Adobe 65029940 - Captivate - PC Using Manual page 51

In the United States, the law that governs accessibility is commonly known as Section 508, which
is an amendment to the U.S. Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 prohibits federal agencies from
buying, developing, maintaining, or using electronic technology that is not accessible to those
with disabilities. In addition to mandating standards, Section 508 allows government employees
and the public to sue agencies in federal court for noncompliance.
For additional information about Section 508, see the following websites:
•
The US government-sponsored website at www.section508.gov.
•
The Accessibility page on the Macromedia website at
accessibility.
Understanding screen reader technology
Screen readers are software programs designed to navigate through a website and read the web
content aloud. Visually impaired users often rely on this technology. Those viewing your
Captivate movies must have Flash Player 6 or later, and Internet Explorer on Windows 2000 or
later.
JAWS, from Freedom Scientific, is one example of a screen reader. You can access the JAWS page
of the Freedom Scientific website at www.hj.com/fs_products/software_jaws.asp. Another
commonly used screen reader is Window-Eyes, from GW Micro. To access the latest information
on Window-Eyes, visit the GW Micro website at www.gwmicro.com. For Windows users,
Microsoft provides a free, downloadable product called Microsoft Reader that contains a text-to-
speech component. For more information, visit the Microsoft website at www.microsoft.com.
Because different screen readers use varying methods to translate information into speech, the
way your content is presented to users will vary. As you design accessible projects, keep in mind
that you have no control over how a screen reader will behave. You have control only over the
content, not the screen readers. You cannot force screen readers to read specific text at specific
times or control the manner in which that content is read. It is very important, therefore, to test
your movies with a variety of screen readers to ensure that they perform as you expect.
Captivate and accessibility
You can create output that is compliant with Section 508 for users who have visual or hearing
impairments, mobility impairments, or other types of disabilities. You can also take steps at the
design level to remove obstacles for people with disabilities viewing your Captivate projects.
These solutions support government agencies in meeting their users' needs through Section 508
compliance, as well as companies who are committed to improving accessibility.
What is Section 508 compliance?
Section 508 is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requiring that Federal agencies develop,
maintain, acquire, or use electronic and information technology to make the systems accessible to
people with disabilities. The most recent (1998) version of Section 508 establishes enforceable,
government-wide standards.
www.macromedia.com/macromedia/
Creating accessible movies 51