F.Y.I.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ardis Bazyn <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [leadership] accessibility of governmental and state websites
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2003 09:36:56 -0700
To: ccb list <[log in to unmask]>


 >The following is forwarded on from the W3C's Web Accessibility discussion
 >list.
 >>http://www.gcn.com/cgi-bin/udt/im.display.printable?client.id=gcndaily2&story.id=23678
 >
 >>Government Web sites struggling to be accessible
 >>images/gcn_logo
 >>images/clearpixel
 >>
 >>Government Web sites struggling to be accessible
 >>09/25/03
 >>By Jason Miller,
 >>GCN Staff
 >>An analysis of more than 1,600 state and 60 federal Web sites found the
 >>number of online services has jumped by 21 percent in the past year, but
 >>accessibility
 >>remains a lingering problem.
 >>
 >>Researchers from Brown University's Taubman Center for Public Policy earlier
 >>this week released their
 >>fourth annual survey
 >>of federal and state Web sites. They discovered most sites are written at a
 >>level too high for the average American and most do not meet accessibility
 >>standards.
 >>
 >>Using the Flesch-Kincaid test—a standard reading tool used by the Department
 >>of Defense—researchers found 68 percent of state sites read at a 12th-grade
 >>level compared to 63 percent of all federal sites. National literacy
 >>statistics indicate that half of Americans read at an eighth-grade level.
 >>
 >>Examiners also found federal and state Web sites missed the mark in meeting
 >>disability accessibility standards. Forty-seven percent of federal sites
 >>meet
 >>the World Wide Web Consortium standard, and 22 percent meet Section 508
 >>standards. States fared worse, as 33 percent meet the W3C and 24 percent
 >>meet the
 >>508 requirements.
 >>
 >>One of the biggest improvements is the number of Web sites with foreign
 >>translation tools or offering publications in foreign languages, researchers
 >>said.
 >>The percent of Web sites catering to non-English speakers jumped to 13
 >>percent from seven percent among all sites. Forty percent of federal Web
 >>sites offer
 >>foreign-language translation compared to 12 percent of state sites,
 >>researchers found.
 >>
 >>Among federal sites, the General Services Administration's FirstGov portal
 >>received the top score of 84 points. Sites received points in the ratings
 >>for
 >>features such as accessibility, readability, database access and fees. The
 >>Federal Communications Commission, Social Security Administration, IRS and
 >>Library
 >>of Congress completed the top five federal sites. Last year, the FCC was
 >>ranked highest.
 >>
 >>Massachusetts received the top score among all states with 46.3. Texas,
 >>Indiana, Tennessee and California rounded out the top five.
 >>
 >>Researchers recommended that state and federal webmasters should:
 >>
 >>Strive for clear and simple language
 >>Pay more attention to disability access
 >>Verify claims of accessibility-standard compliance regularly
 >>Issue easily accessible privacy statements
 >>Design sites to include logical navigation, easy-to-find clusters of
 >>services and improved search functions.
 >>
 >>© 2003 PostNewsweek Tech Media, a division of Post Newsweek Media

Inquire about work at home positions. check out Http://ardisbazyn.netfirms.com
For positive inspiration, Contact Bazyn Communications
True vision without sight
[log in to unmask]
HTTP://www.bazyncommunications.com
Services
Coaching one-on-one; leading small group workshops or retreats, large group
lectures, banquet or luncheon speeches; facilitating brain storming
process: goal setting and team building; Written summaries of discussions;
analyze and initiate research using surveys/interviews; developing
follow-up questionnaires, profile cards, and, referral cards; compiling
how-to manuals, speeches, and presentations; and writing copy for all forms
of media.

SPEECH topics
Coping with challenges and change
Developing/Maintaining a Positive Attitude
Successful Business strategies
Setting Reachable Goals
Image building for organizations or churches
Books now available!
BUILDING BLOCKS TO SUCCESS Does the Image of Your Church Attract Members?
BUILDING BLOCKS TO SUCCESS Does the Image of Your Organization Attract
Members?
Major credit cards accepted, registered with Paypal.



--
* This message has come to you from the ACB Leadership list: a *
* special List for the leadership of the American     *
* Council of the Blind.  Please use discretion when   *
* disseminating information from this list.           *


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html