Sample Web Pages

Dr. Diane Finley Associate Professor, Department of Psychology Prince George's Community College, Largo, Maryland View Original Web Site | View Revised Web site

Dr. Finley posts class information, including syllabi, schedules, and general psychology information, on her Web site.

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The Problem

Dr. Finley's original Web site presented several accessibility challenges:

• Problematic images and colors.
  
• Unidentified hyperlinks.
• Inconsistent navigation structure.

How it Was Fixed

Dr. Finley made most of the revisions herself, with the assistance of a technical support staff. The improvements include:
	Text descriptions (alt text) make images accessible to students who are blind. (How To: Images: Text Equivalents)	Sample Alt Text
	Increased contrast between background and foreground colors improves readability. (How To: Web Pages: Text Styles)	Original Colors Revised Colors
	Underlined hyperlinks visually distinguish them from other text on the page. (How To: Web Pages: Links)	Underlined Hyperlink
	A standard, consistent navigation structure makes it easier to find information. (How To: Web Pages: Navigation)	Standard Menu

Dr. Finley's revisions make the site easier to navigate and use for all students, but especially those with visual impairments.

Working on this project heightened my awareness of the issues that visually challenged students, in particular, face. I also learned some practical things about HTML coding and Web site design. My biggest challenge is one that continues: making the tables accessible. I have found reading the directions to be like reading Greek. The experience has given me a small taste of what some students experience when they encounter materials that are not accessible.

Lessons Learned

Dr. Finley offers the following advice:

1. Become aware of accessibility requirements before constructing a Web page. Retrofitting can be a daunting task if your Web site is large.
   
   
2. Seek help from technical support people.
   
   
3. Contact your institution's disability services office to identify any students who might be willing to review your Web site.
   
   
4. Do not be afraid. It's not really that difficult and the project is worth doing.
   

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