Accessibility refers to Web design that's conscientious of folks with physical and/or mental disabilities. By designing accessible pages, not only will you increase the effectiveness of your site, but you'll make your site easier for everyone to use. When determining if a site is accessible, ask the following questions:

• Will your site make sense if a user relies on a screen reader?
• Does the site rely on color alone to identify links (for example, no underlining)?
• Does the site use audio alerts, sounds, or other audible tones might be missed if users are deaf or if the computer’s speakers are either turned off or nonexistent?
• Does the site use the simplest words possible and explicative link text?

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has established a set of guidelines so that Web developers can design pages that can be used by people with disabilities. This list, taken from the W3C’s Web site, touches on the key points of the WAI:

• Images & animations: Use the alt attribute to describe the function of each visual.
• Image maps. Use the client-side map and text for hotspots.
• Multimedia. Provide captioning and transcripts of audio, and descriptions of video.
• Hypertext links. Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example, avoid "click here."
• Page organization. Use headings, lists, and consistent structure. Use CSS for layout and style where possible.
• Graphs & charts. Summarize or use the longdesc attribute.
• Scripts, applets, & plug-ins. Provide alternative content in case active features are inaccessible or unsupported.
• Frames. Use the noframes element and meaningful titles.
• Tables. Make line-by-line reading sensible. Summarize.
• Check your work. Validate. Use tools, checklist, and guidelines at http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG

To be compliant with Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the content of Web sites must be fully accessible to everyone. By following the guidelines set forth by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative, which were adopted into Section 508 of the American Rehabilitation Act, the content presented by the University’s Web pages will be accessible. An additional feature of complying with these standards includes the accessibility of content from "alternative Web browsers," such as mobile phones or PDAs with Internet access.

The W3C has created three levels of priority checkpoints within their Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. If a Web page meets all of the "Priority 1" guidelines, then it is also Section 508 compliant. However, because of the higher level of functionality of Class I & II Web sites at Old Dominion University, these Web pages need to meet the "Priority 2" guidelines.

There are many ways Web site builders can accommodate those with disabilities. Some include:

• Color - Make sure links aren't detectable by color alone.
• ALT tags - include ALTernate tags with key graphics that provide text description should the graphic not be displayable (or seeable).
• As you build a site, you may wish to have the HTML code validated by one of numerous Web accessibility engines. These free services examine the code behind your page and give suggestions for improvement.

Free Web accessibility testers
• Bobby

Read more
• W3C Web accessibility initiative
• W3C Web content accessibility guidelines
• Section 508
• The Access Board - federal agency to accessible design

1. Log in to your Web site and select the page you wish to edit (the page that has the graphic you wish to add ALT text to).
2. With the page open in the editor, right-click on the photo you wish to add ALT tags to, and select "Modify Image Properties..."
   
3. A dialog box will pop up, allowing you to input Alternate text for the image you've selected. A section of that box is shown here:
   

1. Be sure you're in design view (click the design view button, usually in the upper left).
2. Find and right-click on the image you wish to add an ALT tag to.
3. Select "Edit Tag <img>..." from the menu that pops up.
4. On the next screen, you will see a place to type some text that will appear on the screen instead of the picture if the picture is unavailable. You should see something like this:
5. When you've finished typing, hit "OK." You have now added your very first ALT tag.