Implementing Rule K
§ 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications.
(k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes.
This is the one thing you don't want to have to do, because, ultimately, it creates more work for you and your staff.
If you have done everything else well, this shouldn't be necessary. This is the last resort for making things accessible. In theory, all of the other rules need to be complied with before going this route. If you have met the requirements of Rules A through J, L through P, then there shouldn't be a need for yet an additional set of information.
Special Cases
Here are some things that I can think of:
Violations of Rule B (see Implementing Rule B), synchronizing text equivalents with multimedia presentations. It might not be possible to run video and text together in synchronicity. However, it is possible to produce a text transcript that can be read separately.
Violations of Rule J (see Implementing Rule J), avoiding causing the screen to flicker in the taboo range. It might be essential for informational purposes to show as many people as possible a news video that does cause the screen to flicker. In this case, a text transcript can be provided instead.
Violations of Rule L (see Implementing Rule L),
information provided by scripting languages include functional text that can be accessed.
For whatever reasons, someone may have insisted on going for a particular site design that makes extensive
use of scripts; in this case, a text equivalent (<noscript>) is required.
Violations of Rule M (see Implementing Rule M), applets and plug-ins must be Section 508 compliant. It might not be possible to have such an applet or plug-in. In this case, there needs to be an additional text version of the subject matter.
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