How to design accessible Web sites
Key steps
- Plan a new site or redesign using best practices
- Use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
- Legacy Pages
- Non-HTML content should also be made accessible
Plan a new site or redesign using best practices
Plan your site before you begin. Use best practices in Web design to make your Web site functionally accessible. Use Cascading Style Sheets, create proper headings, label graphics, and structure the site and its content logically from the beginning of the development stage.
Consult the following resources as you plan and design your site:
Consult the following resources as you plan and design your site:
- iCITA's best practices
- Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act Implementation Guidelines for Web-Based Information and Applications 1.0
- World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards
- W3C accessibility guidelines
The ACCC Instructional Technology Lab provides training and support for developing accessible Web sites (itl@uic.edu).
Use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
Using CSS is an important part of making a site functionally accessible. Style sheets maintain consistency and allow users to make adjustments to the site to make it easier to read and navigate. The ACCC Instructional Technology Lab (ITL) and the Web Accessibility Committee sponsor training on Cascading Style Sheets. The ITL also provides ongoing support for those needing information on CSS. An online resource for those wanting to learn CSS is available through Western Illinois University.
Legacy Pages
Legacy Web pages (sites published before August 20, 2008) are not required to be retrofitted. The Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act (IITAA) does not require UIC to make previously existing Web sites accessible unless those sites are substantially modified. However, legacy Web pages must include contact information to insure legacy Web site information will be made available in a format accessible to persons with disabilities.
Upon specific request, information on legacy Web pages is to be made available to any individual needing access to such Web content, by revision or by providing an alternate format that is accessible to the person making the request. The unit responsible for the creation of the information on the Web is responsible for providing that access. Each Web site must include contact information for the person designated in that unit to handle requests for access. The contact information should be placed on the entire site, or at minimum on all popular access pages to the site.
Use the following statement (may be placed at the bottom of the page):
"Having problems accessing this site? Contact Webmaster."
Include the email address of the person assigned to handle accessibility concerns within your department. If at all possible, accessibility concerns should be addressed within 24 hours of receipt of the request. If you require assistance in making your Web information accessible, contact the Web Accessibility Committee for assistance.
In addition, the UIC Identity Standards require Web sites to provide easy-to-find contact information for the unit. This contact information should include a general information phone number, a general information e-mail address and the unit’s postal address. The best way to handle this is with a Contact Us link on every page. While a list of department faculty or staff can also be very helpful, make it clear whom a user should contact for general information.
Non-HTML content should also be made accessible
Other formats used on the Web, such as PDFs, Flash, Javascript, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or other multimedia content must also be made accessible in compliance with the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act (IITAA). Upcoming workshops will include components on creating accesssible PDFs using Adobe Acrobat Professional, and tips on how to address other non-HTML accessibility issues. In some cases you may need to provide HTML alternatives to non-HTML content.