Maximum Accessibility: Making Your Web Site More Usable for Everyone

Alternatives for Stand-Alone and Other Audio

The WCAG 1.0 checkpoints and Section 508 federal mandates that require a text equivalent for every nontext element apply not just to graphic elements but also to audio material—including audio material that’s not part of a video. We have already seen how the audio portion of a video display can be made accessible to users who will not hear the sounds. These may be users with hearing impairments but are just as likely to include those who are accessing the Web by means of a public computer station, such as those provided in libraries, schools, and many community recreation centers. Millions of people use public access technology; although some of these facilities may provide headphones for private ...