Welcome to
Everyone's World of
Accessibility, Assistive Technology, Universal Design, and the
Beautiful Diversity of Doing Things Differently ("Differability")
Ellen Perlow
(eperlow@twu.edu)
Manager of Information Services
Texas Woman's
University School of
Library and Information Studies
For presentations at Texas Woman's University - February-June 2002
Last updated Friday, April 30, 2002, 2 pm
This document is available in alternative formats upon request.
This and other documents for this presentation meet the
guidelines of the World Wide Web
Consortium Accessibility Initiative [W3C WAI] for accessible web
design.
URL:
http://twu.edu/~s_perlow/twu2002.html
URL for Main Website with links to many resources:
http://twu.edu/~s_perlow/
Program Objective/Abstract:
Objective: Through demonstration, participation, and discussion, the audience
will actively learn to incorporate into professional and everyday life
universally important and relevant accessibility, assistive technology, and
universal design, and will learn to appreciate the beautiful and universal
diversity of doing things differently or differability. Resources and handouts
provided. Program URL:
http://twu.edu/~s_perlow/twu2002.html
Top of Page
PROGRAM AGENDA
| What Are ... Some Definitions | The
Importance/Relevance/The Why | How Do We Do It? |
I. What Are ... Some Definitions
Diversity: 1. Different; unlike; dissimilar;
distinct; separate. 2. Capable of various forms; multiform. Source:
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, copyright 1996, 1998 MICRA,
Inc. Source:
http://www.dictionary.com/
Minority: The smaller
in number of two groups forming a whole. A group regarded as different from the
larger group of which it is part. From Latin minor: less, smaller. Definitions
adapted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English
Language, Third Edition copyright 1996.
Accessibility: the ability to access; the state
of being practicable, feasible, performable, achievable,
surmountable, attainable, obtainable (Source: Roget's Online
Thesaurus
http://www.thesaurus.com/roget.IV/470.html)
Web Accessibility: anyone using any kind of Web
browsing technology must be able to visit any site and get a full
and complete understanding of the information contained there, as
well as have the full and complete ability to interact with the
site (Source: Chuck LeTourneau. Starling Access Services, Canada.
http://www.starlingweb.com/webac.htm)
Assistive Technology: any aid, device or tool,
compensatory strategy, used in many different environments,
information and referral, evaluation and recommendation,
resources for funding, designing, fabricating, repairing, and
fitting, training, support and follow-through service that
improves a person's functional capability.
(Source: University of Kentucky. Interdisciplinary Human Development
Institute.
http://www.ihdi.uky.edu/projects/EmployAT/ComputerAccessHTML/atdefinition.htm
)
Universal Design: "The design of products and
environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent
possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design."
"Universal Design Principles:
1. Equitable use: The design is useful and marketable to people
with diverse abilities.
2. Flexibility in use: The design accommodates a wide range of
individual preferences and abilities.
3. Simple and intuitive: Use of the design is easy to understand,
regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills,
or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible information: The design communicates necessary
information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient
conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for error: The design minimizes hazards and the
adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low physical effort: The design can be used efficiently and
comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
7. Size and Space for Approach and use: Appropriate size and
space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use
regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility."
(Source; The Center for Universal Design, College of Design,
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC at:
http://www.design.ncsu.edu:8120/cud/univ_design/princ_overview.htm)
Differability/Differabilities: The diversity of
doing things differently.
People with Differabilities: People who
represent the diversity of doing things differently: Everyone!
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II. Why are accessibility, assistive technology,
universal design, and the appreciation of the diversity of differability
universally important in professional and everyday life?
We are all people first. We live in a very diverse society of people with
diverse needs and interests. Although we share many needs, desires, and dreams,
we are diverse in many ways.
Let us celebrate our diversity!
*How many of us are perfect in every way? How many of us are getting any
younger?
*We all are human beings who all sooner or later join the crowd in having to do
things differently: due to birth, accident, illness, natural disaster,
lifestyle choice, war/terrorism, or simply by aging.
In Memoriam: September 11, 2001.
How many of us need to access something? Everyone.
How many of us use assistive technology? Everyone.
Please see:
Assistive Technology is Everywhere!
How many of us wish all products that WE wish to use were
designed so that WE could use them too? Everyone.
How many of us are people with differabilities, people who do
things differently? Everyone.
Please see: A Diversity of Differences
Live participant involvement, demonstrations, handouts
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III. How can we incorporate accessibility, assistive
technology, universal design, and an appreciation of the diversity of
differability into our professional and everyday lives? Participants
complete this section during interactive program.
a.
b.
c.
d.
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Please see:
State of Texas Web Accessibility Standards
Governing State of Texas Websites
Access for Everyone!
1 TAC §201.12 State Web Sites
URL:
http://www.state.tx.us/Standards/S201-12.htm
URL:
http://www.state.tx.us/Standards/S201-12-FAQ.htm
URL: Accessible Web Design and Coding Guidelines:
http://www.state.tx.us/Standards/srrpub11-accessibility.htm
As stated at
http://www.state.tx.us/Standards/S201-12.htm, as of February 23,
2001, the Texas accessibility standards currently are being revised to comply
with the Section 508 Accessibility Standards currently applicable to U.S.
federal agencies, developed by the U.S. Access Board:
http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/508standards.htm
Accessibility guidelines for U.S. Federal Agencies:
http://www.access-board.gov/news/508-final.htm and
http://www.easi.cc/media/508wfld.htm
for information on the
new U.S. federal agency Accessibility Standards, issued December 21, 2000 by
teh U.S. Access Board,
effective February 21, 2001, enforceable June 21, 2001.
Top of Page
| What Are ... Some Definitions |
The Importance/Relevance/The Why |
How Do We Do It? |
This page last updated Tuesday, April 30, 2002, 2z pm
