Joan,

ADA compliance (section 508 checklist) provides the absolute minimum  
accessibility and usability.  A well-designed Universal Design site  
will go well beyond the minimum standards.  The trick is to know which  
direction is an improvement, and which is worse.  (This is why so many  
designers follow the standard to the letter, rather than making things  
better.)

The W3C and Section 508 guidelines are more about how you do things  
rather than what you do.  If done well, you can make your site look  
like anything you want and still be compliant.


On Jul 2, 2008, at 11:11 PM, Joan Medlen wrote:


> Hi all,

>

> I'm looking for information on two things:

>

> 1. the definition and tools that can be used to design a good  

> looking and

> useful ADA Compliant website.

>

> 2. someone who will define the difference between ADA Compliance and

> Universal Design for website use. Is there one?

>

> Thanks,

> Joan

>

>

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Denis Anson, MS, OTR
Director of Research and Development
Assistive Technology Research Institute
Misericordia University
voice: 570-674-6413
fax: 570-674-8054

danson at misericordia.edu