III. Special Features

a. Use tables and frames sparingly. or consider alternatives. Most screen reader programs read from left to right, jumbling the meaning I of information in tables. The adaptive technology will be refined to deal with graphical issues such as this, but at this point, look for other ways to present the information so that visitors with visual impairments can reach your data. In the same vein, frames often present logistical nightmares to text-based screen reading software. .

b. Forms and databases
Always test forms and databases with a text-based browser. Include an e-mail address and other contact information for those who cannot use your forms or database.

d. Applets and plug-ins
As the software is developed, applets (such as programs created with JAVA) and plug-ins (such as Adobe Acrobat) may provide accessibility features. However, currently, many of these programs are not accessible to people. utilizing text-based browsers. To ensure that people with vision and hearing impairments can access your information, provide the content from these programs in other, text-based formats.

IV. Test your Web pages with a variety of browsers.
Test your Web page with as many Web browsers as you can, and always test your Web page with at least one text-based browser. This way. you will see your Web resources from the many perspectives of your users. You may want to try out an accessibility validation site which performs a diagnostic on your pages and points out parts that could that are inaccessible.

Additional Resources
As with all technology, things change regularly in the field of accessibility as software and hardware are continually improved. Features that were not accessible may become so through the improvements of adaptive, browser and server software. However, we can always expect to be working with several generations of software and hardware at anyone time. Adhering to these principles will ensure that your Web site doesn't leave anyone behind.

Here are some sites with more information about accessible Web design. DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology) at the University of Washington includes a listing of Internet Resources for Accessible Web design, as well as other informational resources. http://www.washington.edu/doit/