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RE: A page of links to PDF files

for

From: jeb
Date: Aug 13, 2003 3:41PM

Ed, You may want to take a look at what we here in Maine wrote regarding
Accessibility Standard. On the official policy (see link below) there are a
couple of paragraphs that deal with PDFs. The general rule is to avoid them.
Here is the link: http://www.state.me.us/CIO/accessibility/webpolicy.html

I would also note that it is in your state's best interest to make sure all
of their communications are accessible to all citizens. Without such a
policy or provision, you will be open to litigation and that costs money.
Maine has, for a number of years, been trying to create a very
citizen-friendly web presence where most, if not all services are provided
on-line. If you follow the concept of Universal Design, you will see that
accessible web design helps all citizens, not just those with disabilities.
It is also much more economical to post publications in HTML on-line than to
do DTP, print on paper and mail them. Your taxpayers might be interested in
this dimension. If you are like most state departments, you probably have
boxes and boxes of publications stuffed in corners around your office that
are just collecting dust. The same information is saved on a few electrons.
Think about it.

jeb

John E. Brandt
Augusta, ME 04330

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