The MCU: Accessible web design consultancy : This weeks tip: test the accessibility of your web page with your own web browser.

About the Making Connections Unit

Working towards a more accessible Internet

A self funding unit established in May 1996 by Jim Byrne and David Donald, the Making Connections Unit has been a pioneer in the area of internet accessibility.

Promoting the benefits to organisations of providing accessible internet services.
Providing services to help organisations build and maintain more accessible sites.
Providing services to education related to accessible online publishing.
Helping organisations to develop policies, plans and support systems to publish information on the Internet in an accessible way.
Carry out Website accessibility audits and helping organisations test the accessibility of existing Websites.
Providing guides, organising conferences and seminars and generally spreading the word that having an accessible Website should be an important goal for all organisations.
Contributing to building a community sensitive to the needs and rights of those individuals who are socialy excluded.

Since 1996 the MCU has provide information to local and national government as well as the voluntary sector, not for profit and private sector. The MCU has helped hundreds of organisations since 1996.

The MCU has won awards for it's work in the area of Web accessibility

In 2000 The MCU with Glasgow City Council set up the first Web accessibility conference in Scotland to discuss the issues surrounding acess on the Web.

Here are some positive comments about the work of the MCU from past and current clients.

Board Members

David Donald
Jim Byrne (Unit Director)
Mike McCarron (Co-ordinator of Greater Glasgow Drug Action Team)

Contct

Tel: 0781 0098 119, E-mail: info@mcu.org.uk

Executive Director of the Unit: Jim Byrne: jim@mcu.org.uk

Contributed by Jim Byrne
Updated Sunday 14 May 2006

Free weekly accessible web design tip

Comments

I work with the Scottish Qualifications Authority based in Douglas Street, just off Cadogan Square, Glasgow. I am looking for an experienced web designer to review our existing and proposed screen designs for a number of our web applications and and advise us on best look and feel, and advise us on usability standards re special needs (eg impaired vision, no requirement for mouse etc). If you carry out this type of work I need know availability of a resource to do the work, daily rate, and when you would like to discuss the project further to establish how long you think this would take Thanks Bill Alexander 0141 242 2204

Bill Alexander | Wed Jun 22 2005

We'd like to know if there are any accessibility guidelines by the DDA or RNIB on email designs. There seems to be lots on best practice coding for different email clients but little or nothing on accessibility. Many thanks

rajen | Wed Feb 02 2005

As the Training Practice Manager for the San Francisco Bay Area for New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, I have been frequently asked by our clients and potential clients about accessibility training. Some of the questions most often asked are: ”How can we test our EIT products to be section 508 compliant?”, and “How can we test and train our engineers to validate their products and test against the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), Section 1194.21 through Section 1194.26?” Specifically, I am looking for courseware providers and companies that engage in Train the Trainer programs so New Horizons of the San Francisco Bay Area can start satisfying the requests of our clients. Any information you can provide will be considered a great help not only to our company, but to all the companies that will receive our training. Thank you for your help and consideration. Best Regards, Dan Powers Training Practice Manager, Microsoft Alliance Manager New Horizons Office: 925-465-5252 Cell: 415-720-9551 Fax: 925-465-5260 Mobile email (140 character text): 4157209551@page.nextel.com www.newhorizons.com

Dan Powers | Sat Jan 29 2005

I work for http://www.all-stakeholder-pensions.co.uk. We want to provide info to users in the form of a PDF document which can be downloaded online. Does anyone know how we can attach a pdf document to a web page???

Vicky Stellar | Thu Oct 28 2004

Looks like I woke someone up to the fact that this old version of Bobby was still available - and they have pulled it? My influence extends further than I thought. :-)

Jim Byrne | Wed Dec 17 2003

The December 9 story with a link to the Bobby validator on the WATS.ca site is dead (the validator link, not the wats.ca site). I went to the WATS.ca site and found the technology page but nothing about the Bobby tool.

Julian Rickards | Wed Dec 17 2003

Please get in touch. I'm looking for someone or a copany to set up an accessible web site. 0131 244 4773 or 0131 466 8232. Thanks. Ken

Ken Black | Wed Nov 26 2003

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