Free Web/IT Accessibility Workshop in September

The Real World of Web/IT Accessibility and Assistive Technology

Time: Registration - 8:00 – 8:55; Workshop - 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Location: SC State Archives and History (online directions: http://www.sc.edu/scatp/directions.htm#archives)

Parking is free!

Note: No food or drink is allowed in the Archives auditorium.

Be on time! We’re giving out a door prize promptly at 9:00 am!

Description: Don't miss this unique opportunity to see people who use assistive technology show how they experience web pages! Speakers from around the state will demonstrate various technologies including screen readers and screen enlargers, which they use in accessing Internet and other electronic information. We'll discuss usability vs. accessibility, the basics of designing for accessibility, and show examples of positive and not-so-positive design. They'll be available to answer questions about what works, what doesn't work, and how they solve problems when accessing electronic information (the Web, Word, and PDF documents).

This workshop has been generated as a follow up to a Web Testers Pilot Program, conducted by the SC Assistive Technology Program and the SC Assistive Technology Advisory Committee, under the S.C. State Budget & Control Board, to train both people who use assistive technology and those who don't, in the evaluation of state agency web pages for accessibility and usability.

Schedule

8:30 – 9:00 - Registration

9:00 - First Door Prize Drawing (the winner chooses from the selection of prizes)

9:05 – 9:25 - ATAC Web Testers Pilot Program: Janet Jendron

9:30 – 11:45 (with short break in between) -

Demonstrations and Discussions: What makes Web Pages easier? What causes frustration? What are some simple design solutions for these challenges?

Demonstration of JAWS (Clay Jeffcoat) on Web Pages

Demonstration of ZoomText (Grace Strother) on Web Pages

Demonstration of Kurzweil (Jim Debus) on Web Pages

The demonstrations will briefly cover issues such as skip navigation links, Flash, Drop navigation menus, appropriate alt text, meaningful link text, online forms, layout tables, data tables, video captioning CSS, and heading structure. We’ll have questions and comments from CB Averitt, Cheryl Kirkpatrick, Wendy Mullin, Sam Hahn on web design techniques that could address problems.

11:45 – 1:15 - Lunch

1:15 - Door Prize Drawing

1:20 – 1:50 - Cool Tools: Demonstration of the Web Accessibility Toolbar and Web Developer’s Toolbar (Allison Yeager)

2:00 – 3:30 -

Demonstrations and Discussion: What makes PDFs and Word Docs easier to access? What causes frustration? What are some simple design solutions for these challenges? Questions and Comments from CB Averitt, Cheryl Kirkpatrick, Wendy Mullin, Sam Hahn on formatting issues that could address problems.

Demonstration of JAWS (Clay Jeffcoat)

Demonstration of ZoomText (Grace Strother)

Demonstration of Kurzweil (Jim Debus)

3:30 – Door Prize Drawing

To register for this workshop:

Option 1: Complete the online registration form

Option 2: Email Sally Young at Sally.Young@uscmed.sc.edu

Option 3: Call Sally Young at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

Option 4: Fax your registration information to (803) 935-5342. Please include your name, organization, address, email address, phone

To view the flyer for this workshop, please click on the link above.