Top priority includes Section 508? What a joke, having worked on internal web apps for the US Postal Service as an employee (not a contractor) I can tell you that accessibility is the last thing they look at when considering an application. They do not code any intranet web site to any type of standard. The best internal site I've seen from a 508 perspective is their Accounting Services site. I have consistantly brought this up to Sr. Management and often been told that it was too costly to implement. Most of the time it's only too costly because they failed to properly design their system or properly specify requirements.
All too often, the specs we put out for contracts barely touch accessibilty. Having a consulting business outside the PO, I've really been able to push for 508 / WAI web sites using proper coding techniques with my client base and see the effects of proper design. The results are amazing, better search engine performance (resulting in increased traffic), lower bandwidth (reducing network costs), and easier navigation area (increasing a sites "stickyness") are some of the big benefits which fall hollow on Sr. Management.
I'd love to see this organization actually implement a "real" 508 strategy, but all too often it's used as just another buzz word in DC politics. Say it enough and people will think you care.
2 comments:
he knows the types of employees he is not seeking, and he described them: "They put in their time, but they want to do other things
Sorry, W.- maybe next time
Top priority includes Section 508? What a joke, having worked on internal web apps for the US Postal Service as an employee (not a contractor) I can tell you that accessibility is the last thing they look at when considering an application. They do not code any intranet web site to any type of standard. The best internal site I've seen from a 508 perspective is their Accounting Services site. I have consistantly brought this up to Sr. Management and often been told that it was too costly to implement. Most of the time it's only too costly because they failed to properly design their system or properly specify requirements.
All too often, the specs we put out for contracts barely touch accessibilty. Having a consulting business outside the PO, I've really been able to push for 508 / WAI web sites using proper coding techniques with my client base and see the effects of proper design. The results are amazing, better search engine performance (resulting in increased traffic), lower bandwidth (reducing network costs), and easier navigation area (increasing a sites "stickyness") are some of the big benefits which fall hollow on Sr. Management.
I'd love to see this organization actually implement a "real" 508 strategy, but all too often it's used as just another buzz word in DC politics. Say it enough and people will think you care.
Post a Comment