Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance

by friends of ED

$49.99
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Label:friends of ED
Pages:696
Binding:Paperback
Publication Date:2006-07-24
Published By:friends of ED
ASIN:1590596382
Category:Book

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Editorial Reviews and Product Descriptions

Product Description

The power of the Web lies in the fact that anyone and everyone can access it, and this should also extend to users with disabilities. Accessibility is about making websites accessible to those with aural, visual, or physical disabilities, or rather, constructing websites that dont exclude these people from accessing the content or services provided.

This isn't difficult to accomplish and doesn't require anything more than your normal tool set-HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flash, or whatever else. All you need to do is use these tools in the right way, and bear in mind the guidelines that exist to help you keep your websites accessible and the laws that enforce web accessibility around the world.

This book gives you all you need to know about web accessibility, whether you are a web designer or developer who wants your sites to be accessible, or a business manager who wants to learn what impact the web accessibility laws have on your websites.

After an overview of the accessibility law and guidelines, and a discussion about accessibility and its implementation in the enterprise, the book goes on to show how to implement accessible websites using a combination of concise references and easy-to-follow examples, covering:

  • Understanding assistive technologies
  • Creating accessible content using XHTML, JavaScript, CSS, Flash, and PDFs
  • Testing against WCAG (including 2.0) and Section 508
  • Retrofitting inaccessible sites where necessary

The book concludes with an in-depth analysis of accessibility law around the world. If youre concerned about the legal and moral implications of web accessibility, then this book is perfect for you. It is written by some of the world's experts on accessibility, leaving you in good hands.

Summary of Contents:

  • PART 1: THE IMPACT OF WEB ACCESSIBILITY
    • Chapter 1: Understanding Web Accessibility
    • Chapter 2: Overview of Law and Guidelines
    • Chapter 3: Implementing Accessibility in the Enterprise
  • PART 2: IMPLEMENTING ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES
    • Chapter 4: Overview of Accessible Technologies
    • Chapter 5: Assistive Technology: Screen Readers and Browsers
    • Chapter 6: Accessible Content
    • Chapter 7: Accessible Navigation
    • Chapter 8: Accessible Data Input
    • Chapter 9: CSS for Accessible Web Pages
    • Chapter 10: Accessible JavaScript
    • Chapter 11: Accessible Flash
    • Chapter 12: PDF Accessibility
    • Chapter 13: Accessibility Testing
    • Chapter 14: Introduction to WCAG 2.0
    • Chapter 15: Retrofitting Case Study: Redesign of a University Website
  • PART 3: ACCESSIBILITY LAW AND POLICY
    • Chapter 16: U.S. Web Accessibility Law in Depth
    • Chapter 17: Worldwide Accessibility Laws and Policies
    • Appendix A: Glossary of Terms
    • Appendix B: Guide to the Section 508 Standards for Electronic and Information Technology
    • Appendix C: Overview of PAS 78 Guide to Good Practice in Commissioning Accessible Websites

Customer Reviews

Ultimate reference for ADA compliance - Reviewed on 2008-10-30
* * * * *

Excellent resource for ADA compliance. The requirements for ADA are so complicated that without a book like this it would be difficult if not impossible to understand what is compliant and what is not.
Outstanding. Absolutely every web developer and website owner needs to own this. - Reviewed on 2007-07-17
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2 customers found this review helpful.

This text book is of very high quality and an engaging read. Apart from the expected target audience of web developers, I will suggest that website owners and non-developers should consider getting hold of this vital textbook.

The fact that it leaves you wanting more is a compliment to its quality. Even though it is bulky, I wished it had covered certain areas in more detail.

One small criticism relates to the javascript examples. The discussion of events refers to techniques that are questionable in terms of robustness and re-usability, issues that, to be fair, the author does point out. [Background; search for "addEvent considered harmful" in your favorite search engine.] Yet no definitive solution is given, and the reader is left hanging. More serious is the very poor quality javascript code sample given for the cssjs() utility function, which is poorly designed (needs to be repackaged, should be a class), is inefficient, and is fragile as it contains (at least) two immediately apparent critical bugs.

But such small gripes should on no account not put you off buying this text. The overall verdict, "Outstanding."

Anyway, the numerous authors are to be congratulated. Indeed, given the size of the field and the rapid pace of developments, a second "part II - advanced" volume would be a very good idea indeed.
A Strong Book - Reviewed on 2007-03-23
* * * *
2 customers found this review helpful, 2 did not.

If you are serious about accessibility (and you should be), this book will not dissapoint. The authors know what they are talking about, and do a good job and presenting both the facts and their opinions in a clear relavent way.

The only reasons I do not give it 5 stars is many items within the book are redundant (I think due to the great number of authors (11!), and perhaps they wanted the book to serve as a reference also), and because the presentation is generally dry. Good information, but not coffee-table reading.

Still in all, as a web developer I would highly reccomend this book to any other developer weather you just want a little understanding of accessibility, or a big dose.
Awesome book - Reviewed on 2007-01-24
* * * * *
1 customer found this review helpful, 3 did not.

This an awesome book. This book is the to have for all web developers.
Web Accessibility - It's all in one place! - Reviewed on 2006-12-22
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5 customers found this review helpful.

Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance is the
perfect reference for any site development team. Everything you've
wanted to know about Accessibility and the Web is here in a single text.
Each member of the team will find necessary information and practical
solutions in one or more of the thorough discussions here. For the
designer/developer who works alone, Web Accessibility: Web Standards and
Regulatory Compliance is the all-in-one reference with the most
up-to-date information and techniques. Thanks to the clear organization,
two tables of contents, and index, all information is easy to find as
well.

For those of us who like background and theory, the book contains lively
discussions of accessibility standards, of the intent of the standards,
and suggestions for using the standards. For me, though, the heart of
the text is in the practical discussions and how-to guides in order to
improve accessibility of every common web technology -- from PDF to
Flash, from javascript to data forms. In addition, we finds clear
descriptions of the law and web accessibility. Importantly, these
discussions are international in scope.

The collective experience of the authors of this text is impressive.
These are the experts to whom we've turned to assist us with accessible
design and development for years. In this text, we have a collection of
the most knowledgeable voices on the subject of accessibility, who speak from a real-world
perspective. They share freely their best techniques, so that we can
create the "best possible experience for the greatest number of
visitors."

For me, Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regularory Compliance is a
must-have.
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