NEC has made every effort to create a Web site that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, as well as those using a range of computer technology and browsers.
Key Accessibility Features
NEC's Web site contains the following key accessibility features:
Compliance with Bobby™ Web accessibility tool
This Web-based tool analyzes Web pages for their usability for people with disabilities, and provides recommendations for improvements. It provides a ‘passing' grade only to those sites that are most easily accessible to those with disabilities.
Site Review by Light House for the Blind (Washington, DC)
This organization specializes in reviewing Web sites for accessibility by those who are visually impaired. The NEC Foundation site was reviewed by Light House for the Blind in order to find and correct elements that made it difficult for those using non-standard browsers to use the site.
Site Review by Lighthouse International (New York, NY)
The Lighthouse's Accessibility Consulting and Testing Solutions group (ACTS) specializes in reviewing the accessibility and usability of organization and corporate Web sites. ACTS reviewed the NEC Foundation site in order to identify key issues that would have made it difficult for those using assistive technologies to access and use this site.
Descriptive alternative text for all graphics
Alternative tags, or 'Alt tags,' show up when images do not appear. Alt tags can also be read by 'speaking browsers' for people with visual impairments. This allows those with visual impairments or slow Internet connections to understand what types of images are used on the site even if they cannot see the images.
Consistent and clear link names
On this Web site the title of a document or article is used as the link in almost all cases. This allows users to see the most important information in the link and avoids uninformative link names, such as 'Click here.'
Clear navigation and screen presentation
A consistent format has been used across the entire Web site. This allows users to grasp the navigation quickly and understand where they are as they move through the site.
No frames
This site does not use frames, which can create a number of accessibility problems for regular users as well as those who are visually impaired. It is often difficult to 'bookmark' and print the page you want when frames are in use, and users with speaking browsers cannot easily navigate through a frame-based Web site.
No image maps or automatic redirects
Image maps and auto redirects are not used on the NEC site in order to improve usability for those with non-standard browsers.
Restricted screen size
This Web site was created to fit on a screen set to 1024 x 768 pixels. The content area of the website is fit on a screen set to 640 x 480 pixels. This allows all users to see the content of the page on any computer.
Browser Compatibility
Every attempt has been made to have our site display in as many browsers as possible. At a minimum, sites should work correctly using:
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher (Windows platform);
- Mozilla FireFox 2.0 or higher (Windows platform); and
- Safari 2.0 or higher (Macintosh platform).
Common Web Accessibility Problems and Solutions
I’m getting javascript errors.
You are likely using an old Web browser. You may update to a newer browser for free. The leading free browsers include:
I can’t read some of the attachments on the Web site
If you cannot read a certain type of attachment, look at the name of the file – specifically the three letters at the end of the filename. Find the proper type of file below to learn how you may read the attachment.
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf at the end of the filename):
Click here to download the free Adobe Acrobat reader.
Microsoft Word (.doc at the end of the filename): Purchase Microsoft Word, or open the file in another word processing program by converting it from Microsoft Word.
Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt at the end of the filename): Purchase Microsoft PowerPoint.
Microsoft Excel (.xls at the end of the filename): Purchase Microsoft Excel, or open the file in another spreadsheet program by converting it from Microsoft Excel.
The text on the screen is too small to read.
If you are having trouble reading the text on your screen, you may change your computer’s settings to make the text larger. To do this, follow these simple instructions (for PC users):
- Go to browser menu View, then find option “Text size”
- Text size will have several options to modify size of your website text. You will have options to make font larger or smaller.