Accessibility

This page details UMD Web's efforts to meet the challenges of Web Accessibility. Use the Accessibiity submenu to learn about specific features.

Feature: Styles Off/ Full Display Format
In the top right menu of every page (in the footer if the page does not use a right menu) is the option to see said page in a styles off, printer friendly, text format. When the Styles Off option is selected, all CSS layout features are removed, leaving a free-flow design. In CSS Off mode the user can return to the original layout by choosing Full Display Format.

• Benefit to User
  • Users still using a text browser can find content and navigate the site easier.
  • Disabled users or those using a text-reading browser can link from Full Display Format to Styles Off .
  • Those with a slow Internet connection can choose the text only version to speed download.
  • The Styles Off version provides the same links and options as does the Full Display Format.
• Benefit to Content Provider
  • Your content reaches a wider audience.
• Benefit to Site Developer
  • Because the Styles Off function is set up to translate every page, individual text versions of individual pages don't need to be developed.
  • Web Accessibility is required by both University of Massachusetts Web Policies and Federal Gov. Section 508.
    

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Feature: Go to Content Link
At the top left corner of every page (in fact it's the first thing a browser reads) is an invisible link called entitled Go to Content. This link is specifically targeted at those users utilizing a text-reading browser or special browser designed for the disabled. By choosing this link the user can immediately skip to the content area of the page.

• Benefit to User
  • Users with text-reading browsers can skip over images and css menus.
  • Those with a slow Internet connection can skip over slower loading parts of the page.
• Benefit to Content Provider
  • Your content can be accessed faster and by a wider audience.
• Benefit to Site Developer
  • It is recommended by both University of Massachusetts Web Policies and Federal Gov. Section 508

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Feature: Styles
Style sheets are used in web pages to create a uniform look amongst the pages quickly and effectively. They also help separate the page content from the page layout, aiding assistive technologies for people with disabilities while letting us create a visually interesting and uniform look to the site.

• Benefit to User
  • Styles load very quickly, aiding page load speed.
  • Assistive technologies will usually ignore the style sheets, whereas other methods to create a look can cause the technologies to read the page incorrectly.
• Benefit to Content Provider
  • No need to create and test new styles- already created.
• Benefit to Site Developer
  • Faster layout updates- only one file needs to be updated, and the changes will show up everywhere that particular style is used.
  • Changes emphasis from layout to content, enabling pages to be coded in a logical and consistent manner with the content instead of what looks good.
  
  Technical documentation.

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Feature: Uniform Look navigation
A uniform look ensures that every user, no matter where they are in the site or how they arrive to our site, knows they are at UMass Dartmouth's web site. The user also knows where the navigation will be on every page, where certain features are, and how information will be presented to them.

• Benefit to User
  • Greater ease of use
  • Layout fades into the background, so the user can focus on finding what they want and digesting the content they find.
  • Studies have shown consistent layouts increase overall user satisfaction in a site, and give the user an impression of professionalism.
• Benefit to Content Provider
  • No need to focus on layout and page appearance- all taken care of.
• Benefit to Site Developer
  • No need to focus on layout and page appearance - all taken care of.
  • Free to focus on page content.