Southwest Educational Development Laboratory
Volume 3, Number 3, 1999
This is a small sampling of the resources available on the World Wide Web (WWW). Each listing is accompanied by a brief description. These sites provide useful information that supports the development of effective, interesting Web pages that are accessible to a variety of visitors.
Commissioned by Australia’s National Office for the Information Economy, this Web resource aims to raise awareness of the accessibility issues faced by people with disabilities who wish to use online services. Among other things, this database includes information on hardware and software products, standards development, training and education issues, support programs, policy papers and case studies, both from Australia and key international sources.
Information on accessible Web page design and links from the DO-IT Project (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) at the University of Washington.
Copyright ©1994-1998 by Jim Lubin. Links to information on accessible Web page design, testing your Web page for accessibility, graphics, and on-line design discussions; also links to other disABILITY information and resources.
Copyright © 1997-8, Starling Access Services. Guidelines for making Web page components accessible; links to other resources.
The University of Toronto’s ATRC promotes the integration of alternative access systems throughout the information technology infrastructure.
The ATA is a network of community-based resource centers dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies.
Founded in 1984, CAST is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities through innovative computer technology
Towards the creation of an accessible, truly World-wide Web, from All Things Web. Articles include:
People with disabilities must have the same access to information and resources as everyone else. EASI’s mission is to promote this access through on-site and on-line workshops; publications and videos; e-mail discussion lists; web site; electronic journal; and through participation in a wide variety of regional and national conferences.
The National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education through Technology, Media, and Materials promotes the effective use of technology to enhance educational outcomes for students with sensory, cognitive, physical, social/emotional disabilities.
Mosaic was one of the first Internet information browsers and World Wide Web clients, developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. This page presents Mosaic’s disability access efforts.
Located at the Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation Web site, WebABLE! is a Web directory for disability-related Internet resources.
An overview of Web accessibility needs by Jon Gunderson of the Mosaic/Web Access Project.
A paper by Jon Gunderson on browser accessibility guidelines.
The World Wide Web Consortium was founded in 1994 to develop common standards for the evolution of the World Wide Web.
Bobby is a graphical Web-based program designed by the Center for Applied Special Technology to help web site designers and graphic artists make their web pages accessible by the largest number of people.
This list of links to sites that check for HTML syntax errors is maintained by the Web Design Group.
This is an easy-to-use HTML validation service based on an SGML parser. It checks HTML documents for compliance with W3C HTML Recommendations and other HTML standards.
Developed by the Diversity Management Directorate, Public Service Commission of Canada. You should be able to “score” a Web page’s Accessibility Quotient and make the necessary corrections, using this simple self-evaluation test.
This page is provided by Salt Lake Community College to help HTML programmers get an idea of how non-graphics browsers, such as Lynx, would see their page. Lynx is a text-based hypertext browser with full World Wide Web capabilities.
BrowserWatch was founded and still maintained by Dave Garaffa for Internet.com, Mecklermedia's source for Internet news and resources.
Can I run Lynx on my OS?
http://www.crl.com/~subir/lynx/platforms.html
A text-based browser, Lynx is one of the early products still in use today.
By teaming up IBM's ViaVoice OutLoud TM text-to-speech, SAPI-compliant speech synthesizer and Netscape‘ Navigator‘, IBM’s Home Page Reader orally communicates web-based information just as it is presented on the computer screen.
Internet Explorer, the browser developed by Microsoft. The newest Internet Explorer beta is designed to be simpler, more automated, and more flexible than any other browser.
Mosaic is one of the first Internet information browsers and WWW clients. NCSA Mosaic was developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
Netscape Communicator combines Netscape Navigator, the world's most popular browser, with a suite of Internet tools for high-performance Internet mail, web page creation, and instant messaging.
pwWebSpeak was designed and developed by The Productivity Works, Inc. in conjunction with De Witt and Associates, who act as accessibility consultants to the project, and Thomas Edison State College. pwWebSpeak is a trademark of The Productivity Works, Inc. Copyright © 1996-98.
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a simple mechanism for adding style (e.g. fonts, colors, spacing) to Web documents. Many resources for understanding and applying CSS are provided.
Change the appearance of hundreds of Web pages by changing just one file. Influence presentation without losing visitors. All with the power and flexibility of Web style sheets, from the Web Design Group.
Joseph Schmuller’s article (11/10/98) on how to take advantage of CSS without abandoning older browsers, from CNET’s Builder.com.
The Microsoft Chat family home page, where you can explore links to information about Microsoft Chat 2.5 and Microsoft V-Chat 2.0.
ZDNet’s resources including tools, software, how to, etc.
ConferenceRoom, the WebMaster Chat/Conferencing client and server software for Windows.
The Web’s search engine for online forums.
ichat ROOMS
http://www.ichat.com/products/rooms.html
ichat rooms serves as on online forum to add real-time interaction to your Web site.
#IRCHelp Home Page
http://www.irchelp.org/
#IRCHelp.org is operated by volunteers from the #IRCHelp channel on the Efnet (IRC network) and provides over 800 help files, such as FAQ, tutorials, server lists, and others to support Internet Relay Chat.
The only place you can search for 37871 IRC channels on 27 IRC networks...
What sets the UBB apart from other online bulletin board systems is its unique interface, extensive administrative features, and easy customization.
This resource provides information in the following areas: Authoring, Programming, Graphics, Servers, Business, Builder Buzz, Builder News, Builder Downloads, Resources, and Conferences.
This issue of Computer Chronicles highlights various perspectives from different authors on computers and people with disabilities.
The HWG exists to assist our members in developing and enhancing their capabilities as web authors, to compile and publicize information about standards, practices, techniques, competency, and ethics as applied to web authoring, and to contribute to the development of the web and web technical standards and guidelines.
Internet World, published monthly by Mecklermedia in Westport, Conn. began as a newsletter and became a full-color newsstand magazine in September 1993.
This article from Internet World 7 (4) April, 1996, by Joel Snyder looks at planning before launching a web site, and errors to avoid.
This article by Cynthia D. Waddell, JD, the ADA Coordinator, City of San Jose, California, briefly discusses specific legal requirements for accessible Web design and how the City of San Jose developed and implemented a minimal Web accessibility standard. The paper was presented on June 17, 1998 at the request of the American Bar Association for their National Conference "In Pursuit . . . A Blueprint for Disability Law and Policy."
CITA (formerly the Clearinghouse on Computer Accommodation—COCA) is located in the General Services Administration. Links are provided to policies and guidelines.
The guidelines from the World Wide Web (WWW) Federal Consortium (founded in 1994) now include policy considerations which Federal Agencies should review as they update and/or make new use of the Internet and expand WWW sites to conduct agency business.
This policy clarifies the obligations of the United States Department of Education under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, to make its materials accessible and available to its disabled customers.
Defines the specific standards and general guidelines which the U.S. Department of Education uses to make information available on the World Wide Web (revised--March 1998).
Standards are presented and serve as a model for other site developers
(Rev. August 12, 1998).
Apple is deeply committed to helping persons with special needs attain an unparalleled level of independence through a personal computer.
IBM technology can open doors for achievement and independence and enhance the employability, education, and quality of life of people who have disabilities.
The NCSA Beginner’s Guide is still the most frequently requested file on NCSA’s Web site.
The Web Design Group’s reference for the new HTML standard.
W3C Recommendation, revised on 24-Apr-1998. This specification defines the HyperText Markup Language (HTML), version 4.0, the publishing language of the World Wide Web.
With this tutorial, you can pick up the basics of the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) in a few short hours. You will not know everything there is to know about HTML when you reach the end of the tutorial, but you will know enough to create a perfectly respectable Web page. Developed by Case Western Reserve University, this tutorial includes two sequels: HTML2.0: Forms and Obscurities and HTML3.2: Here’s Wilbur!
CNET Builder.com’s complete collection of HTML tips, tutorials, and trade secrets for beginners to experts, and everyone in-between.
By Dan Schafer (9/16/97), the questions cover “What is HTML 4.0” to “What’s Next for HTML?”
Linda Engelman’s column in the Internet World (1996, January) discusses how to attract visitors to your Web site. Make your presence known; promote without offending.
The purpose of this moderated newsgroup is to publicize non-commercial Web-based resources of potentially world-wide interest.
An aid to submitting your Web site to some of the more popular indices, catalogs, spiders and “What’s New” lists on the WWW.
A popular free or paid service for sending URLs to search engines and directories.
Now WebPromote, a leader in Directory Listing Services brings you a quick, easy and free way to submit your web site to nine of the most popular search engines on the Internet.
The primary focus of ATW is to help Web designers and authors create usable, “reader-friendly” Web pages. Usable means many things: structurally sound, long-lived, syntactically correct, broadly accessible, easily navigable.
The Web Design Group was founded to promote the development of non-browser-specific, non-resolution-specific, creative and informative sites that are accessible to all users worldwide.
Written in 1994 by Nathan Torkington, this primer still provides a good general overview of the Web.
The Webmaster's Illustrated Encyclopedia of web technologies and design principles. Includes tutorials, examples, and links to resources. It's for webmasters, web designers and Internet developers. The WDVL is one of the oldest web developer web sites, dating from 1994.
The Directory of Scholarly and Professional E-conferences is screens, evaluates and organizes discussion lists, newsgroups, MUDs, MOOs, Mucks, Mushes, mailing lists, interactive Web chat groups etc. (e-conferences) on topics of interest to scholars and professionals for use in their scholarly, pedagogical and professional activities. Copyright 1998 by Diane K. Kovacs and The Directory Team.
Liszt is a directory of Internet discussion groups: mailing lists, newsgroups, and IRC chat channels.
A free e-mail community service where you can start and manage new e-mail communities, subscribe to existing e-mail communities and view archives of old messages.
This WWW site is a reference to all the LISTSERV, ListProc and Majordomo email discussion and announcement lists on the Internet.
Welcome to Deja News, The Discussion Network! You've discovered the only Web site where you can read, search, participate in and subscribe to more than 80,000 discussion forums, including Usenet newsgroups.
A simple but reliable offline newsreader to help you navigate through the newsgroups, Free Agent offers the basic features and functionality you need, it's easy to use, and it's free! Agent is a commercial version of Forté's newsreader.
MT-NewsWatcher is a Usenet news reading application for the Macintosh, based on John Norstad's NewsWatcher application. MT-NewsWatcher adds to the basic NewsWatcher a number of useful features, including multi-threading, filtering, spell checking , and speech recognition.
Newsguy News Service is a membership based news server that provides access to over 7500+ newsgroups. Members can access the newsgroups through either a newsreader (NNTP), or through our website interface by using a standard web browser.
This section highlights a sampling of NIDRR grantees with information available on the WWW focusing on aspects of computer communication accessibility.
InfoUse specializes in the development of health, disability
and rehabilitation information using computer technology.
RESNA Technical Assistance Project activities are aimed at facilitating efforts of the nationwide assistive technology programs to reduce barriers to the acquisition of assistive technology devices and services by individuals with disabilities. The Assurance of Quality Project develops guidelines of measurement and standards to determine the most appropriate technology for an individual user and to evaluate the effectiveness of specific applications of technology.
This contract addresses the needs of businesses, the disability community, and state and local governments in implementing the ADA by utilizing state-of-the-art electronic communication media as well as traditional media outreach.
The Center for Universal Design, part of the School of Design at North Carolina State University, is a national research, information, and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops, and promotes accessible and universal design in housing, buildings, and related products.
NCAM develops strategies and technologies to make media accessible to millions of Americans, including people with disabilities, minority language users, and those with low literacy skills.
The Tech Transfer RERC at the Center for Assistive Technology, the University at Buffalo, will facilitate and to improve the process of moving new, improved and useful assistive technology devices to the marketplace, to benefit people with disabilities.
The Trace Center is an interdisciplinary research, development and resource center on technology and disability. It is part of the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Eric Richardson describes how to add a search engine to a site and provides links to a number of free and commercial search engines, Internet World (1996, May).
What they are, how they work, and practical suggestions for getting the most out of them, by Bruce Grossan (Feb. 1997).
Most visitors to Search Engine Watch fall into one of two groups. There are webmasters, web marketers and others involved with creating and promoting web sites. Then there are search engine users, everyone from researchers, librarians and general web surfers who want to know how to find things better using search engines.
The Benton Foundation promotes public interest values and non-commercial services for the National Information Infrastructure through research and policy analysis, outreach to nonprofits and foundations, and print, video, and online publishing.
The Trace Center has developed a number of papers, guidelines, and resources in the broad area of accessibility and universal design.
Copy of presentation materials by Ray Ingram, June, 1996. Copyright © 1996, The Productivity Works, Inc.
The Center for Universal Design, part of the School of Design at North Carolina State University, is a national research, information, and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops, and promotes accessible and universal design in housing, buildings, and related products.
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