Making a more accessible Web site

California State University (CSU) has chosen HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff for systemwide Web accessibility testing. With more than 500,000 Web users and 23 campuses, CSU wanted to be accessible to everyone, no matter how he or she accesses information.

Web sites that follow accessibility compliance standards can be browsed by everybody, including people who use assistive technologies such as screen readers, text readers and voice-activated devices. The HiSoftware system provides CSU with automated content monitoring for accessibility compliance, privacy, data and information security, site quality and brand integrity.

Cheryl Pruitt, director of the accessible technology initiative at California State University, says, “CSU strives to provide all of our students with an equal education, and providing accessible online services and materials is an important part of meeting that goal. We evaluated four enterprise-level accessibility tools. HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff was selected for its superior functionality and reasonable price.”

Pruitt adds, “HiSoftware worked very closely with CSU to provide training, develop an expansive support portal and map the system to our specific accessibility requirements.”

With a combination of standard testing requirements, wide tool deployment and effective training, the implementation plan ensures that campus websites will be accessible immediately upon publishing, according to a press release from HiSoftware.