Web Accessibility

1. Web Accessibility Evaluating Web Accessibility: Developing a Program with Real AT Users Janet Jendron, SC Assistive Technology Program, Assistive Technology AdvisoryCommittee (ATAC)Janet.Jendron@uscmed.sc.edu

2. SC Assistive Technology Advisory Committee

3. Who’s Your Buddy?

4. Who’s Your Buddy? • SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department • SC State Library • SC Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging • SC Commission for the Blind • SC School for the Deaf and the Blind • University of South Carolina • SC.gov • Midlands Technical College • SC Department of Health and Environmental Control • Florence Darlington Technical College • SC Department of Employment and Workforce New/Activated Members • SC ETV • USC Student Disability Services • SC Department of Revenue • SC Department of Education • SC Access to Justice Commission, SC Bar Association • USC Center for Excellence

5. Buddies share … • Questionnaire • Training Resources • Report Template • Web Resources related to the Questionnaire • Exporting the programto others

6. Our Basic Approach • Avoid techie arrogance. • Feed “techie lust.” • “You can do it; we can help.” • Don’t use the law as a blunt instrument • “It’s the right thing to do.” “It’s good business.” • Include everyone, especially end users. • Have fun! People need it desperately.

7. Working Together • Joint Committees / Workgroups • http://accessibility.sc.gov/ • Include • Those who actually do the work • Different levels of expertise • Different types of disabilities • Different types of agencies/higher learning institutions • People with a passion • People who know people

8. Communicating with State Agencies • SC Web Access Listserv • News • Recent developments • New resources • Constantly recruit ATAC members • Don’t be shy and use who you know to get in the door • State IT Directors Meetings • State IT Conferences • State ADA Summits • Assistive Technology Trainings • Higher education conferences • Show and tell with at least one Web Tester • Legal implications – speak softly but carry a big stick

9. Door prizes…. • Name two software products that magnify items on the screen. • Name two of the best-known screen reading software programs used to access the Internet. • If a person has deafness and blindness, how would he or she surf the Web using the computer? • If you can't use a mouse, what built-in Microsoft Accessibility Option is available to you? • Signing icons on name tags

10. Finding Testers • Four Listservs • SC Vocational Rehabilitation • SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs • Independent Living Centers • SC Advisory Council • Existing Testers!

11. Finding Testers: Wish list We are looking for people who • Are able to effectively use assistive technology to access web pages. We need people who use different screen readers (JAWS, Window-Eyes, Dolphin Guide, Kurzweil, etc.) and different screen enlargers or magnifiers (ZoomText, Windows Accessibility Options, MAGic). We also need people who use AT for mobility impairments, such as the Headmouse, Eye Gaze, head and mouthsticks, touchscreens, etc.) • Have some experience in web design (whether or not they use AT) and accessibility issues

12. Wish List (continued) We are looking for people who • Are able to participate in several online trainings • Have the ability to learn and apply accessibility and usability principles to web pages • Are able to express themselves effectively in writing • Might be available to demonstrate, in person, the use of assistive technology to access web pages, including accessibility and usability issues

13. Wish List (continued) “Not every tester needs to fit all of the above requirements, but training participation and writing ability are musts. If you know a South Carolinian who might fit this program, please send contact information (email address and any other details). Thanks for much for your help with this. It has been an exciting program and has the potential for a great impact in our state.”“We’re in this together …”

15. Promoting Our Testers • Learn about our Web Testers • Common challenges reported by Web Testers in accessing electronic information • Responses from testers and agencies to the Web Testers program Clay Jeffcoat SC School for the Deaf and the Blind David Able University of South Carolina Student

16. “Reality checks” • What is your disability and what is its origin? • What assistive technology do you use to access the Internet? • What’s been the impact of the Web on your life – work, education, government services, etc? • What are the top three things you appreciate in a web site? • What are your top three pet peeves about web sites?

17. “Reality checks” • Online Interviews of our Testers • Experiences in College • Feedback from agencies and testers • Things they appreciate

18. Sites and Testing - Evolved • Web Testers Pilot Program • Web Testers Program • Agencies by Request • “Quickie” questions

19. Pilot Program Stages and Sites Stage 1 • Department of Motor Vehicles • Department of Disabilities and Special Needs • Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging Stage 2 • SC Department of Transportation (DOT) • SC Ethics Commission (SCEC) • University of South Carolina (USC) • SC Department of Revenue (DOR) Stage 3 • South Carolina State Election Commission (SCSEC) - Voter Registration • SC State Government, Division of State Information Technology (DSIT) • SC Governor's Office, Office of Executive Policy and Programs (OEPP)SC Commission for the Blind (SCCB)

20. Web Tester Program Stages and Sites Stage 1 • Center for Disability Resources Library – TECS • SC Department of Employment and Workforce Stage 2 • SC State Library – Talking Book Services • South Carolina State Government Stage 3 • DHEC – Bureau of Air Quality • South Carolina Assistive Technology Program

21. Pilot Program Budget 2008-2009 Administrative Expenses: Pilot Program Administrator (25%) $ 11,250 Web Tester Payment: Stage 1: 10 web pages x 30 testers @ $10 per page 3,000 Stage 2: 10 web pages x 20 testers @ $10 per page 2,000 Stage 3: 10 web pages x 20 testers @ $10 per page 2,000 $7,000 Web Testers and Trainers travel$ 4,500 Consulting Online Testing Application Development Server Hosting: $ 7,000 TOTAL $ 29,850

22. Web Testers Pilot Program In-Kind Pilot Program Director time: $ 7,800 • Benefits 28% = 2,180 Pilot Program Administrator: time not covered in MOU $ 4,500 • Benefits - time covered and not covered in MOU – 28% 4,410 SCATP Director $ 1,200 • Benefits 28% 336 SCATP Administrative Assistant $ 1,500 • Benefits 28% 420

23. Web Tester Program Budget 2010-2011 April 2010 – July 2011 Administrative Expenses: Web Tester Program Administrator at SCATP (15%) $8,100 • (Benefits not included) Consultant Fees (help with reports) • 6 sites x 1 consultant @ $150 each $ 900 Web Tester Payment: • 6 sites x 5 testers (five testers each site) @ $150 per test $6,400 • TOTAL $15, 400 Training Expenses Training at SCCB lab, testers carpooling Online training hosted by SCCB – Talking Communities

24. Web Testers Program In-Kind SCATP: Web Testers Program Administrator: time not covered in MOU $ 8,100 • Benefits for time covered and not covered in MOU - 28% = $ 4,536 SCATP Director $ 1,200 • Benefits 28% 336 SCATP Administrative Assistant $ 1,500 • Benefits 28% 420 Other SCATP Employee $ 3,510 Total $19,602 Training locations free (SCATP, e.g., Fast Forward, Midlands and Greenville Tech, Clemson, College of Charleston). Training (time and travel) support from ATAC and Web Accessibility Committee members provided by their agencies. Administrative costs (Printing, phone, and travel expenses not covered provided by SCATP.

25. Training Materials and Tools Web Accessibility Toolbar and the Tutorial Web Developer Toolbar Chrome WAVE WebAIM- Note their side bar on usability: learnability, memorability, effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction. AccessIT - AccessIT Knowledge Base WC3: How People with Disabilities Use the Web: Dey Alexander Consulting's People With Disabilities- links to show how people with disabilities experience the web. EASI Equal Access to Software and Information- mailing list announcing free and fee-based trainings and webinars. Adding Achecker, Funtional Accessibility Eval, Juicy Studio contrast analyzer

26. Tester Trainings Free locations • SCATP • South Carolina Commission for the Blind • Technical Colleges • Future: SC Technical College System Webinar: “Talking Communities” with SC Commission for the Blind Online PowerPoint with Resources

27. Tester Trainings Task -oriented Mini Evaluations Requested by Agencies and shared later SC Department of Agriculture SC Department of Employment and Workforce Mini Tutorials between testing stages as problems are identified

28. Trainings in the Future … • More training by testers • Tutoring, mentoring for new testers by experienced testers • Beginners and advanced trainings • More trainers trained for specific issues • More free webinars by others • Webinars with outside trainers

29. Test Planning with State Agencies • Which State Agency rep? • What pages to test? • What tasks? • What content of the sitewould be of particular interest or use to people with disabilities? • Involve testers in decision making • Steer them to our web page that explains, question by question, in lay terms • Try to get a date for the presentation to agency representatives

30. Evolution of the Testing Process Old Model • Automated, online database • Multiple choice answers • 7-10 pages, individually evaluated New Model • 5-6 key pages • 2-3 real tasks • Testers summarize answers into one questionnaire with specific examples

31. The Questionnaire! • Questionnaire Online • Web AccessibiltyEvaluation Resources page • 20 questions, reader-friendly, based on 508 with more usability

32. Guidance to Testers • Avoid YES and NO; give a little detail • Be specific, be positive, be polite! • Take the opportunity to “teach people” about how your assistive technology works. • Help the reader experience it with you • Remember their target audience

33. Assigned tasks • Describe your experience (positive and negative) in the assigned task for this web site. • Remember that the reader probably won’t understand much about the assistive technology you use (if any). Tell how much time it took you to complete the task (or before you gave up).

34. General Questions • What are some things you liked about the web pages you tested? • What were your challenges in accessing the web pages? • Describe, briefly, your experience, negative and positive, but do it in a positive way. • Do you have any other suggestions for improving the web pages you tested?

35. Q – Site Navigation • Generally, were you able to navigate the site successfully and efficiently? Why or why not? Is the site designed in a way that you can remember the navigation and use it more effectively when you return to the site? • Look for clear, consistent, simple navigation. If you’re a sighted tester, try to remember the navigation without looking at the screen. • Examples are important! Let the reader “feel” your experience. Make suggestions for things that would make the site easier for you.

36. Q – Written Language • Was the information written in a way that is clear and understandable to the target audience? (Note: this question is about the language and terminology used, not about how the page is organized) • Think about the target audience; their literacy levels, their computer skills (e.g., older users might not be as intuitive on the Internet).

37. Reports - Format Introduction • Testers: AT, automated tools, browsers used (with hotlinks) • Explanation of differences among testers using the same technology • Links to demonstrations of how people use AT on the web Testing Assignment – pages and tasks

38. Reports - Format Summary of Responses by Question • Sometimes I separate different tester responses, identifying the AT used. • Sometimes I facilitate a resolution of “different responses” by testers via email. • Screen shots to demonstrate • Each Q response includes a short explanation of the question; what it really means to AT users • Includes a list of online resources for each issue

39. Reports - Goals • Results that are meaningful to agencies (not techie jargon) • Results that give them resources for remediation • Ongoing education for agencies and testers • Basic Report Form • DHEC Air Quality report • Task report – “Take a Break from Exhaust”

40. Besides the written report.. • In-person demonstrations to agencies • Attending: HR people, legal people, content writers, web designers, CIOs • A picture is worth a thousand words • Aha moments • Benefits to testers who have demonstrated • The future may hold videos of a tester accessing the web site

41. A Happy Tale …. South Carolina Legal Services LawHelp Interactive Technology Initiative Grant by the Legal Services Corporation Divorce Filing Packet Self Represented Litigants

42. A Happy Tale …. • SC Legal Services • SC Court Administration • SC Bar Association Foundation • South Carolina Bar Association • SC Access to Justice Commission • SCATP/ATAC • South Carolina Judicial Department Imagine what we’d accomplish if we didn’t care who got the credit?

43. A Happy Tale … FLASH!

44. A Happy Tale … • Testers Task • Summary Report • Show and Tell • Demonstration of Forms! • Extra Resources • SC Court Systems Forms • Law Interns • Ripple Effect!

45. What’s ahead in testing? • A more definitive process of testing (e.g., what tool to use initially) • A more efficient process for each tester • Mini-tests (tasks) • Testers paid by agencies • Collaborative Testing • Testers on their own, sending reports to our program

46. What’s ahead? • Funding – Grants! (Higher Education) • State and Local Trainings • Exporting to agencies (statewide training) • Follow up with agencies to measure impact • Continued state agency commitment to • Grant writing resources • Training locations and presenters • ATAC participation • Web presence and social media communication

47. Trainings in the Future … • More training by testers • Tutoring, mentoring for new testers by experienced testers • Beginners and advanced trainings • More trainers trained for specific issues • More free webinars by others • Fewer outside trainers • New testing tools • Recruit anyone for the trainings

48. What’s ahead? • SC Technical College System • Webinars/ATAC meetings with outside experts AMAC, Georgia, George Mason U Bosma.org • SC Court System meetings/demo • SC.gov – before launching their new web site • HASCI Waiver web site

49. Success Stories! SC Court Systems SC Court Systems

50. You can do it - we can help