| The State is headed for on-line services in a big way.
There will come a time in the not too distant future when most, if not all, state services
will be available through Web pages. This also means that the public will need, and will
have the right, to be able to enjoy those services. Is your Web site accessible to ALL
people? Just like a bad penny, I keep returning to discuss accessibility. This time
I want to talk about Web page design and accessibility.
A couple years ago, I demonstrated how voice output screen reading software reacts to
Web pages at a Webmasters meeting. Thereafter, a few agency Web designers forwarded their
pages to me for evaluation. Since then, unfortunately, I have had very little interaction
with Maine State Web designers.
Recently, I completed a free, on-line class called Barrier Free Web design, which was
available to the Webmasters group. I was surprised to discover there were only about eight
state employees who took this course. I'm sure not everyone had the time (or perhaps the
inclination), but this class was invaluable. I recommend that everyone who builds a Web
page for state government, take this course - or one like it. Although it was not
technical in nature, it really covered everything and offered pointers to technical
information in all areas of accessible Web design.
Let me talk for a moment about time and accessibility. I once landed on a retail site
that actually had constantly scrolling links to their product services on the screen. The
site was totally inaccessible. I'll bet it would take less time to build in accessibility
than to make that site’s scroll links. You know what? I don't have time to buy their
products. In addition, I go out of my way to discourage everyone I know from buying
anything there. The next time you are researching how to add that Java applet or just the
right GIF file, please remember my experience.
The Accessibility Committee has been in close contact with InforME during their
implementation of the new Maine State home page. I believe they are to be commended for
their knowledge of accessibility, and strong desire to ensure that their work is usable by
all citizens of the state. They have done a fine job so far, including their work on
e-forms.
E-forms are a particular nuisance to people who use voice output devices for visual
impairment. In my experience, at least 75% of the time e-forms are not usable. Since there
will be a huge amount of state on-line information gathered by e-form, this failing is
quite significant. Maine State forms for all agencies must be accessible to everyone. I
suggest either 1) looking at InforME’s source code (Can I say that?) or 2) the
Accessibility Committee’s page http://www.maine.gov/accessibility/accessible.html
for more information.
Send me an e-mail if you would like the Committee to test drive your site for
accessibility. We'll find time.
Floyd White is a Database Analyst in the Bureau of Information Services, who may be
reached with comments or questions by e-mailing floyd.b.white@state.me.us.
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