What is Web Accessibility

What is Web Accessibility

Graham Armfield & Makayla Lewis

Slot 1 AG21 10:15AM – 11:05AM

Web Accessibility London City University London, 21st September 2010


Graham Armfield

Coolfields Consulting


What?

What does it mean to the population at large?

Do you only know if it touches you?


The web is increasingly the world’s preferred channel News & reviews Immediacy & relevance Research & learning Communication and community


The web is increasingly businesses’ preferred channel Financial savings Engaging users in online solutions

Banking transactions, e-statements eCommerce - eg Amazon, eBay

Engaging or coercing? Responsibility


Why? But it’s not everyone’s preferred channel

To some it’s a barrier Poorly designed websites and web applications People’s abilities taken for granted.


Why? Inclusivity

Web should be for everyone Development of ideas/concepts To belong


Money It makes financial sense Why shut out revenue

Legal requirement DDA - Equality Act

The question surely is: Why Not?


A bit of personal history “Why would you not do that?”

How do you know what is possible?


Guidelines WCAG 1.0 WCAG 2.0

What to do Who benefits Techniques Testing for it My own pocket guide


Assistive Software/Hardware Screen Readers Braille Readers Dragon Oversize mouse/keypad etc


Accessible options/versions Resize text No time-critical interactivity Text only Easier with content managed systems


Who can make the web accessible? Web developers? Those who procure sites/applications? Those who control budgets?


Issues Training Need some kind of pocket guide? Perception of cost Testing - accessibility as well as usability


Where we want it

On devices that suit us

On devices that are affordable


It’s possible now Should not be seen as a luxury All it takes is knowledge and will

How to move things forward? Discussions, blogs, twitter Other ideas?


© Warner Bros Entertainment

We’re as mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it any more!


What?

One Definition:

“Enabling the web so that everyone can access its content when they need to and when they want to”


Makayla Lewis

City University London


Disability

● Approx. 10 million people in the UK are officially viewed as disabled.

“Disability is the loss or limitation of opportunities that prevents people who have impairments from taking part in the normal life of the community on an equal level with others due to physical and social barriers”

● Types: visual, hearing, physical (motor), speech, cognitive, multiple disabilities and aging-related disabilities


Theme: motor impairments, WHY?

● Personal motivation…

● PhD research challenge…

“Why is it when I look for web accessibility projects I usually come across solutions directed at end users who are visually impaired? Said solutions are often based on screen readers and call upon participants who are visually impaired…”


“A loss or limitation of function in muscle control or movement or a limitation in mobility. This may include hands that are too

large or small for a keyboard, shakiness, arthritis, paralysis, and limb loss, among other difficulties”

e.g. Spinal Cord Injury, Loss or Damage to Limb(s), Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida, Arthritis, Parkinson's Disease & Cerebral

Palsy.


A wide variety of aids are available for these users:

● Software such as Sticky Keys that make difficult keystrokes more accessible

● Voice recognition systems

● Pointers controlled by mouth or head movements

● Text entry systems to help enter messages with fewer keystrokes


Common challenges/barriers:

● Changing websites

● Slow text input (time-limited response options) & Lengthy and complicated tasks

● Difficult access and interaction with information

● Browsers and authoring tools that do not support keyboard alternatives

for mouse commands ….


Q: Do any of the WCAG 2.0 guidelines relate

specifically to motor impairment?


Keyboard Users

• Allowing functionality to be accessed with just keyboard• Focus/tab order• Focus visible on the screen when tabbing round page (like with a mouse)• What happens when page items receive focus/input• Jump links that are visible

Others

• Size of target area for links, form fields


Q: Why is it hard to get end users

with disabilities involved in testing?


Recruitment is dependent on the research & researcher being “seen” and “heard” within the target community.

● Conventional recruitment e.g. posters, flyers etc. can be ineffective.

Solution: Visit disability centre's and youth/adult clubs to meet the target group, present at organizations & local authorities and advertise on websites and within newsletters that specialize in the target group.


Support individuals may be present & can often contribute to research.

● Positive participant encouragement can reduce support individual contributions.

Only using audio recordings is inappropriate. A combination of audio and visual recordings should be used.

● Body language is often used instead of natural speech or AAC devices. This cannot be picked up audibly

What is Web Accessibility

Technology

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