The multimedia nature of the World Wide Web, which makes it so inviting to some, can create barriers for others. Some who use the Internet:

• Can't see graphics because of visual impairments.
• Can't hear audio because of hearing impairments.
• Have difficulty navigating sites because of limited mobility.
• Use slow connections and modems that can't download large files.

Increasingly, NSF partners and grantees are creating web sites to share information or to publish research findings. NSF encourages this trend, as it is an economical, efficient method of disseminating information. However, we urge web developers to use design principles that promote universal access so that all Internet users can get to the information they need, regardless of their disabilities or the limitations of their equipment and software.

Web Accessibility Initiative

• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative
  http://www.w3.org/WAI/

Guidelines for Accessible Web Pages

• DO-IT's Accessible Web Design Guidelines
  http://www.washington.edu/doit/Resources/web-design.html
• Trace Center: Designing More Usable Web Sites
  http://www.trace.wisc.edu/world/web/

Additional Resources

• Federal IT Accessibility Initiative
  http://www.section508.gov/
• NIST: HTML Accessibility Validator
  http://zing.ncsl.nist.gov/webmet/
• Bobby - Web Page Accessibility Verifier from the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
  http://www.cast.org/bobby/
• WebAble!
  http://www.webable.com/
• CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media
  http://www.wgbh/pages/ncam/

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