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Accessible Web Design

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Support Services

When help is needed.
Services are meant to answer questions and resolve issues from web developers, content providers, and users. Support covers questions on web design, accessibility standards and guidelines, tools, and training. Other references involve university services for students and employees with disabilities.

Who provides support services for the Web at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech supports an impressive array of Web services. These services include information about the university VT.EDU, colleges, graduate school, departments, and other websites of public interest; online course support systems and university libraries for teaching and learning; rich visualization environments and high performance computational facilities for research; and administrative web-based applications.

Throughout the university community there are many professionally trained staff and/or faculty providing Web support services. Additionally, the Information Technology (IT) organization actively supports the university community by applying and integrating IT services.

Information Technology entities have a variety of websites, blogs, and listservs to keep the university informed about IT support services. Central to this support are three websites computing.vt.edu, Customer Support Center (4Help), and Web Hosting Service for a Web presence without the costs of maintaining a protected server. Additionally, Web and IT support services include:

• Enterprise Systems includes services for Administrative Information Systems and Banner, Database Management and Information Warehousing, and Web Hosting
• Learning Technologies support includes the Faculty Development Institute, Graduate Education Institute, Educational Technologies, New Media Center, Online Course Support, Computer Integrated Classroom Support and VT Labs, Digital Imaging, and Assistive Technologies
• Network Infrastructure and Services includes Communication Network Services, Video Broadcast Services, NetworkVirginia^ng and the Blacksburg Electronic Village
• Other Information Technology entities include Research Computing high performance computing facility, eCorridors, Secure Enterprise Technology Initiatives, the IT Security Office, and Administration and Planning

The Office of University Relations, based on Policy 12000, Policy on the Usage of the University Name, has created a Web Development Toolkit for university departments to facilitate and promote consistency in visual identity, navigation, and usability across websites university-wide. University Relations also produced a Web Guidelines and Procedures Manual that requests all university websites to adhere to Virginia Tech identity standards as documented on the University Styles and Standards web page. The page provides links to rules for usage of the university name, an updated identity standards manual, style guides for written documents and broadcasting, as well as the usage of university logos, colors, and the Virginia Tech tagline Invent the Future.

The University Relations web development toolkit also has a Web Development Blog to share news, discuss developments, and generally keep the university community informed of proposed website development activities. The blog includes updates and status of Virginia Tech Website Templates, copyright issues, writing for the web, and the current status of a Content Management System (CMS) being procured in partnership with Information Technologies. For those unfamiliar with the CMS acronym, a Content Management System is a software program that makes it easy to post information to websites without having to know how to write website code. A CMS will help content providers in department quickly create, approve, and publish content on the Web.

What university entities offer website design and maintenance services?

Currently we have only identified two university entities that are offering website design and maintenance services. They are:

• The Blacksburg Electronic Village (BEV) Web Support Services is an outreach initiative of Information Technology at Virginia Tech that will provide secure, standards compliant web designs or website upgrades, and maintenance services for university entities or non-profit community groups.
• Software Technical Laboratory (STL) is a departmental center that is affiliated with the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. The STL provides the full suite of application services including design, development, and IT support.

How can I obtain consulting services on web authoring and development tools, digital video equipment, multimedia hardware devices, and web accessibility software?

• New Media Center (NMC) offers members of the Virginia Tech community access to digital video equipment, multimedia hardware devices, and use of software authoring and development tools, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, Acrobat, and Photoshop. For multimedia tools and consulting services, visit the New Media Center in Torgersen Hall.

• For AccVerify installation problems, please contact HiSoftware (see the Install HiSoftware Guide for instructions). For general computer support questions, please direct your questions to Customer Support Center (4Help). All other AccVerify Professional software problems or issues must be directed by e-mail to assist@vt.edu or to 4Help. Please, do not contact HiSoftware for software maintenance or support issues beyond installation questions.

What are Assistive Technologies and how are they used on the Web?

• For years, people with disabilities have used assistive technologies to maintain, enable, or increase their opportunities for learning, teaching, work, and recreation. This experience holds true when accessing the Web. For people without disabilities, assistive technologies make things easier. For individuals with disabilities, using assistive technologies makes things possible!,
• University access policies which are aligned with Section 508 standards and WCAG guidelines realize the benefits of assistive technologies on the Web. Accessible web design will ensure that the website is usable by people with disabilities when they are using assistive technologies.

What are examples of assistive technologies being used on the Web at Virginia Tech?

The Assistive Technologies department maintains an AT facility in Newman Library (Special Services). Special Services is equipped to provide a wide range of training and support for persons with a documented disability requiring AT as a disability accommodation. In addition to Special Services, accommodations based on Assistive Technologies for the web are also available in Information Technology (IT) computer labs, and in some departmental computer labs requiring accommodations.

Examples of assistive technologies being used on the Web and supported by Virginia Tech include:

• Screen magnification, contrast, and color filtering software, such as ZoomText Magnifier/Reader for Windows or the built-in Zoom on Mac OS X for people with low-vision.
• Screen readers, such as JAWS for Windows or VoiceOver on Mac OS X and refreshable Braille for people who are blind.
• Speech recognition and control, such as Dragon Naturally Speaking for XP or the built-in Speech Recognition of Windows Vista for people with physical or leaning disabilities that have difficulties with keyboard input.
• Other devices include a variety of: literacy tools using assistive reading, writing, and notetaking capabilities; adaptive input devices such as keyboards, trackballs, and mice; and very specialized adaptive equipment when needed.

Although the Assistive Technologies department coordinates and recommends the majority of assistive technologies (AT) for the university, it the responsibility of the college, department, or functional unit to fund a disability accommodation when needed. Should you or your department not have the expertise or knowledge to procure AT equipment, software, or services for an accommodation, the Assistive Technologies department will provide free consulting services. Please contact Assistive Technologies, as soon as you know there is a need for an AT consultation by e-mail to assist@vt.edu.

Can the Assistive Technologies department be contacted for teaching, outreach, or research purposes?

Yes, the Assistive Technologies department as a unit of Learning Technologies has for years been helping support teaching and learning on the web, participating in public outreach programs, conducting one-time classes to demonstrate the benefits of assistive technologies to students, and participating in and consulting on research projects.

Should a department or instructor want a one-time class demonstrating the benefits of assistive technologies for their students, need consulting services on a research proposal, or be considering research involving AT, please contact Assistive Technologies.

As a student or prospective student, how do I request a disability accommodation at Virginia Tech?

Students with a documented disability will be able to obtain information on disability accommodations by contacting the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office or by searching their website for information on requesting an accommodation or service from Virginia Tech.

When applying for a job or working as an employee at Virginia Tech, how do I request a disability accommodation?

Individuals with a documented disability, either as an applicant for a job or as an university employee, are able to obtain information on disability accommodations by contacting Human Resources or by searching their website under the headings Applicants with Disabilities or Virginia Tech Resources for Employees with Disabilities.