Adobe 65029940 User Guide - Page 90

80 CHAPTER 3 Creating projects 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 Adobe website at www.adobe.com/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 Adobe Captivate projects 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 projects with a variety of screen readers to ensure that they perform as you expect. Adobe 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 Adobe 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.