Joe Dolson Accessible Web Design Philosophy
I provide a wide variety of web design and related services. My priority is a design philosophy which is compatible with multiple browsers, which is friendly to users, and allows your visitors to easily locate whatever information or service your site provides. I am dedicated to building sites which are accessible to all users, and will do everything I can to make your site fully compliant with the current guidelines for web standards in accessibility and usability.
Working with you right from the beginning is important to me. Everything in the details of creating your site - from reserving the right domain name choosing the right hosting package for your needs to the custom graphics and programming needed for your desired look and functionality. The design process is always cooperative - I am waiting to hear what you want, so I can shape the design to appeal to you and your users.
Accessible Web Development: My Background
I began designing for the web in 2000, and since that rough, self-taught beginning, have gradually increased my knowledge of design and the many web technologies available to the web developer. Prior to 2005, most of my web work has been for the Macalester College and St. John Fisher College libraries. Although much of my earlier work has been on secured internal websites, you can see my more recent completed projects on my designs page.
Since January of 2005, I've operated as a freelance web developer. My design philosophy is centered around three important features of the web - usability, accessibility, and web standards. I code all my work to comply with the web standards set by the World Wide Web consortium (also known as the W3C), maximizing cross-browser compatibility. I also offer the option to construct a web site which is fully accessible to users with disabilities. The extra labor involved in this service does mean an extra cost - but it's much cheaper to begin with an accessible site than to adapt one later! Usability, of course, is simply an indicator of how important it is to be able to find content on a web site. Good navigation and well-defined organization are the chief elements of usability, and I'll work closely with you to determine what is the closest match for your needs.
In October of 2005 I was accepted into the Guild of Accessible Web Designers, an international organization dedicated to the principles of accessible web design. The requirements for membership were an example site which met the approval of a guild site reviewer for adherence to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and other important principles of accessible web design.
For more detailed information, browse through the information below. If you haven't given a lot of thought to your web site, or need some guidance to start preparing, be sure to read the pages on what to look for in a web developer and how to plan your development!
