Case Study for Accessible Website Services/Accessibility/Clear-Links to Triple A - AAA standards (W3C)

Clear-Links - the highest standard of web site accessibility (W3C triple A)

Clear Links provide services for disabled and dyslexic people in their in further and higher education and in the workplace. The service also recruits and supports disability support workers in a wide variety of roles.

WebsynergiDesign is experienced in designing websites to high standards of website accessibility and has a long established working relationship with Marie Norris, Clear Links director, who is a specialist in the field of disability.

Web site accessibility was key to the design and functionality of the Clear Links website and the partnership has resulted in a highly successful, accessible website project with full functionality that is clear cut with maximum ease of use.

The Clear-Links website is designed to International standards of accessibility, that is to the highest standard; W3C AAA Access keys and Accessible Forms 'Skip over repeated elements' such as navigation menus Functionality allowing the website user to select their preference colour scheme (e.g. to aid visual impairment) Ability to alter text size Data tables constructed and labelled in an accessible manner Text equivalents for graphics A website design that can be read by assistive technologies, such as screen reader software Accessible equivalents for functions such as 'email a friend' A technique of making links descriptive and logical Sufficient colour contrast between the text and background and that colour alone is not used to convey information Style sheets to allow maximum flexibility Header tags and tables summaries added to the website to improve its clarity

Clear Links conforms to the following International Standards of Website Accessibility:

• W3C's "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0", level Triple-A. Conformance to these Guidelines helps make the website more accessible to users with disabilities and will benefit all users.
• On-line testing validation to Conformance Level "Triple-A" of web pages: all Priority 1, 2 and 3 checkpoints are satisfied
• That the web page complies to international standards of HTML (the programming language behind the web)
• That the web page meets Cascading Style sheet standards (the language that should be used for the presentation (styling) of a website
• That the web page is viewed accurately on a text only Browser (in this case, Lynx)

Website Accessibility Testing

• To ensure compliance to international standards, thereby guaranteeing that different browsers will render the web page as intended and that assistive technology (which is designed considering these standards) works well
• With a text only browser (Lynx)
• With Webxact (Watchfire) / Bobby to test the validity to accessibility (WAI) standards of web pages
• For colour contrast by printing in black and white and checking how readable the site is
• Screen reader software
• Different screen resolutions
• Different platforms - MAC and PC
• Different Browsers - Internet Explorer 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and Netscape Navigator 6, 7, Firefox 2
• Without images - a text equivalent is displayed
• With Javascript turned off - the content is available and makes sense
• Without Cascading Style Sheets - the content is available and makes sense

Clear Links Corporate Identity, Leaflets & Print click design picture to view Clear Links provide services for disabled and dyslexic people in their in further and higher education and in the workplace. The service also recruits and supports disability support workers in a wide variety of roles. WebsynergiDesign is experienced in designing websites to high standards of website accessibility and has a long established working relationship with Marie Norris, Clear Links director, who is a specialist in the field of disability. Web site accessibility was key to the design and functionality of the Clear Links website and the partnership has resulted in a highly successful, accessible website project with full functionality that is clear cut with maximum ease of use. Print design summary: Posters brochures Leaflets Corporate Stationery Corporate Identity design Logo design Print Work Accessible Web Design "WebsynergiDesign were originally recommended to me by another organisation. In our business we are required to meet certain standards in relation to accessibility, for example in relation to our web pages and literature. There are not many design companies which have the expertise which we require, however Websynergi do have that knowledge and expertise. Websynergi also took a lot of time to find out what type of company we were, and developed a style for us which reflects us and what we do - we offer a very professional service in a very friendly way - we think that what we've got from Websynergi in terms of our corporate identity demonstrates this for us. People have commented positively about our website, and our colours and logo. Another great thing about Websynergi is that they are lovely people to deal with; we value our relationship with them; they are responsive to our requirements and are very customer orientated." Marie Norris - Director, Clear Links

Accessible W3CAAA Web Design - More information

• Our accessible website design portfolio to W3C AAA standards
• Accessible web design and access technology / adaptive software information
• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines; legal context and website design
• Clear Links W3C Triple A (AAA) Accessibility website design case study