Ensure Your Web Site Is Accessible

In May 1999, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) introduced its Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0. The WCAG outlines steps that Web-site owners can take to make their sites usable by persons with disabilities such as low vision, color-blindness, and limited mobility.

This tutorial explains how to test your Web site for a number of common, high-level accessibility problems. This worksheet includes:

• Six visual tests Webmasters can use to check their site for accessibility.
• Instructions on how to download, install, and use Job Access With Speech (JAWS), a screen reader used by visitors who are blind or have low vision.
• An explanation of how to use and understand the Web Accessibility Versatile Evaluator (WAVE), a Web site that tests HTML code for accessibility errors.

Making your Web site accessible to everyone who visits it can help you extend your organization's online reach, giving you the opportunity to attract more volunteers, donors, and members. Because no matter what cause your organization supports, gaining more support is always a good thing.