Section 508, Web accessibility : Just a little frustrated

I've been an advocate of web accessibility standards for years because it helps people with disabilities enjoy the internet. It's also a great way to publish information online that is easy to manage and manipulate. I was trained in the Air Force to produce websites that meet or exceed the requirements of US Law under the Rehabilitation act and more specifically section 508 as it applies to content online.

I spent allot of time last week debugging a new website to comply strictly with section 508 because the site is for a Kentucky state legislator. I felt that if anyone should comply with these standards, it should be those who have been chosen to represent us and inform us. I'm proud of this new website and it should release May 1st.

Then in my search for news and information today, I found myself at WhiteHouse.gov. I decided to test the site for compliance and woe is me... if failed miserably. Now they do have have some nice statements about the efforts to make their site accessible but that's about it. The site even fails to validate for basic mark up. I can't figure out how this can be so, but then my focus is a little unique I guess.

Sure, I'm a little frustrated that George Bush and his White House staff have not made the effort to comply with the law or serve the community they serve. That won't affect my own drive to comply with standards. I think it's important to create websites that all people can access. Who'd a thunk that I would be creating websites that even the blind could enjoy.

Okay; admittedly this website doesn't validate either. It's just easy... and yes... it's just lazy.