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How Do You Know if Your Website is Compliant?
The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is responsible for implementing the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). W3C is committed to making content on the Internet accessible to everyone. The WAI is a recognized authority for the development of Internet website accessibility guidelines. They provide an easy to use online validator to check the markup of any webpage. You simply visit the W3C validation site and enter the URL of the webpage you would like to check. You will be provided with immediate information regarding the page’s validation or a list of errors. Passing the W3C validation does not guarantee you have a perfect webpage, but it is a very good indication that you have met the guidelines.
Other resources available for checking your web pages on line are listed under 4: Accessibility Check. The online sites are intended to help you check your pages for errors but the most effective way of checking your site is to manually go through your pages and use the Validation/Accessibility checklist (Appendix B) to verify you have taken the proper steps to make your site and its content accessible.
What’s It All Mean?
The bottom line is that if you are designing or using a website to compliment your class or as part of a Distance Learning course, it must meet the guidelines required by Federal and State laws. If your school or institution receives State or Federal funding, it’s all the more important that the laws are strictly followed. As more and more educational offerings become available via the Internet, closer scrutiny of the websites providing the material is sure to follow. Rich media, such as videos, audio clips, maps, and images, can still be included while meeting all guidelines; it simply takes a little more effort.
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