If you need assistance with online content

The Office of Disability Services located at the university also has services and technologies to help ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to materials at Western Oregon University.

To request accessibility assistance contact the Office of Disability Services:

• Call (503) 838-8250 VTTY; e-mail ods@wou.edu or fax (503) 838-8721
• visit the Office of Disability Services Web site

After hours assistance

For individuals needing accessibility assistance with web content or features after hours,

• please call University Computing's 24 hour help desk 503.538.8925 or email ucshelpdesk@wou.edu.
  Please note: UCS does not provide support for or recommend user hardware and software.

Requirements for accessible content

• Western Oregon University aims to provide accessible content in accordance to federal state and legal requirements. If you do not feel that information on the Web site does not meet these requirements you may contact the webmaster (please include the url and the problem encountered).

Hints and tips for accessible Web browsing

We have tried to provide a series of links to the most common and user friendly software with specific features for Web accessibility.

The Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers

Accessibility Features in Firefox: very highly recommended

Firefox, a visual browser with accessibility features. Compatible with Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and several other operating systems. Several extensions (such as Link Toolbar, iCITA Accessibility Extension and Text Zoom) which enhance accessibility are available for Firefox.

• An informative introduction into the various accessibility features available in the Firefox browser including examples of accessibility extensions, keyboard access, screen magnifier and readers.

Internet explorer accessibility tutorials

• Internet Explorer 7 Accessibility Tutorials: These tutorials provide step by step instructions for adjusting the accessibility settings in Internet Explorer 7. Steps are provided for both mouse and keyboard actions.
• Internet Explorer 6 Accessibility Tutorials: These tutorials provide step by step instructions for adjusting the accessibility options in Internet Explorer 6. Instructions are provided for both mouse and keyboard implementation.

Other recommended software with accessibility features

• Lynx, a free text-only web browser for blind users with refreshable Braille displays. Versions for Unix, VMS, Windows 95/98/NT (not 3.1 or 3.11), DOS (386 or higher) and OS/2 EMX. Macintosh versions in beta test.
• Links, a free text-only web browser for visual users with low bandwidth. Versions for Unix, OS/2, BeOS, Macintosh OSX. Window version in beta test.
• Opera, a visual browser with many accessibility-related features, including text zooming, user style sheets, and image toggle. A free downloadable version is available. Compatible with Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and several other operating systems.
• VoiceOver, a screen reader built into Macintosh OS X v10.4 (Tiger).
• Emacspeak (freeware for Linux)
• Window-Eyes, a screen reader for Windows
• JAWS, a screen reader for Windows. A downloadable demo is available.
• IBM Home Page Reader, a screen reader for Windows. A downloadable demo is available.

Office of Disability Services Western Oregon University
345 N. Monmouth Ave.,
Monmouth, OR 97361
(503) 838-8250 VTTY; fax (503) 838-8721
e-mail: ods@wou.edu