What is web accessibility
Web accessibility refers to the practice of removing obstacles that inhabit a user's ability to interact or access a website or online content. Web accessibility focuses on the accommodation for potential users with disabilities: most commonly, web accessibility strategies target issues that may impede functionality and use for individuals with partial or full visual impairments. Use of the internet as a medium of communication has removed several barriers that exist in print or other forms of media, and has provided an opportunity for interaction and communication that may have been difficult or impossible. However, when websites are poorly-designed or do not consider the range of users who rely on their The inclusion of web accessibility into site development, social media, online marketing, and all aspects of online culture has come not only as a web-culture movement in order to meet the needs of an diverse online community, but compliance with web accessibility standards has been federally enforced by the Americans with Disabilities Act for certain entities. This includes Oregon State University, as a public institution.
What is the osu experience site doing?
In an effort to create equitable online opportunities for our Oregon State University students, visitors and community as a whole, the OSU Experience site is continually working to add and maintain interactive and accessible content on our site. A focus of my internship included examining the existing site, working with ADA and DAS accessibility-related guidelines and recommendations to establish a "best practices" method of ensuring the development we continue to do within the OSU Experience site maintains a high level of accessible interaction for students and visitors. This work includes:
• Working with the Disability Access Services department on OSU campus to regularly access the site, and heeding recommendations for improvement
• Screening new content and pages prior to publishing to ensure compliance of regulations
• Developing and applying common language can be used across the site to create accurate, descriptive alternative text for images and links
• Creating an office-wide guide containing best practices and theme commonalities in the ways that we (the SAC&M Office) provide accessible web content
• Using accessibility resources, such as W3C.org and Mac VoiceOver program, to check our work and seek improvement
• Compliance with OSU Branding and Visual Identity guidelines that include colour-contrast checking for branded sites
• Commitment to self-and-site improvement through video presentations, instruction and online accessibility research
• Working with the Disability Access Services department on OSU campus to regularly access the site, and heeding recommendations for improvement
• Screening new content and pages prior to publishing to ensure compliance of regulations
• Developing and applying common language can be used across the site to create accurate, descriptive alternative text for images and links
• Creating an office-wide guide containing best practices and theme commonalities in the ways that we (the SAC&M Office) provide accessible web content
• Using accessibility resources, such as W3C.org and Mac VoiceOver program, to check our work and seek improvement
• Compliance with OSU Branding and Visual Identity guidelines that include colour-contrast checking for branded sites
• Commitment to self-and-site improvement through video presentations, instruction and online accessibility research