Maximum Accessibility: Making Your Web Site More Usable for Everyone By John M. Slatin,, Sharron Rush
Table of Contents
Chapter 3. Accessibility in Law and Policy
Technology has extended our society's capacity to enable people with disabilities to fully participate in educational and employment opportunities. The legislation we have considered is a noble accomplishment and is the result of the efforts of a growing community of people who are determined to be included in the progress of society. Legislation alone, however, is not enough. Subsequent chapters will present some innovative grassroots strategies and provide you with tools you can use to complete the process of inclusion.
The 2000 "Disability Rights Movement" exhibit at the Smithsonian, where we began this chapter, clearly illustrated how people with disabilities have struggled for basic human rights and dignity throughout the nation's history. An interesting aspect of the Smithsonian exhibit was its interactivity, illustrating the fact that technological advances enable information to be rendered in varied formats that allow for broader access and more user choices. Web-based kiosks were designed for visitors to use, regardless of ability or disability. They operated with an easy-to-use, three-button interface. They easily accommodated users sitting in a wheelchair or standing. The kiosk display duplicated the exhibition by using visual and audio descriptions, graphic images, and captioned video clips, allowing several alternative means of accessing the same information. Within the exhibit, accessible design of both the physical and virtual aspects of the exhibit was the standard. We wrote this book to help you incorporate that standard into your own work.
