Sharron Rush¹

The potential exists for technology to transform the lives of 55 million Americans with disabilities. Accessibility is the key. The tools and techniques of accessible design are readily available and can put technology to work for this large and growing population. Knowbility is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999, with the mission to help people with disabilities gain access to technology.

Increasingly, success in life depends on access to technology and communication tools. For those with disabilities, this is particularly true. Consider the case of John, a blind engineer, recently retired from a major technology company. Like many, he appreciates the convenience of online asset management services, and has used them for several years. In 1997, he had few problems as his screenreading software easily translated the simple text site into speech that he used to navigate and make decisions. As the brokerage "improved" their web site, they introduced graphic navigation and scripted elements. The site was no longer accessible. After his complaints went unanswered, he moved his accounts to a more disability friendly company.

Commitment to accessibility can develop for a variety of humanitarian or business reasons. Once the commitment is made, however a new set of problems may arise. Since the Federal government amended Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in 1998, their accessibility standards guide the purchase of Federal I.T. resources. While 508 mandates do not strictly apply to the private sector, questions (and lawsuits) have risen exploring whether standards may eventually be applied under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other civil rights laws. To confuse the issue further, other guidelines exist. Developed by a consensus process of the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C), the Web Accessibility Content Guidelines (WCAG) are used by the European Union and others. Automated development and testing tools and self-declared "best practices" have arisen from numerous software companies eager to stake out territory in this growing field. It can be discouraging and bewildering to choose among them.

Since 1998, we have helped hundreds of companies improve the accessibility of their web sites. There are two related parts to achieving accessibility - policy and practice. Policy development must include input from those who use your site in as many different ways as possible. Numerous state governments, private companies, and educational institutions have accessibility policies from which to model. In the development of good practice, it is important to be completely honest about your starting point. We recommend these cycling steps to help you avoid the frustration and confusion that can accompany the decision to move toward accessibility.

1. Assess: Ideally, a neutral third party and not one selling accessibility software will perform the accessibility audit.
2. Develop expertise: based on the assessment, develop internal accessibility skills by training staff or contract web development providers.
3. Resource development: This is the point at which you may choose to invest in accessibility testing and development software.
4. Feedback: Include people with disabilities in user testing.
5. Reassess: Accessibility is integrated as part of your development and maintenance cycle.

• Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR) held in cities throughout the country and recognized for excellence and innovation by the Peter Drucker Foundation.
• Community training programs helps teachers, schools and community technology projects include students with disabilities in learning activities.
• Consulting services including accessibility audits and training to help organizations meet Federal government and other institutional mandates for accessibility.

Knowbility maintains a broad array of accessibility and assistive technology expertise. They can help you assess your current status and develop long range plans to achieve and maintain technology platforms that serve everyone - including people with disabilities.

Contact Knowbility for more detail and policy statements through our web site at www.knowbility.org.

1 Sharron Rush co-founded and is Executive Director of Knowbility. Since 1998, she has led programs through which hundreds of designers from more than 60 technology companies have learned about the benefits, tools, and techniques of accessible Web design. Sharron believes strongly in the power of technology to support the independence of people with disabilities and has led Knowbility to national recognition, including recognition for excellence and innovation by the Peter F. Drucker Foundation. Her book, Maximum Accessibility, co-written with John Slatin and published by Addison Wesley, was published in September 2002.