Section 5.6. Standards Variations and Section 508


5.6. Standards Variations and Section 508

Various other countries have their own versions of web accessibility standards, most of which are derived from WCAG 1.0. Canada, Australia, the U.K., and Europe, for example, have accessibility standards that generally agree with the most important points (Priority 1 and Priority 2) of WCAG 1.0. One of the most well-known standards that is a deviation from this is Section 508 in the U.S., which uses Priority 1 checkpoints, as well as a few other selectively chosen checkpoints.

Many view Section 508 as a more literal and strict interpretation of the Priority 1 and 2 checkpoints. Fundamentally, though, Section 508 principles are generally consistent with Priority 1 of WCAG 1.0, though the wording may be slightly different.

The following list is excerpted from subsection 1194.22 of Section 508 standards for Web-based intranet and Internet information and applications (www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=12#Web). You'll notice that the items (a) through (k) consistently map to the Priority 1 checkpoints of WCAG 1.0, whereas the subsequent items do not.

  • (a) A text equivalent for every nontext element shall be provided (e.g., via alt, longdesc, or in element content).

  • (b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.

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

  • (d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.

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

  • (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.

  • (g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.

  • (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.

  • (i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.

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

  • (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.

  • (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.

  • (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 [subsection]1194.21(a) through (l).

  • (n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed online, 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.

  • (o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.

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




Web Design in a Nutshell
Web Design in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (OReilly))
ISBN: 0596009879
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 325

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