This website is a design brief focusing on web accessibility for the visually impaired. This design brief is part of the 2010-2011 Webmaster competition for the Technology Student Association (TSA). The competition involved three different web sites: one about the local TSA chapter, one for the technology department of the local school, and one, called the design brief, about the challenge set forth by TSA.

For this design brief, research pertaining to accessible web development for the visually impaired was required. Topics such as good design practices, elements of coding, federal regulations to help protect the rights of the visually impaired, industry standards geared toward accessible web development, and tools available to the visually impaired to view the Internet had to be included in the site. Also, he website itself had to be designed with accessibility in mind, so impairments such as total blindness, color blindness, and partial/low vision had to be considered.

Finally, included within this website is a page describing our web development process and a page listing the resources used in the production of this site.

This Technology Student Association (TSA) competition was conducted according to the guidelines in the challenge statement below which comes copied directly from the TSA website.

Webmaster
2010-2011 High School Design Brief
"Web Accessibility: Designing for Internet for the Visually Impaired"

I. CONTEXT
The Internet has become a necessary part of our everyday lives. From news to entertainment to education to communication, we constantly interact with the Internet.

One hurdle in website design that is often overlooked is the accessibility of the vast resources of the online world to those who are visually impaired. While most with vision may appreciate seeing slick interfaces and flashy graphics, those without vision must experience the world through audible and tactile means. This leaves the latter group of people at a severe disadvantage in the online world.

II. CHALLENGE STATEMENT
Design a website that displays your research on websites designed to be accessible by the visually impaired. Topics should include, but are not limited to, good design practices, elements of code, federal and industry standards and regulations, and tools available to those with impaired vision for experiencing the World Wide Web. Additionally, consider the various degrees of visual impairments, including color blindness, partial blindness/low vision, and complete blindness.

The design for your TSA chapter and school technology education information need not be created with accessibility in mind. (Go ahead, have fun and impress us with what you can do.) However, your design brief solution should include a working example of the design brief solution content within an accessible design. Provide examples of how various visual elements found online can be presented in a non-visual manner for a visually impaired audience.

III. EVALUATION
Thought should be given to good design practices and cross-platform compatibility. Expect your solution to be evaluated using any combination of Windows XP, Vista and 7, as well as Mac OS X in browsers, including the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari.

Positive evaluations will be given to teams who successfully create a clean, easy to use website that features an excellent presentation of the required content.

For questions, email event coordinator Stephen Blue at Stephen@stephenblue.net. Include the word “WEBMASTER” in the subject line to ensure that the email is received and read. For questions about state conference deadlines and submissions, please consult your state TSA website to determine the appropriate contact.