Our society relies heavily on technology, including computers and smartphones, as our primary method of communication. A number of common inventions that we take for granted in today’s world of technology have stemmed from a need for everyone to be able to communicate, the typewriter (and subsequently the modern-day keyboard), the telephone, and email. They’ve also become indispensable to those who don’t experience disabilities. Likewise, accommodations that make websites more accessible can also make using websites easier for everyone, not… Continue Reading Web Accessibility – It’s Good for Business
Panel Discussion at CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2019 Ryan Pugh, Director of Accessibility, will be presenting this year at CSUN on Friday, March 15 at 3:00 PM (PDT), along with Mike Gifford, CEO of Open Concept, and Amy Mason, Access Technology Specialist at the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind. They will be challenging organizations to move beyond technical compliance. This talk will highlight some of the limitations of a checklist-based approach to accessibility and will address practical measures to… Continue Reading Getting Beyond the Checklist – Culture Change & Accessibility
Understanding VPATs – an Overview
| Ryan Pugh
What are they and why does my organization need one? Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) are statements of accessibility about your products, both digital (online and software) and physical. They describe the accessibility of your products and any support materials you have available. They will inform buyers about the accessibility of your products and whether they meet purchasing requirements for your customers. VPATs cover the following: Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems Section 1194.22 Web-based Internet Information and Applications… Continue Reading Understanding VPATs – an Overview
Navigating the Rules of Accessibility There is currently a sea of information about accessibility to be found online and among accessibility professionals. Acronyms and numbers such as ADA, 508, and WCAG are tossed around like so much shiny, slippery fish. But what do these mean? What do you need to know? ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) The ADA was signed into law in 1990. It requires that governments, businesses, and nonprofit services providers make accommodations for the disabled public to… Continue Reading The ADA, Section 508 and WCAG – Navigating the Rules of Accessibility
The Four Pillars of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Understanding the basic philosophy of WCAG accessibility standards. The United Nations has stated that access to information is a basic human right. This is the basic tenet of accessibility – that all information, especially information found on websites and software, should be easily available to any person, regardless of ability. There are laws, standards, and guidelines that outline how making information accessible can be accomplished. The most widely accepted standards are… Continue Reading The Four Pillars of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)