Jargon Buster
H
Hard disk
Situated inside the computer, the hard disk stores permanent data.
Hit
As used in reference to the World Wide Web, ‘hit’ means a single request from a web browser for a single item from a web server; thus in order for a web browser to display a page that contains 3 graphics, 4 ?hits? would occur at the server: 1 for the HTML page, and one for each of the 3 graphics.
Home page
The first page you see when you go to a website. First impressions are vital; visitors make up their minds within five seconds whether to progress further into your website.
Host
A company that leases its server (computer) space to websites.
HTML
Hypertext Mark-up Language is the computer language in which web pages are written. This language tells visitors’ computers how to draw the page on their screen when they connect to your website. [Select ‘Source’ in the view menu of your web browser for an example. To return to normal, close the window.] Most web building software does the entire HTML coding, but a bit of knowledge is helpful if you plan to maintain or develop your own website.
HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol)
The communications mechanism used to exchange information on the Internet.
Hyperlink
One click short cuts to navigate your way round the web or within a website. Links tie the web together and usually take the form of highlighted images or underlined words. Your cursor will mostly change into a pointing finger icon as it passes over a link.
Accessibility
Legislation, standards and guidelines
WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), is an international consortium devoted to promoting accessibility on the web. Their Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are generally accepted as the definitive guidelines on web accessibility and accessible design techniques, and many other apparent sets of standards and guidelines actually refer back to the WAI guidelines.
UK legislation and standards
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)
Full text of this act of parliament.
Special Education Needs and Disability Act 2001
Full text of this act of parliament. This act amended Part IV of the DDA as applied to educational organisations and establishments.
The Law
What the law says about eliminating disability discrimination, on the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) website. Includes links to information about the DDA and to the Codes of Practice for the DDA.
Codes of Practice for the DDA and SENDA
Codes of practice explaining legal rights and requirements under the DDA, produced by the UK government and the DRC.
Guidelines for UK government and local authority websites
Published by the e-Government Unit in the Cabinet Office.
DRC report into web accessibility
Report from the DRC's formal investigation into access and inclusion for disabled people to the web, April 2004.
Outside the UK
Policies relating to web accessibility (WAI list)
Legislation and policies relating to web accessibility around the world - Australia, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, UK, USA.
Laws and standards (WebAIM list)
Web accessibility laws and standards in various countries around the world - USA, Canada, European Union, UK, Japan, Hong Kong, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, New Zealand.
Irish National Disability Authority IT accessibility guidelines
Includes guidelines for web and software.
Learning disabilities
Mencap
Guide to making information accessible to people with a learning disability.
Flash
Macromedia Accessibility
Macromedia's central resource contains tutorials, product specifications, listings and showcases of accessible Flash.
Macromedia Accessibility weblog
Weblog run by Bob Reagan of Macromedia.
PDF
Adobe Accessibility
Guidelines, tools and advice on making PDF documents accessible.
