Study the current guidelines and requirements for making a website accessible to users with disabilities. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act establishes guidelines for government agencies, and the W3C has published specifications for web designers. Students will learn ways in which users with disabilities access websites and receive hands-on tips and techniques for making websites accessible. 

• Proficient with navigating to folders and files; opening, saving and closing files; and using menus, toolbars and dialog boxes 
• HMTL: Level 1 and Level 2 or equivalent knowledge  
• Cascading Style Sheets: Level 1 or equivalent knowledge 
• Designing Effective Websites or equivalent knowledge 

Lesson 1 

Identify the barriers that inaccessible websites create for users with disabilities. 

• Define the types of disabilities that can make using websites difficult 
• Describe the challenges that people with disabilities encounter when using websites 
• Identify the assistive technologies that people with disabilities use to access websites 

Lesson 1 Assignments 

• Lecture/discussion 
• Exercise 
• Skill check #1 

Lesson 2  

Define the legal implications for designing an inaccessible website. 

• Identify the Section 508 requirements for building an accessible website 
• Identify the Web Content Accessibility 2.0 guidelines and conformance levels 
• Identify the potential consequences of not conforming to the accessibility guidelines 

Lesson 2 Assignments 

• Lecture/discussion 
• Exercise 
• Skill check #2 

Lesson 3  

Create website content that is perceivable for people with disabilities. 

• Create electronic text alternatives for nontext page elements 
• Create appropriate alternatives for audio and video content 
• Create content that is adaptable to different methods of presentation 
• Create visual and auditory components that allow users with disabilities to distinguish the foreground from the background 

Lesson 3 Assignments 

• Lecture/demo 
• Exercise 
• Skill check #3 

Lesson 4  

Create user interface components that are operable for people with disabilities. 

• Build pages so that all functionality is available from a keyboard interface 
• Create interface elements that provide users sufficient time to read and respond 
• Create content that avoids known triggers that can cause seizures 
• Create page components that show users their current location within a website and allow navigation choices that help them to find the desired content 

Lesson 4 Assignments 

• Lecture/demo 
• Exercise 
• Skill check #4  

Lesson 5  

Create website content that makes the information understandable for people with disabilities. 

• Create text content that is easy to read and comprehend 
• Create pages that look consistent and work predictably 
• Build page elements that provide a way to detect and correct errors 

Lesson 5 Assignments 

• Lecture/demo 
• Exercise 
• Skill check #5 

Lesson 6  

Create robust website content so that people with disabilities can access the site using different technologies. 

• Create pages using current design and coding standards 
• Build page elements that work with current user agents and assistive technologies 

Lesson 6 Assignments 

• Lecture/demo 
• Exercise 
• Skill check #6