The University purchased licensing for software this fall that will allow the entire University Web site to be reformatted to benefit disabled users.
The Lift Assistive software takes Web sites and reformulates them in a text-only format, said Steve Johnson, University senior web developer in the Office of Public Affairs.
The software will help visually impaired users more effectively navigate University Web sites, Johnson said.
"Lift Assistive is a web-based service and what it does is ... basically translate our pages into a format that is optimized for people that use browsers for assistance technologies," Johnson said. "It will remove the image data and will replace it with the text."
Johnson explained that the software will also convert data tables into a format which can be processed by a screen-reader, which "reads" the Web site page out loud for the user.
The software can also be used to zoom and enlarge text for those with lesser vision impairment.
The software is also helpful for those users with browser problems, Johnson said.
"It helps people that have functional limitations ... that could also include someone who is on a really slow internet connection and just wants the text for the page," he said. "It could help people that use mobile devices like PDAs and cell phones to surf the Web."
According to a University press release, the Executive Vice President's Committee on Access for Persons with Disabilities paid $29,300 for the Lift Assistive software licensing.
The University purchased the license as a "stop-gap" measure to comply with Virginia Information Technology Agency requirements, which state that all state Web sites meet a certain level of accessibility, explained Lori Kressin, coordinator in the user support services group at the University.
Before the purchase, only main levels of the University Web site were text-only compatible, but now, with the license, the entire Web site can be accessed, Kressin said.
"Anything under the virginia.edu domain is covered under this license ... this also includes U.Va. Wise," she said.
The initial funds for the purchase came from those allocated for "improving handicapped access anywhere at the University," said Wynne Stuart, associate provost for academic support and classroom management.
"This is money that always exists and it's funded every year because the University thinks it's important," Stuart said.
The funds are allocated every year for both physical and technological improvements in the University community, Stuart said.
Kessler added that continued maintenance funding for the software will come from ITC.
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