Web Accessibility

1. Web Accessibility Talyah Aviran, 7 Dec 2010

2. Accessibility to the Web • What is Accessibility? • What is Web accessibility and why is it important? • Impact of the Web on People with Disabilities. • Why does the Web need to be accessible? • What is an accessible site? • What is being done in the world and in the US? • Screen readers and the Web – Video.

3. Accessibility to the Web • How many of you know people with hearing or vision impairments, physical impairments, leaning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD • Have you ever experienced inaccessibility? Not Accessible Accessible

4. Accessibility to the Web • The Web has become a key resource for: • News, information, commerce, entertainment,classroom education, distance learning,job searching, workplace interaction,government services and more. • It is displacing traditional sources of information and interaction - schools, libraries, print materials. • An accessible Web means unprecedented access to information for people with disabilities.

5. Accessibility to the Web • Examples of design requirements for people with different kinds of disabilities include: Visual: • described graphics or video; • tables or frames; • keyboard support, screen reader compatibility; Hearing: • captioning for audio, illustration; Physical, Speech: • keyboard or single-switch support; • alternatives for speech input on voice portals; Cognitive, Neurological: • consistent navigation, appropriate language level;illustration; no flickering.

6. Accessibility to the Web • Why does the Web need to be accessible? • Legal aspect - Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in the US, The Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law, Israel; • Moral aspect; • Social aspect - reducing the digital gap; • Economical aspect – increases potential users; • Standardization – W3C and Government standards; • Usability – accessibility increases usability; • Organizational Perception • Search – Better results in SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Google is blind.

7. Accessibility to the Web • An accessible site is a site where as many people as possible find it: • Perceivable - Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive • Operable - User interface components and navigation must be operable • Understandable - Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable • Robust - Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies

8. An Example of an Accessible Site

9. Accessibility to the Web • To develop an accessible web site one needs to have: • a basic understanding of how people with disabilities use the Web; • a basic understanding of assistive technologies and the adaptive strategies that people use.

10. Accessibility to the Web • People with disabilities use assistive technology – a software or hardware to by-pass the disability: • Mouse, keyboards, magnifiers… • Screen readers such as JAWS • Braille Monitor Braille printerReading MachineDesktop&Pocket Magnifier

11. Accessibility to the Web • What is being done in the world: • USA: Section 508 an amendment to the Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It requires that electronic and information technology that is developed by or purchased by the Federal Agencies be accessible by people with disabilities. • Europe: W3C - World Wide Web Consortium. Defines the standards for the Web, such as HTML and CSS.

12. Accessibility Guidelines 1 Perceivable • 1.1 Provide text alternatives for any non-text content • 1.2 Provide alternatives for time-based media • 1.3 Create content that can be presented in different ways (for example simpler layout) without losing information or structure. • 1.4 Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background

13. Accessibility Guidelines • Can you perceive the content on this site?

14. Accessibility Guidelines 2 Operable • 2.1 Make all functionality available from a keyboard • 2.2 Provide users enough time to read and use content • 2.3 Create Do not design content in a way that is known to cause seizures • 2.4 Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are

15. Accessibility Guidelines 3 Understandable • 3.1 Make text content readable and understandable: Providing a glossary, Human language, link to definitions, simplicity, Providing sound files of the pronunciation • 3.2 Provide Web pages appear and operate in predictable ways: do not open a new window automatically, notify the user, consistent navigation • 3.3 Help users avoid and correct mistakes: Identifying errors in a form submission, Providing multiple cues

16. Accessibility Guidelines 4 Robust • 4.1 Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies: Correct HTML tagging, standard markup, follow the W3C standards.

17. Design Recommendations • Choose the same platform for all embassy/consulate web site • Design the same structure according to one general concept • Choose similar colors and the same icons for mutual issues like consular services, media etc. • The logo of the site takes the user back to home page • Provide a site map • Provide the ability to selection different languages • Use hierarchical headings

18. Accessibility Guidelines Screen Readers and the Web