Web Accessibility Guidelines for Individuals with
Disabilities
Technology has helped to accommodate individuals with
disabilities. The Internet is one example. A world of information is available
from any computer with Internet access. Voice activation and screen readers
help to expand the usability of computers for individuals with disabilities.
As the Internet becomes a part of everyday life, accessibility to
individuals with disabilities becomes more important. This is especially true
of regulated information such as benefits communications. The ADA (Americans
with Disabilities Act) requires benefit information to be accessible to all
employees, including those with disabilities. The World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C) has developed 12 guidelines, listed below, to help ensure web site
accessible to those with disabilities:
Never encode information with absolute font sizes, but use relative sizes
instead. This allows users to adjust the size on command.
Don't use color to convey information unless the information is also clear
from the text.
Use sufficient contrast between foreground and background color.
Make sure moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating objects may be
paused or frozen.
Avoid nonstandard features or attributes supported only by a specific type
of browser. If nonstandard features must be used for some reason, provide an
accessible HTML version of the page, an automatically translated version, or a
text-only version of the page.
Create a consistent style of presentation between pages.
Use a consistent navigation structure and provide access to it with
navigation bars.
Provide a description of the general layout of the site, the access
features used, and how to use them.
Offer a site map.
Offer different types of searches for different skill levels and
preference.
Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs,
and lists.
Finally, test your site with various types of browsers, older versions of
current browsers, and services that emulate browsers. Adjustments to your
design based on the results of tests will increase the likelihood that your
site will be usable by a wide range of people and technologies.
