WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Thread: how do you meet Section 508, 1194.22m

for

Number of posts in this thread: 4 (In chronological order)

From: Angela French
Date: Tue, Aug 04 2015 2:58PM
Subject: how do you meet Section 508, 1194.22m
No previous message | Next message →

Hello,
I am wondering how others meet the requirement of Section 508 , 1194.22 m<http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/section-508-standards#subpart_b>;

"(m) When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with §1194.21(a) through (l)."

On our current site at the top of every page that contains linked-to documents, we include a link to our Readers page where users can download the various readers they may need in order to read MS Office documents as well as Adobe PDFs. Here is an example at the top of a page content on our current site: http://www.sbctc.edu/college/d_enrollment-reports.aspx .

We are migrating to a new site and would like NOT to have that "Get help downloading files" at the top of every page any longer, but still want to meet the requirement.
We do have a link to our Online Accessibility page in the footer of every page and that page provides links to all the readers.

Thank you,


Angela French
Internet Specialist
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
360-704-4316
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
www.checkoutacollege.com<;http://www.checkoutacollege.com/>;
www.sbctc.edu<;http://www.sbctc.edu/>;

From: Jared Smith
Date: Tue, Aug 04 2015 3:07PM
Subject: Re: how do you meet Section 508, 1194.22m
← Previous message | Next message →

This is such an antiquated requirement that I wouldn't bother doing
anything. Everyone with a computer purchased in the last decade has
software to display PDF files. Now if it's a rare program or plug-in,
then sure, provide a link to where the user can get what they need.
But for common file types, even if the user doesn't have it installed,
every modern browser will guide them to download it.

I can easily argue that adding a "Download Acrobat Reader" (or
whatever) link on every page with a PDF file makes the page less
accessible. Nobody's going to bust your chops over ignoring this
requirement for common file types.

Jared

From: Angela French
Date: Tue, Aug 04 2015 3:18PM
Subject: Re: how do you meet Section 508, 1194.22m
← Previous message | Next message →

I look forward to an official refresh before I die and hope they take stuff out like that.

Angela
-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2015 2:07 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] how do you meet Section 508, 1194.22m

This is such an antiquated requirement that I wouldn't bother doing anything. Everyone with a computer purchased in the last decade has software to display PDF files. Now if it's a rare program or plug-in, then sure, provide a link to where the user can get what they need.
But for common file types, even if the user doesn't have it installed, every modern browser will guide them to download it.

I can easily argue that adding a "Download Acrobat Reader" (or
whatever) link on every page with a PDF file makes the page less accessible. Nobody's going to bust your chops over ignoring this requirement for common file types.

Jared

From: Jared Smith
Date: Tue, Aug 04 2015 3:24PM
Subject: Re: how do you meet Section 508, 1194.22m
← Previous message | No next message

Angela French wrote:
> I look forward to an official refresh before I die and hope they take stuff out like that.

I hope you have a long life expectancy. :-)

Jared