Web Accessibility - Validation, 508 and AAA

Web Standards

The W3C is a world wide organization that maintains HTML and more recently XHTML as well as CSS coding standards. These standards are put in place so that websites on various browsers would have conformity. This obviously hasn't happened yet, with even the three major browsers Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Eplorer and Opera displaying certain commands differently. However, with Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft made a giant leap towards compatibility.

The W3C currently provides validation services for these languages which enables web designers and programmers to create valid coding and web pages. In addition to HTML and XHTML there are various versions and drafts that the W3C has created. For example this website is XHTML 1.0 Strict and CSS 2.1 compliant. What that means is when I wrote the code I used only commands that were valid in XHTML Version 1 and the Strict draft (there is strict and transitional to mediate the transition between HTML and XHTML).

508

508 is shorthand for US Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is a set of guidelines that are required to be followed for government agencies; however, the W3C recommends voluntary practice by web designers and programmers. The act sets fourth standards so that people with disabilities may use the website easily. Amoung the standards are:

Software Applications and Operating Systems: includes usability for people that are visually impaired, such as alternative keyboard navigation.
Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications: assures accessibility to web page graphics by the visually impaired using assistive technology such as screen readers and refreshable Braille displays. This is accomplished by using text labels and descriptors for graphics.
Telecommunications Products: addresses accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. This includes technology compatibility with hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and TTYs.
Videos or Multimedia Products: includes requirements for captioning of multimedia products such as training or informational multimedia productions. Captioning or video descriptors must be able to be turned on or off.
Self Contained, Closed Products: products with embedded software, such as information kiosks, copiers, and fax machines, often cannot be used with assistive technology. This standard requires that access features be built into these systems.
Desktop and Portable Computers: discusses accessibility related to mechanically operated controls such as keyboards and touch screens.

AAA

AAA or Tripple-A conformance is the holy grail of web design and programming. What it means is the website meets all of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 including all Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3 checkpoints defined in the guidelines.