Redesigning for Web Accessibility

Central Washington University is making strong efforts in our new Web redesign to adhere with U.S. Section 508 Guidelines. Section 508 was an amendment made to the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1998. This amendment requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. See the official Section 508 guidelines.

Why is this Important to CWU?

While the U.S. Section 508 Guidelines do not currently require universities to make their Websites accessible, CWU wants to ensure that all students, regardless of disability, have equal access to any information posted on our Website. For example, have you ever thought about how a blind person would surf the Web? They use talking browsers. However, if web pages are not coded in a particular way, it could greatly hinder the way these pages are read to a blind person.

Download a free talking browser.

It is because of these issues that CWU will continue taking small steps in the right direction for making our Website compliant with Section 508 regulations.

Other Benefits of an Accessible Website

Making our site accessible is not just beneficial to users with disabilities, it is so much more!

Creating an accessible Website can also mean:

• A wider audience: Not only for the disabled community but also for people who browse with atypical web browsers such as Internet-able cell phones or PDA.
• Improved usability: Accessibility and usability go hand-in-hand. Making your site more accessible usually means more usable.
• Demonstration of social responsibility: Benefits such as the goodwill from the public are difficult to measure but there is no doubt that this will have a positive influence on CWU.
• Better ranking with search engines: Because more attention is paid to the actual code behind the pages, many of these small details will aid in search engine ranking.

How does Central ensure Accessibility?

CWU uses several methods to ensure Web accessibility. Three of our main methods include testing with talking browsers, such as IBM's Home Page Reader, performing visual inspections, and using automated tools such as one online tool called Cynthia Says.

"The HiSoftware Cynthia Says portal is a web content accessibility validation solution. It is designed to identify errors in your content related to Section 508 standards and/or the WCAG guidelines. This free tool meant for educational purposes, is an online test which only validates one page at a time. This service will expose you to the underlying technology and the benefits of using HiSoftware's full-featured solutions for automated content compliance and Web governance."   -- Quote from Cynthia Says Online

Questions or Problems?

If you have any questions about this site or about Web Accessibility, please feel free to contact us by email at daysj@cwu.edu.