What is Web Accessibility?
A web site is accessible if anyone using any kind of web
browsing technology is able to visit any site and get full and complete
understanding of the information contained there, as well as have full
and complete ability to interact with the site. (Letourneau, 1998,
2000)
What is WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind)?
- A project administered through a grant provided by the
Fund for the Improvement of Post-secondary Education (FIPSE) and funded
by the Department of Education.
- WebAIM is based out
of Utah State University. Their mission is to assist post-secondary
institutions in identifying and solving web accessibility problems.
How is George Mason University Involved?
George Mason University became a partner with WebAIM in 2001.
We are charged with developing a plan for institutional coordination
and reform to support web accessibility at the post-secondary level.
George Mason University will act as a model for other universities.
Why Make Your Web Pages Accessible?
There are more than 750 million people living with
disabilities. As we become more dependent on the Internet for
information and services it is critical that the web be usable by
everyone. It is not only the right thing to do, it's the law! In 1998
Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to include Section 508. Section
508 requires government agencies, and institutions receiving federal
dollars, to ensure that all electronic and information technology
applications are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
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