Access to Technology

Oregon Sea Grant is committed to making its Web content available to all, including those who use assistive technology such as screen-readers to browse the Web.

We emphasize accessibility because:

It's the right thing to do.
It's the law. As a federally funded program, Sea Grant is subject to provisions of Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act requiring us to make electronic information and technology accessible to the disabled.
Sidewalk curb cuts are designed for wheelchair users - but studies show they get even more use from moms with strollers. In the same way, accessible Web design provides more options for people with slower Internet connections, who do not own specific software and who access the Web via cellphones, PDAs and other mobile devices.

While our site design templates ensure that basic Sea Grant Web pages adhere to accessible design standards, some types of content require more effort. Our professional editing and Web staff already routinely create accessible equivalents and file conversions for the publications and other media we produce. We lack the staff, however, to produce those equivalents for material you may wish to add to the Web. Nonetheless, we will do our best to accommodate you, if you give us a little help:

Graphics
- Problem: People with vision problems may miss important Web content if it is contained in a graphic.
- Solution: Most issues related to graphics are easily taken care of by the Sea Grant Webmaster via accessible tagging. If you are providing your own graphics - particularly charts, graphs and other information-rich images - be aware of visual issues when you create them.
  - Avoid tiny type in graphs and charts. Web browsers can zoom in on text, but not on graphics.
  - An estimated 10.5 million Americans have some degree of colorblindness which prevents them from distinguishing certain colors, particularly reds and greens. Choose chart and table colors carefully, especially if the color imparts information.
  - Provide us with graphics in .jpg, .gif or .png format, at their original sizes and resolutions. We will resize.
Adobe .pdf files:

Problem: Most .pdf files cannot be read by screen-readers and other assistive technology.
Solution: For every .pdf we put on our site, we also add a plain-text HTML version.
How you can help:

When you give us a .pdf, provide us with a copy of the original text, in either plain text (.txt) or Word (.doc) format.
Avoid creating .pdfs from scanned images. It's unlikely they can be made accessible.

Examples

Audio and video files

Problem: Audio and video files pose obvious problems for people who have problems seeing or hearing. Not all a/v file formats are compatible with the Web.
Solution: Every a/v file on our site is accompanied by a text transcript; video transcripts include brief descriptions of what is shown on screen.
How you can help:

Provide us with a transcript
Create A/V files in formats most compatible with Web browsers (.MP3, .WAV and WMA for audio; for video, we are now using Flash (.SWF) files; we can, however, convert from most video formats.

Examples of A/V files with transcripts:

Audio
Video (Click "Transcript" link at upper right to view video transcription)

Powerpoint presentations

Problem: PowerPoint is inherently inaccessible to people with vision and motor skill impairment; requires software not all visitors own. Files are often very large, which can be a problem for those on slow connections.
Solution: We are now able to convert PowerPoint presentations into Web-ready Flash slideshows, with accompanying transcripts for the vision-impaired. Depending on your needs, we may also make the original .ppt file available, an a compressed format, for visitors to download.
How you can help:
1. Read our new guideline for creating accessible presentations:
  HTML version | .ppt example
2. Prepare your presentation accordingly

contact Sea Grant Webmaster Pat Kight