going into this endeavor.

Yet, many developers and their clients immediately assume a second site is the first and best option. After what I can only assume is a quick perusal of the guidelines, it is determined that two sites are better than one.

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It Works For Everybody

When we started testing local government websites for compliance with Section 508, we expected a pretty high failure rate. After all, it’s a federal requirement, and local agencies that comply are doing so voluntarily. But I’m going to be honest — I didn’t expect the results to be as bad as they are.

Reasons for failure to comply range from the ever-popular missing alt attributes to multi-layer JavaScript-based navigation systems not even Superman could read. When we talk to local agencies, they never fail to make a point of mentioning the size of their senior citizen constituency — yet their websites turn backflips to avoid being useful for this growing and Internet-savvy demographic. It’s like the left hand and right hand haven’t met.

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Accessibility and Public Accommodation

This article from the Christian Science Monitor brings up a rather interesting question about states meeting ADA requirements. The article specifically addresses the need for accessibility in public accommodations — physical buildings. The conclusion drawn in the article is that states should meet Federal standards.

Many states and local governments do voluntarily comply with the provisions of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. They recognize that when it comes to their websites, maximum accessiblity by constituents is critical. With the trend toward e-government applications — which save both constituents and government staff time and money — access is doubly important. For these government agencies, accessibility makes good business sense. What I find perplexing is that commercial entities don’t feel the same way.

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Zeldman's Section 508 Presentation

As usual, Zeldman is right on target in his Accessibility and Section 508 presentation. He touches on a couple of topics I’d like to expand on at length in future postings.

  1. Dual use design. If done properly you shouldn’t have to create a separate accessible version of your site.
  2. If you’re looking for a business case to justify accessibility, think of Google as a blind user. Accessibility and web standards will also make your site more search engine friendly.