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One year older, but not necessarily wiser: an evaluation of homepage accessibility problems over time

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Abstract

A large number of users with disabilities use assistive technology devices to browse the web. However, the use of assistive technologies can only be successful when the web sites are developed in such a way that they are compatible with such devices. Guidelines exist for creating accessible web sites. However, they are seldom followed, and current levels of web accessibility are low. Therefore, the question arises as to which is the major cause of inaccessibility, and how accessibility features of web sites evolve over time. A set of 50 web sites has been studied over time to determine if accessibility improves or declines. This research-in-progress paper presents a comparison of the results obtained in 2002 and 2003. Such a comparison leads to the conclusion that, in the time period of 1 year, the 50 web sites have actually become more inaccessible. Implications for developers, webmasters, and educators are also discussed in the paper.

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Notes

  1. http://www.w3.org/wai

  2. http://www.section508.gov

  3. http://www.ssbtechnologies.com/products/InFocus.php

  4. http://aprompt.snow.utoronto.ca/

  5. http://www.deque.com/products/ramp.html

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer & Information Sciences & Center for Applied Information Technology, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, Maryland, USA, 21252

    Jonathan Lazar

  2. Center for Applied Information Technology, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, Maryland, USA, 21252

    Kisha-Dawn Greenidge

Authors
  1. Jonathan Lazar
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  2. Kisha-Dawn Greenidge
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan Lazar.

Appendix

Appendix

The guidelines from Section 508 are as follows (from http://www.section508.gov):

  1. a.

    A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content).

  2. b.

    Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.

  3. c.

    Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.

  4. d.

    Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.

  5. e.

    Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.

  6. f.

    Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.

  7. g.

    Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.

  8. h.

    Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.

  9. I.

    Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.

  10. j.

    Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.

  11. k.

    A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes.

  12. l.

    When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.

  13. m.

    When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in, or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with Section 1194.21(a) through (l).

  14. n.

    When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.

  15. o.

    A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.

  16. p.

    When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.

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Lazar, J., Greenidge, KD. One year older, but not necessarily wiser: an evaluation of homepage accessibility problems over time. Univ Access Inf Soc 4, 285–291 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-003-0087-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-003-0087-1

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