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Building a quality Web site is like building a new home. Home builders rely on industry building standards. A Web site developer codes to W3C standards. The idea behind the concept...'structural sufficiency'A home builder uses an architect's blueprint to build a home. The foundation is poured, the walls are framed in and the roof is put on. Wiring, plumbing, heating, ... the builder completes the project setting up a state-of-the-art home. Home buyers want to be sure that their home is built with quality products and to industry building code specifications. A building inspector, who is not an Engineer or a Registered Architect, can describe what is visible; however, the inspector would not be able to assess the home's structural sufficiency.
Web site owners want to ensure that their Web site is built using industry standards as well. And, that it is open to business to everyone. Although the owner may be able to readily describe what is visible he may not necessarily be able to assess his Web site's structural sufficiency.
Download the PDF file... Automated Web Site Validation ToolsUsing automated Web site validation tools can be a Web developer's first assurance that coding and accessibility standards are being followed. It is important, because if these coding and accessibility guidelines are followed, the web designer can be sure that the widest range of issues (accessibility and user agent) can be dealt with upfront not only for individuals with disabilities but for everyone -- providing Equal Access to Information For All And, when those three (3) automated validations have happened, it is important that every Web designer remember that when a Web site claims conformance from only a tool, it can only mean that the page(s) passed all of the automatic tests. It is also important to remember, automated Web site validation tools are available to anyone, including those that have little or no experience developing Websites. A Web site will be judged by others who use these tools solely to point out a website's deficiency and as a means to demonstrate that the website does not meet accessibility or coding guidelines. "Web accessibility isn't brain science. It really isn't necessary to test your website on a variety of people with different disabilities (although the DRC are recommending you do). Web accessibility is all about following design standards and then adding in a few simple accessibility features. It's not just about disabled users being able to access your website - it's about everyone being able to access your website, including people using handheld devices, WebTV and in-car browsers. Any web developer with basic HTML and CSS design knowledge, and a bit of time on their hands, can easily learn and implement web accessibility." -- Published by: Webcredible - written by Trenton Moss Trenton Moss, Webcredible, discusses "The problem with automated accessibility testing tools" in his blog. - Literal interpretation of guidelines
- Can't check any content issues
- Can't check many coding issues
- Outdated guidelines are used
- Warnings may be misinterpreted
Department of Justice (DOJ) May Apply ADA Accessibility Guidelines to Websites"In December 2013, the DOJ may address accessibility of public Websites. These laws could broaden the degree to which the ADA applies to online shopping Websites, according to Andrew Kirkpatrick, Adobe's group product manager for accessibility and newly named co-chair of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (WCAG), an organization that aims for international standards on accessibility for the disabled. "The Department of Justice has indicated they will be releasing rules that will apply the Americans With Disabilities Act to the public commercial Web," Kirkpatrick told eWEEK." Reported By Brian T. Horowitz | Posted 2013-04-07 -- eweek Blind Taxpayers Sue H&R Block Over Web Site Accessibility "A lawsuit, filed April 8 in the United States District Court in Massachusetts, has requested the court to certify the case as a nationwide class action on behalf of blind people and to issue a permanent injunction to prohibit H&R Block from violating federal and state law. The two individual plaintiffs in the case, Mika Pyyhkala and Lindsay Yazzolino, are legally blind, residents of Massachusetts and members of the federation. The suit says they were each unable to get beyond the H&R Block log-in page for preparing their 2012 tax returns. It notes that Pyyhkala works in technical operations at a health care organization and that Yazzolino also works in health care as a researcher." Reported by Paul Demery, Chief Technology Editor, Internet Retailer WeCo - Accessible. Aware. Independent
A thorough inspection combines automated Web site validation tools with human judgment. That is where an expert Web accessibility and usability professional can help. Recommended: WeCo, The Wehrman Collaborative, uses user-experienced testers to ensure the website is accessible to the real-life end user. WeCo - Accessible. Aware. Independent. 'ADA Section 508, WCAG and WeCo's Standards of Accessibility are web accessibility standards which allow individuals with disabilities to have access to information and data that is comparable to the access and use by individuals who are not disabled. ' Find WeCo -- Accessible. Aware. Independent. on the Internet! http://theweco.com/ "Help Create Jobs and Improve Web Access for People With Disabilities. The WeCo Accessibility Test Platform enables these individuals to put their life experience to work to help make websites and electronic communications more accessible for everyone." 
WeCo Puts a Human Face on Testing for Website Accessibility and is Adding Testers to Meet the Demand. WeCo responds to the shift, from automatic checkers to people with disabilities, in the web accessibility marketplace by hiring additional Testers. Reported by PRWeb.com on March 13, 2013
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Website Accessibility - Structural Sufficiency
