| With the advent of technology, the ADA affects the | | | | - It is essential that you use tables to gather and put |
| cyber world as well, which means that websites | | | | together information instead of using it for |
| created by various businesses should adhere to the | | | | decorative purposes. In other words, data should be |
| basic guidelines mentioned in the ADA, so that they | | | | such that you can actually read it without getting it |
| are accessible to all, including those who have | | | | mixed up with the tabular form. In case this is not |
| different disabilities. It is pertinent to note that people | | | | possible, you should provide a summary of the table, |
| with disabilities often use what is called assistive | | | | especially in cases where you are dealing with |
| technology to access websites, read their content | | | | numerical data. |
| and use the same, where required. Assistive | | | | - When working with newer technologies, it is |
| technology means and includes technology that helps | | | | important that the older versions are still operative. In |
| a person with disability to easily access your website | | | | other words, if you are working with a newer |
| and this could be in the form of a screen reader for | | | | version of the browser, it is important to allow the |
| the blind or voice recognition software for those who | | | | older version to easily move into the newer one by |
| cannot use the mouse nimbly. | | | | giving the user the option to turn on or off the |
| Following are some simple steps, which if | | | | additional options. |
| implemented, will definitely help you in designing a | | | | - Accessibility should be provided to embedded |
| completely accessible website: | | | | applications like plug-ins, applets etc in a similar |
| - Providing alternatives for visual as well as auditory | | | | manner. |
| material will help in ensuring that both blind as well as | | | | - It is essential that you allow the user to turn off |
| deaf people can easily access your website without | | | | any animation, which may have place there to attract |
| missing anything. For example, graphics, though | | | | the attention of any visitor. It is imperative that you |
| attractive, will not translate immediately into text and | | | | create your website in such a way that it does not |
| therefore requires some text input explaining the | | | | depend on any particular device for accessibility. In |
| graphic so that it can be easily understood by the | | | | other words, if you have maps on your website, |
| visually impaired. | | | | then you can ensure that the website is not |
| - Using HTML rather than images, and the extensive | | | | dependent on the usage of a mouse by adding text |
| use of tags as well as markup and style sheets will | | | | links. |
| help in navigation for all. | | | | - Lastly, it is important that you use simple, clear and |
| - Giving titles to your frames and describing them in | | | | concise language in creating your website, without |
| detail along with their relationship with one another will | | | | any inexplicable or hard-to-understand jargon. |
| help in easy navigation. | | | | For more information on US Department of Justice |
| - Navigation mechanisms should be clear and well | | | | ADA specifics visit the ADA homepage. |
| defined so that the user has no problem. | | | | |