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Robbins' Web Site One of the First to Meet
Federal Accessibility Standards
HARRISBURG -- State
Senator Bob Robbins’ (R-50) web site has been upgraded to ensure accessibility
by people with disabilities, making him one of the first state senators to meet
federal standards for such accessibility.
The standards are spelled out in Section 508 of the
federal Workforce Rehabilitation Act. The provisions ensure access for people
with vision impairments who rely on various aids to access computer-based
information. Such devices include screen readers -- which translate what’s on a
computer screen into automated audible output -- and Braille displays.
Certain features, such as “verbal tags” or
identification of graphics, are necessary so that these devices can “read” them
for the user in a sensible way.
On Senator Robbins’ web site,
www.senatorrobbins.com, all photos have a written description that can be
read by screen readers. It also allows users to make the text larger for easier
viewing, and requires no “plug-ins” to view the site -- standards also included
in Section 508.
“Government web sites are an excellent way to keep
in contact with citizens and provide a wide array of useful information, and
it’s important that we extend this resource to citizens with disabilities,” said
Robbins. “My web site provides information on the 50th Senatorial District, the
Northwest Pennsylvania region, state government and more. By meeting Section
508 standards, that information is within the reach of everyone, regardless of
any physical challenge.”
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