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THE IMPACT OF ACCESSIBILITY

AGENDA• What is Web Accessibility?

• The Real Impact

• Understanding the Guidelines

• How to Get Started

WHAT IS WEB ACCESSIBILITY?

WEB ACCESSIBILITYDesigning and developing to ensure that a website’s content is accessible to all users, irrespective of ability.

Achieved by adhering to established guidelines.

WEB ACCESSIBILITYStarted gaining traction in 1999 with the release of the first web content accessibility guidelines.

Gained more attention through a series of lawsuits.

• Target

• Bank of America, HSBC, Fleet Bank, Bank One

• Marriott

• EdX

SEEMS SIMPLE AND LOGICAL

So… why isn’t anyone doing it?

BLAME THE WCAGWCAG = Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

WCAG 1.0 wasn’t particularly clear

WCAG 2.0 is better, but difficult to parse

BLAME THE ADAThe ADA does not explicitly mention websites as required to be accessible.

This is likely going to change next year.

BLAME HUMAN NATUREPeople are generally not aware of the WCAG

Companies have viewed accessibility as an additional cost that threatens project budgets

People don’t like making tough choices

HOW DO WE FIX IT?

SHIFT PERCEPTION#1

A11Y PERCEPTION“It’s like adding a wheelchair ramp to your website!”

A11Y REALITYCrafting the right form and function for all users

Inclusive design

Mobile site v. responsive

INCREASE AWARENESS#2

INCREASE AWARENESSAttend webinars!

Share what you learn

Be the voice of accessibility

HUMANIZE ACCESSIBILITY#3

THE REAL IMPACT

MORE THAN BUSINESSBusiness needs may drive web accessibility

1 billion people with some form of a disability

Doing the right thing

WE ASKEDWhat’s the real impact?

ACCESSIBILITY MATTERS… BUT WHAT SHOULD YOU

DO?

UNDERSTANDING THE GUIDELINES

WHAT IS THE WCAG?Created by the W3C / WAI

Four principles. 12 Guidelines. 61 testable criteria.

Covers a range of disabilities and assistive technologies

Three levels: A, AA, AAA

WHO IT’S FORUseful for designers, developers and QA

Helps ensure a wide range of disabilities and assistive technologies are covered

Enables automated testing for most criteria, but testing with real users is also required

WCAG PRINCIPLESPerceivable

Operable

Understandable

Robust

PERCEIVABLEPerceived by at least one sense

PERCEIVABLEText alternatives

Captions & descriptions

Font Sizes, Color Contrast

OPERABLENavigable in more than one way

OPERABLEKeyboard control

Timed content

Blinking content / seizure induction

UNDERSTANDABLEMake it easy for the target demographic to read and

understand your content

UNDERSTANDABLEEasy to read

Predictability

Error handling and prevention

ROBUSTConsumable by a variety of tools

ROBUSTWeb standards

Assistive technologies

Browsers

EMPATHY.

HOW TO GET STARTED

WCAG 2.0 TELLS US WHAT TO DO…

NOT HOW TO DO IT.

PLAN

LEARN

ADVOCATE

INCLUDE

QUESTIONS?