**Is color the only means of identification of elements on a page?**
A web page that directs a user to “press the red button to stop” should also identify the red button in another way than simply by color. If colors are the only way to identify elements or controls on the screen, persons who are color blind, blind, or have low vision may find the web page unusable. Just consider the case of an e-commerce site that sells movie posters & lobby cards. For collectors color and its quality is an important consideration that will affect the price of vintage and original movie posters / lobby cards whether the person is buying or selling. But even on those sites where one might assume color would not be an issue for their visitors, it is important to identify any link button with words explaining why one should click the link.
**Are documents organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet?**
You can just avoid style sheets entirely because style sheets are not required to create basic Web pages. If a style sheet is used, the Web page must be organized so that the information can still be accessed even for browsers that cannot use style sheets. It is critical that designers ensure that their web pages do not interfere with user-defined style sheets.
**Are there server-side image map or client-side image maps?**
An “image map” is a picture on a web page that provides different “links” to other web pages, depending on where the user clicks on the image. With client-side image maps, each “active region” in a picture can be assigned its own “link” that specifies what web page to retrieve when a portion of the picture is selected. A server-side image map to present the user with a selection of options, then a redundant text link is necessary to provide access to the page for anyone not able to see or accurately click on the map.
**Are tables coded properly?**
508 requires that tables be coded according to the rules of the markup language being used for creating tables. The 508 standards apply to tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.
**Does your Web site have frames?**
Do not use them because frames are not allowed at EPA.
**Does the screen flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz?**
Do not use visuals that produce any vivid light-dark differences that change or flash between these rates. Some individuals with photosensitive epilepsy can have a seizure triggered by displays, presentations, backgrounds, and images that flicker, flash, blink, or rapidly change from light to dark within the range above.
**Are there text-only pages for information that cannot be made compliant in any other way?**
When compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way a text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a Web site comply with the 508 standards. Caution: the content of the text-only page needs to be updated whenever the primary page changes.
**Is the script language in a readable fashion for assistive technology users?**
When web developers do not put functional text with a script, a screen reader will often read the content of the script itself in a meaningless jumble of numbers and letters. Web page developers need to provide script information in a fashion that can be read by assistive technology.
**Is there a link for software downloads?**
If a page requires extra software to be used such as Adobe, Word, Flash, etc. must also post a link to a free download to the software.
**Are there electronic forms?**
can people using assistive technology access the information, the form elements and functionality so they can complete and submit the form?
**Is there a way for the user to skip navigation functions / sidebar to go straight to the content?**
See if the next tab really bypasses the links and goes to the desired content so you can skip navigation links.
**If a timed-response is used, is the user prompted to request more time?**
Web Pages can be designed so that the page disappears or “expires” if a response is not received within a specified amount of time. This is not a common feature on EPA web pages but if a timed-response is used, how does the user know that time is running out? How does a user indicate that more time is needed when they are prompted that time is starting to run out?