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Developers' Corner

This page contains information for developers to help them make information accessible to people with disabilities.

Pages Opening in a New Window

There are instances when it is necessary to open a page in a new window when the user activates a link. It is important to inform the user about it. I will give you a couple of ideas of doing it to keep a solution accessible.

Free Screen Readers

A free screen reader can come in handy in so many instances:

  • You need to test a web site or software with screen readers
  • You want to understand how blind people use the computer
  • Commercial screen readers are too expensive and you need a cost effective alternative

Here I will discuss the most popular free screen reader programs and will show you where to get it from.

For more information, also read:

The Secret of Making PDF Documents Section 508 Compliant Much Faster

Have you spent hours after hours browsing the structure of your PDF document just to ensure that it is Section 508 compliant?

Did you ever get frustrated because it took you to patch it up longer than writing the original document?

You can save yourself some major time and headache when you get the legwork done in the source document.

Making Table Based Forms Accessible

You have designed a table which contains many fillable forms, edit fields, or checkboxes. This table is pretty huge, and you want to make sure that it is accessible. You don't need to spend hours on labeling each field, especially if the table is not automatically generated.

Is CAPTCHA Section 508 compliant?

CAPTCHA is as Section 508 compliant as you make it to be. It can certainly be done. In this post we will review those Section 508 standards which are relevant when creating a CAPTCHA solution. At this point, we will only concentrate on the current Section 508 standards, not on the proposed recommendations, as they may change before they legally become effective.

Is JavaScript Accessible?

Throughout my accessibility consulting practice, developers have often asked me if they are allowed to use JavaScript in their web applications, because they have heard that it is not accessible.

The good news is, you can use JavaScript, as long as you make it accessible.

Using Abbreviations on A Web Page

In countless situations we use abbreviations, some are more, some are less obvious or commonly understood.

When it comes to the internet, it is a good idea to provide the full meaning of an abbreviation. But in reality, it is not that clear cut. I will provide a couple of ideas on when and how to provide the full phrases.

Creating A Skip Navigation Link In WordPress

Skip navigation is an important feature for accessibility. Skip navigation allows screen reader users and persons with motor disabilities to go directly to the main content, without pressing the arrow or tab keys multiple times.

Using WordPress, you can easily do this in your pages. Below are the steps on how to create a skip navigation in WordPress.

Section 508 validators

A Section 508 validator is a software application that can help you determine if your web pages meet the Section 508 standards. These are tools useful in ensuring that your website is accessible to persons with disabilities.

It is important to note that although these validators are readily available via the Internet, they may not be what you specifically need. It is a good idea to try them out first before including them in your accessibility procedures.

Also, remember that Section 508 validators do not entirely solve your accessibility problems. They can nonetheless let you find the issues much faster. Manual testing is still required to ensure your site’s accessibility.