This new four-week online workshop, BARRIER FREE WEB DESIGN, focuses on the
creation of web pages that are both visually appealing and fully accessible
to users with print disabilities.  Given totally via the internet, taken
any time from anywhere.

TERM
BARRIER FREE WEB DESIGN begins on Oct. 13  23 and will continue through the
next 4 weeks.  This is a major revision of the previous EASI-WEB workshop.
It includes multimedia and follows the guidelines announced by the Web
Access Initiative.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires educational institutions to
provide equal access to information.  As more and more educational
resources move to the Internet, colleges and universities must make those
materials accessible by all learners, disabled or not.

This new TLT Group workshop, offered in conjunction with Project EASI,
helps participants learn how to create web pages that can "read" by
everyone.  Based on fundamental principles of web design, BARRIER-FREE WEB
DESIGN will model the use of multimedia on the web.  The overarching
objective is to demonstrate ways to use technology so that it serves as
bridge to information, not an obstacle.

Workshop instruction will be largely self-directed and self-paced, but will
feature frequent interaction with leaders and other participants.

AUDIENCE
BARRIER FREE WEB DESIGN is aimed at individuals who have some knowledge of
web design but want to develop a fuller understanding of accessibility
issues, as well as those wanting to understand access issues to better
communicate with designers.  Web designers, IT professionals, and those
with a special interest in adaptive technology and/or disability advocacy
will find this workshop of particular value.

REQUIREMENTS
The workshop will be taught over the Internet using an e-mail listserv to
connect the leaders and fellow participants.  Workshop material will be
delivered via the web. Participants will need a recent browser (either
Internet Explorer version 4.0 or higher or Netscape 4.5 or higher with java
features enabled) and Internet access.

C.E.U.s
Three continuing education units from the Rochester Institute of Technology
are available on request.

LEADERS
Richard Banks (Electronic Resource Manager, Project EASI)
Norman Coombs, Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology)

WORKSHOP SYLLABUS
Lesson 1.  Introductions and Background
-- pros and cons of the web for people with disabilities
-- the law and web access
-- the WAI (Web Access Initiative)

Lesson 2. General Design Principles for Accessibility
--  layout for clarity and simplicity
-- design for rapid comprehension
--  layout for navigation

Lesson 3.  Graphics and Other Visual Features
-- alternatives to graphics, pictures, icons
-- graphical links and the use of colors
-- how to provide accessibility for users who are blind, have limited
vision, or who have learning disabilities

Lesson 4. Audio and the Audio Portion of Video Content
-- providing text transcriptions for deaf and hard-of-hearing
-- the use of synchronized text with audio and video
-- the use of descriptive video

Lesson 5. W3 Style Sheets and Markup Features
-- cascading style sheets
-- HTML 4.0 markup features, especially those enhancing accessibility

Lesson 6.  Older Browsers and Special Screen Reader Features
-- how to use new HTML features with older browsers
-- how to use new HTML features with special adaptive software that
reformats pages based on its HTML coding.

Lesson 7.  User Control Issues
-- how to use the user control features of HTML 4.0

Lesson 8.  Validation for HTML and for Accessibility Features
-- how to validate your HTML code
-- how to check your pages for accessibility
-- submitting a page to qualify for continuing education units


REGISTRATION
For more information including workshop fees or to register, please use our
online registration form at
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/workshops/easiweb.html

Direct questions to Norman Coombs [log in to unmask]