Barrier-free content

IA Konferenz, May 2012, EssenIrene Walker, @1rene

Why accessibility is a vital component of good web content

“I need to buy my climbing equipment online”

Name: Michael…………………………………………………….

Age: 18…………………………………………………….

Occupation: Student…………………………………………………….

Limitation: Blind…………………………………………………….

Uses a screen reader that reads webpages’ information out loud

Never uses a mouse

Uses a keyboard only – for navigation and inputting text

Relies on audio cues to let him know what’s happening on the screen

Frequent barriers:- blocks of repetitive content- image links without alt text

“I need to buy my climbing equipment online”

“I need to send gifts to my grandchildren”

Name: Harriet

Age: 72…………………………………………………..…….

Occupation: Pensioner………………………………………………………...

Limitation: RSI……………………………………………………..….

……………………………………………………..….

Can’t use a mouse

Uses voice recognition software that lets her dictate passages of text

Relies on keyboard support in her web browser

Frequent barriers:- excessive navigation- complex forms

“I need to send gifts to my grandchildren”

“I follow popular blogs to stay ahead of my game”

Name: Janet

Age: 30…………………………………………………..…….

Occupation: Teacher………………………………………………………...

Limitation: Deaf……………………………………………………..….

……………………………………………………..….

Relies on captions or text transcripts for multimedia

Requires an email field as a contact option

Frequent barriers:- no text alternatives for multimedia- Phone number-only forms

“I follow popular blogs to stay ahead of my game”

“I need to access my online study materials”

Name: Kevin

Age: 27…………………………………………………..…….

Occupation: Candidate Attorney

………………………………………………………...

Limitation: Epilepsy, Dyslexia

……………………………………………………..….

……………………………………………………..….

……………………………………………………..….

……………………………………………………..….

“I need to access my online study materials”

Requires sufficient contrast between foreground and background colours

Can’t be confronted with flashing images or text at all

Frequent barriers:- Low colour contrast- Content that moves

NewseLearning

Banking

Sport

Multimedia

eCommerce

Social

Email

Accessibility is about lifting barriers

8.6 million.people have a disability in Germany

- German Federal Statistics Office

illness or accidentThe majority of people in Germany acquired their impairments through

- Deutsche Bundesregierung, 2008

important national lawsThere are several

- Deutsche Bundesregierung, 2008

in Germany: United Nations ConventionGeneral Equality Act (2006)Federal Disability Equality Act (2002)Social Code Book IX (2001)

Accessibility is not a checklist –it’s an ongoing commitment.

What are the users’ barriers to getting to this content?

What perspectives or tools can I bring to limit these barriers?

All disabilities that affect access to the web

Visual

Auditory

Cognitive and neurological

Speech

Physical

Also, access for people who don’t have disabilities

Visual

Auditory

Cognitive and neurological

Speech

Physical

Older people

New web users

Low bandwidths

Accessibility is the capacity of ANY user, regardless of ability or disability, to access the same content and information.

…It’s everyone’s job

Crafting barrier-free content

Assessing user goals

Briefing writers

Sew accessibility into your content strategy processes

Checklist for content creation

Sew accessibility into your content strategy processes

Managing change

Testing content

Assessing user goals

Briefing writers

Qualitative content audit

Accessibility means business

Increased usability

Increased findability

Less development time

Direct cost savings

Wider clientele

Optimised mobile content

How to spread the love

1. 2. 3.

Pitch at the top level, to drive it down

Appoint an a11y champion

Workshop with decision-makers

4. Collate and share

Let a11y be your ally

Danke!

About.me/1rene

Let’s carry on talking about barrier-free content

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