Website accessibility is a topic that is getting more attention, both from people who create code and build sites and from people who are in the market for website development services. While the interest in building accessible sites has arisen in part from a need for some organizations to comply with federal regulations in order to satisfy funding requirements, other organizations have embraced accessibility as a way to make their message available to a broader population.

This presentation will provide a quick introduction to the layers of guidance in the WCAG 2.0 framework and also take a look at what is on the horizon with WCAG 2.1, which is scheduled for release in June. We’ll look the differences between Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act in terms of their treatment of web accessibility. We'll also look at the differences between an Accessibility Statement and a WCAG Conformance Claim.

There are many resources available for evaluating accessibility, and choosing the best one depends on your role and expertise. After the overview of the technical and legal aspects of accessibility, I'll share some of my favorite tools and strategies for evaluating sites.

The presentation will focus on ways to to evaluate site accessibility rather than specific coding practices for making sites accessible. However, coding tips, tricks and best practices based on personal experiences can be shared by participants during the discussion if there is interest.

Slides