How Does Your Web Page Sound?
Have your browsed your library's Web site with a screen reader? Maybe you're familiar with the rules of 508 Web compliance, and maybe you're even religious about checking the images on your Web site for alt tags. But do you ever wonder about those specific rules and why they matter? See what happens when a screen reader (JAWS will be used) encounters common problems in the coding of a Web page. Find out what drives patrons who use screen readers crazy and how you can avoid those pitfalls in the online resources your library provides. This session will include a brief introduction to/review of the basic rules of 508 compliance.
Complete slide show from the workshop
Update, February 2008: The slide show mentions that Watchfire WebXACT offers a free page-by-page accessibility check. As of February 1st, 2008, this is no longer the case.
To replicate the JAWS demo:
- 1. Visit www.freedomscientific.com and download JAWS in 40-minute trial mode;
- 2. Open JAWS, clicking "exit" when prompted for activation information;
- 3. Visit the demo links below in Internet Explorer.
Demo links:
Dr. Samuel Mudd House Museum
Auraria Library-Less Accessible Page
Auraria Library-More Accessible Page
Colorado Association of Libraries Annual Conference 2007 Workshop