Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for the State of Kansas
Guidelines by Priority - Version 2.0 (November 20, 2001)

Design Principles

The following items are considered "best practices" and should apply to each site as a whole.

In order to satisfy many of the accessibility guidelines, it will be necessary to use version 4.0+ of HTML in combination with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) version 2.0+. For example, do not use proprietary or browser-dependent HTML tags such as <blink> or <marquee>.
Whenever possible, avoid deprecated features of W3C technologies. Deprecated features are considered obsolete and will be replaced in future versions. For example, the HTML <font> tag will be replaced by using CSS.
Tables should be used to mark up truly tabular information rather than using them to control page layout. Once user agents support style sheet positioning, tables should not be used for layout.
Avoid creating pages that periodically auto-refresh.
Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content.
Divide large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate.
Create alternative, accessible pages only when other solutions fail because alternative pages are typically updated less often than "primary" pages. An out-of-date page may be as frustrating as an inaccessible one since, in both cases, the information on the original page is unavailable. Before resorting to an alternative page, reconsider the design of the original page; making it accessible is likely to improve it for all users. (See also Priority 1, #22.)

Note on Dynamic Mapping Applications: At the present time, sites containing applications that make use of Interactive Mapping Services (IMS) are granted an exception from these priorities, where applicable, due to the complex graphic-intensive, and dynamic nature of these services. We will continue to pursue these issues with the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) community, the Internet accessibility community, and the Federal government to achieve full compliance as developments in the technology allows.

Guidelines

The State of Kansas guidelines are based in part on the work of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and their Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG 1.0). This revision also encompasses the rules for Web-based intranet and Internet information and applications required of Federal departments and agencies (and others as applicable) by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d). Where relevant, the number of the corresponding W3C guideline and Section 508 standard is listed. (When available, there are links to the corresponding guidelines in the hypertext version of this document).

Each item on the following list has a priority level assigned based on the item's impact on accessibility. Further, within each priority level, the items are organized in terms of their ease of implementation. See the Implementation Guidance document for specific information as to how to proceed with implementation of these guidelines.

Priority 1
Web developers must satisfy this item. All Section 508 Standards are included in Priority 1. These guidelines represent the highest priority of accessibility features that must be addressed in web page design.

Priority 2
Web developers must satisfy this item. These guidelines represent more complex accessibility features that must be addressed in web page design. Generally, these items would be addressed after satisfying Priority 1 items.

Priority 3
Web developers may satisfy this item. These guidelines represent accessibility features that offer the broadest level of accessibility to web pages.

Undue Burden

These guidelines must be followed unless they would impose an "undue burden". Undue burden will be defined and approached in the same manner as in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the FY 2001 Appropriation for Military Construction (Public Law 106-246 – July 13, 2000), and related federal legislation.

Priority 1 Items

No.	Description
1.	Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content). This includes: images, graphical representations of text (including symbols), image map regions, animations (e.g., animated GIF's), applets and programmatic objects, ASCII art, frames, scripts, images used as list bullets, spacers, graphical buttons, all sounds, stand-alone audio files, audio tracks of video, and video. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 1.1] [Sec.508 1194.22(a)]
2.	Ensure that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 2.1] [Sec.508 1194.22(c)]
3.	Organize documents so they may be read without style sheets. For example, when an HTML document is rendered without associated style sheets, it must still be possible to read the document. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 6.1] [Sec.508 1194.22(d)]
4.	Avoid causing the screen to flicker. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 7.1] [Sec.508 1194.22(j)]
5.	Client side image maps should be provided instead of server side image maps. If you must use server-side image maps, provide redundant text links for each link on the image map. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 1.2 and WCAG 1.0, 1.5] [Sec.508 1194.22(e) and 1194.22(f)]
6.	Use of frames is discouraged. If you must use frames, title each frame to facilitate frame identification and navigation. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 12.1] [Sec.508 1194.22(i)]
7.	Ensure that foreground and background color combinations provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone with color deficits. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 2.2]
8.	Clearly identify the target of each link. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.1]
9.	Use header elements to convey document structure and use them according to specification. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 3.5]
10.	Mark up lists and list items properly. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 3.6]
11.	Mark up quotations. Do not use quotation markup for formatting effects such as indentation. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 3.7]
12.	Clearly identify changes in the natural language of a document's text and any text equivalents (e.g., captions). (See also Priority 3, #1) [W3C WCAG 1.0, 4.1]
13.	Make scripts and applets that allow users to interpret or access page content, or any other element that has its own interface, compatible with assistive technologies, and ensure that event handlers are input device-independent. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 6.4; WCAG 1.0, 8.1; WCAG 1.0, 9.2] [Sec.508 1194.22(m)]
14.	Ensure that pages are usable when scripts, applets, or other programmatic objects are turned off or not supported. If this is not possible, provide equivalent information on an alternative accessible page. (See also P1, #1, #13, #22) [W3C WCAG 1.0, 6.3]
15.	For data tables, identify row and column headers. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 5.1] [Sec.508 1194.22(g)]
16.	For data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers, use markup to associate data cells with header cells. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 5.2] [Sec.508 1194.22(h)]
17.	Provide summaries for data tables. If a table is used only for layout, provide an empty summary attribute (e.g., summary=" ").[W3C WCAG 1.0, 5.5]
18.	Label all form controls. Position the label close to the form control, and use appropriate markup to identify the form control and associate it with its label. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 10.2 and WCAG 1.0, 12.4] [Sec.508 1194.22(n)]
19.	For any time-based multi-media presentation (e.g., movie or animation) synchronize equivalent alternatives (e.g., captions or auditory descriptions of the visual track) with the presentation. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 1.4] [Sec.508 1194.22(b)]
20.	When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient opportunity to indicate more time is required. [Sec.508 1194.22(p)]
21.	A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.6] [Sec.508 1194.22(o)]
22.	If you cannot create an accessible page, provide a link to an alternative page that uses W3C technologies, is accessible, has equivalent information (or functionality), and is updated as often as the inaccessible (original) page. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 11.4] [Sec.508 1194.22(k) and 1194.22(l)]

Priority 2 items

No.	Description
1.	When an appropriate markup language exists, use markup rather than graphics to convey information. For example, use MathML to mark up mathematical equations instead of using graphics to represent symbols. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 3.1]
2.	Create pages that use the transitional or the strict document type declaration (e.g., <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> or <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN">) and include the appropriate declaration as the first line of every HTML page. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 3.2]
3.	Use style sheets to control presentation. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 3.3]
4.	Use relative rather than absolute units of measure (e.g., for margins, font sizes, borders, etc.). [W3C WCAG 1.0, 3.4]
5.	Use navigation mechanisms in a consistent manner. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.4]
6.	Specify the expansion of each abbreviation or acronym in a document where it first occurs. Providing the expansion in the main body of the document also helps document usability. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 4.2]
7.	Do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and do not change the current window without informing the user. If a new window is absolutely necessary, provide an alternative, accessible means for conveying or gathering information. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 10.1]
8.	Provide metadata for every page. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.2]
9.	Provide information about the general layout of a site (e.g., a site map or table of contents). [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.3]
10.	Do not use tables for layout unless the table makes sense when linearized. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 5.3]
11.	Create a logical tab order through links, form controls, and objects. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 9.4]
12.	Describe the purpose of frames and how frames relate to each other if it is not obvious by frame titles alone. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 12.2]
13.	Until user agents provide the ability to stop auto-redirect, do not use markup to redirect pages automatically. Instead, configure the server to perform redirects. If necessary to re-direct a page and configuring the server is not possible, label the action and allow the user to invoke the link to the new page. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 7.5]

Priority 3 items

No.	Description
1.	Identify the primary natural language of a document. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 4.3]
2.	Provide keyboard shortcuts to important links (including those in client-side image maps), form controls, and groups of form controls. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 9.5]
3.	Until user agents (including assistive technologies) render adjacent links distinctly, include non-link, printable characters (surrounded by spaces) between adjacent links. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 10.5]
4.	Provide information so that users may receive documents according to their preferences (e.g., language, content type, etc.) [W3C WCAG 1.0, 11.3]
5.	Provide a group of navigation links to highlight and give access to the navigation mechanism. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.5]
6.	If search functions are provided, enable different types of searches for different skill levels and preferences. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.7]
7.	Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.8]
8.	Provide information about document collections (i.e., documents comprising multiple pages.). [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.9]
9.	If ASCII art cannot be avoided, provide a means to skip over multi-line ASCII art. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 13.10]
10.	Provide terse substitutes for header labels with the "abbr" attribute on <th>. These will be particularly useful for future speaking technologies that can read row and column labels for each cell. Abbreviations cut down on repetition and reading time. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 5.6]
11.	Supplement text with graphic or auditory presentations where they will facilitate comprehension of the page. [W3C WCAG 1.0, 14.2]

Page last modified on: February 15, 2006

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for the State of Kansas Guidelines by Priority - Version 2.0 (November 20, 2001)

Priority 1 Items

Priority 2 items

Priority 3 items

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for the State of Kansas
Guidelines by Priority - Version 2.0 (November 20, 2001)