Rethinking borders: A new approach to web access

In harmony with the conference theme, “Public Health Without Borders” this presentation illustrates the development and application of an innovative web-based software portal that expands access to public health information for all people including those with disabilities. Regardless of individual user style, language, and preference, this portal, which has no content, but contains multiple translation options that can be applied to existing sites, supports designers and individual users across the globe to disseminate and obtain health education and knowledge respectively.

Scholars agree, the use of the Internet to expand communication to people across the globe, while a potent cost-effective access platform to important health promotion and illness prevention information, remains riddled with access barriers affecting too many population segments. Despite accessibility mandates and legislation in many countries, health officials and scholars, functioning as novice web designers, are often overwhelmed by the additional skills associated with the requirements for creating accessible web-page design. Given this challenge, we therefore approached web access through developing a single, free, software, interface portal and locating it server-side. This portal reformats existing electronic text and image material into multiple formats that can be accessed by a full range of users with multiple literacy, comprehension, and sensory needs. In this presentation, we discuss the universal principles underpinning the project, demonstrate its application to electronic health promotion, and discuss the future potential and expansion of this strategy to assure the right of information access to all people, including those with disabilities.