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ARIA: What, Why, and When

Session scheduled at 9:30-10:20 in Room 3 (Ski-U-Mah)

Assistive technologies must be able to interact effectively with Web content, Web applications, dynamic content and advanced user interface controls in order to ensure accessibility. However, most current Web technologies are incapable of providing assistive technologies with the necessary information.

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) became a W3C recommendation in March 2014. The use of ARIA cand be used to identify and aid navigation of Web page regions, identify page elements and relationships, alert users to dynamic changes to the content and more. This presentation will cover a basic understanding of ARIA, why use it and when.

  • Learn about the basics of ARIA, which became a W3C recommendation for the accessibility of dynamic Web content in March 2014.
  • Learn why ARIA is important for making dynamic content accessible to students, employees and the public.
  • Learn when the use of ARIA simply enhances usability and when its use is critical.

View Slides

Presented By

Phil Kragnes

Philip M. Kragnes has served as the Adaptive Technology Specialist for the University of Minnesota since October 1998. He manages the Computer Accommodations Program (CAP) – a partnership of the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT). The program exists to ensure access to online information and services; hardware and software; classroom, laboratories, event spaces and work environments for students, faculty, staff, guests and visitors with disabilities.

In addition to providing training and consulting to University of Minnesota students and employees, Phil has trained over 300 State of Minnesota Web developers and numerous clients from entities such as Unisys, Walden University, US Bank, U.S. Department of Wildlife, U.S. Federal Reserve and many others. Mr. Kragnes received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Cognitive Psychology from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1987. He created Carnegie-Mellon University’s first adaptive technology computing space and developed the university’s first disability services program, serving as its director for a year and a half, while pursuing his studies at the institution. In 1995, he received his Master of Science degree in Experimental Psychology: Human Cognition, Memory and Learning from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.

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