Web Accessibility in the UCA

Web Accessibility at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina

Introduction

The Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina is committed in the pursuit of making the Web more accessible to all users regardless of the circumstances involved and devices to access to information. Based on this idea, a page will be accessible for a person with disabilities, as for any other person under external circumstances that hinder their access to information (if external noises, in situations where our attention visual and auditory no longer available, and so on.).

People affected by different disabilities, may need assistive devices for accessing information on the Web. The technical aids, operates in conjunction with browsers, allowing users with disabilities access information on the Web. For example, a blind person, needs to use a screen reader. The screen reader, a computer software, not only reads aloud text in the body of a page, but also describes the Web elements, such as images. However, for a screen reader describing images, and other Web elements, the HTML or the language used to code page, must make this information available for the screen reader.

It is very important that the Web we accessible to thus provide equitable access and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

There are a series of international standards established by the W3C ® (World Wide Web consortium) in its WAI (Web accesibility iniciative): http://www.w3.org/WAI

Some disabilities taken into account by these standards include:

     * Blind Users
     * Users with Color Blindness
     * Users with low vision who can not read small text
     * Deaf Users
     * Users with hearing impairment
     * Users who do not use a mouse
     * Users with a disability due to arthritis or other problems of motor control
     * Photosensitive epilepsy - is not very common but is supported by the standard.

Complying with the standards, not only helps disabled users, but can also improve access to the Web for handheld devices (cell phones, PDAs) and other alternative ways of access to information website. These standards are based on the best practices of web authoring and information technology. While many of the standards, direct benefit to users with disabilities, who must rely on assistive devices for viewing information, these standards also benefit everyone else.

Our University, adhering to these standards seeks to be referring to when talking about web accessibility, thereby avoiding social exclusion and guarantee the right to information of all citizens.

Current status and future actions

Some of the improvements implemented to improve accessibility to the content, we can highlight:

• All the visual characteristics of the site of the University (font, font color, color tables, etc.) are defined in a stylesheet so that users can adjust the display of the content according to their preferences.
• If you choose to access this site using a browser that does not support stylesheets you will have no trouble navigating the pages as you can access all content without relying CSS.
• The sizes of the fonts have been identified with relative units so that it can increase or reduce the size of the font.
• The content structure was developed in a manner that is clear to all types of users.
• The HTML and CSS employee meets the formal grammars to ensure the proper display of the content in different browsers.
• There are keyboard shortcuts that facilitates navigation without mouse and direct access to the main subject areas.
• We have implemented alternative text for non-textual information (multimedia content:  image, animations, video, etc.).
• Automatic redirects have been avoided.
• Compatibility has been tested with most Web browsers under different platforms.

Due to the large volume of content migrated and to migrate, and the complexity of some of these, we are still in the process of adapting the content to different levels of priority standards. In the short term are expected:

• Take steps to facilitate any group of users access to the contents.
• Solving the technical problems that impede achieving Priority 1.
• Making the adjustments necessary to adapt the content to achieve Priority 2 and continue working until reaching the Priority 3.

To analyze the accessibility of the web portal of the Argentina Catholic University we have used the Web Accessibility Test (TAW), and manual revisions.

Some improvements

Keyboard Shortcuts

The shortcuts defined for www.uca.edu.ar are:

• Ingresantes: i
• Students: a
• Graduates: g
• Teachers: d
• Visitors: v
• Home: h
• The University: u
• Colleges / Institutes f
• Offer Academic: o
• Research: v
• Extension: e
• Pastoral UCA: p
• Library: b
• International: t
• Contact: c
• Accessibility: x
• News and Events: n
• Virtual Campus: r
• Sitemap: s

Here are the various key combinations depending on browser used:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer: Alt + letter shortcut + enter
• Mozilla Firefox: Alt + shift + letter shortcut
• Netscape: Alt + letter shortcut
• Opera: + Esc shift + letter shortcut
• Konqueror (3.3 or higher): Ctrl + letter shortcut
• Safari (1.2 or higher): Ctrl + letter shortcut

Improved Display

To facilitate the reading of the contents of the site of the University in screen, it offers the possibility of increased size of the font-well with the tools browser or with the tools available on the web itself.

Suggestions

We invite you to send your suggestions and comments on the accessibility of the site of the Catholic University of Argentina through the feedback form on this page.

In the shortest time possible we will answer your query, trying to solve your specific problem of access to the contents.