Web accessibility is everyone's job

Web accessibility is everyone’s job

Remya Ramesh@rem_ram

Seamless

Experience Design Lead

What does “web accessibility” mean?

Accessibility refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people who experience disabilities.

Accessibility – Wikipedia

Web accessibility aims to address: visual impairments, mobility, auditory, seizures, cognitive or intellectual disabilities.

Web accessibility – Wikipedia

Spin aroundOnce you’ve gotten dizzy, try solving a crossword puzzle on your smartphone.

This prompt helps you understand what it’s like to have a motor condition like vertigo.

https://empathyprompts.net/#vertigo

Mute your speakersThen try and watch a documentary.

This prompt helps you understand what it’s like to have an auditory condition like neural hearing loss.

https://empathyprompts.net/#neural-hearing-loss

Why isn't your website accessible?

Excuse #1: People with disabilities don’t use the internet

Excuse #1: People with disabilities don’t use the internet

Reality: People with disabilities still need to fill out government forms, access online banking, and connect with friends like everyone else

Excuse #2: People with disabilities make up a small consumer market

Excuse #2: People with disabilities make up a small consumer market

Reality: Over 4 million people in Australia have some form of disability. That's 1 in 5 people.

“I don’t want special consideration, just the same consideration of other customers”

Gisele Mesnage | ABC Newshttp://bit.ly/coles-case

Excuse #3: Accessibility will compromise my website design

Excuse #3: Accessibility will compromise my website design

Reality: Meeting accessibility requirements is easier than people think. Treat accessibility as a creative challenge!

How do I make accessible websites?

Web accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.0)

2013: Take 1

Seamless Web Accessibility Committee

Guideline 2.1 – “Keyboard Accessible”

All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for

individual keystrokes, except where the underlying function requires input that depends on the path of the user's

movement and not just the endpoints. (Level A)

Guideline 2.1 – “Keyboard Accessible”

Ensure that all functionality that is available to users via a mouse is also available via a keyboard. The user shouldn't

have to time their keystrokes to a certain pattern.

Sample format

Criteria What does it mean? Checklist to pass this criteria Key responsibleteam member

2.1.1 Keyboard (Level A)

Ensure that all functionality that is available to users via a mouse is also available via a keyboard. The user shouldn't have to time their keystrokes to a certain pattern.

Exception: Where the system requires the user to make an input based on the path of their movement; for example: when you draw your signature.

• Semantic HTML elements are used• Proper click and focus functions on

links and buttons if using JavaScript to enhance the visual presentation

• Hover and Focus styles are kept similar

• JavaScript is not used to remove focus from an element

Developer

Decent idea, poor implementation!

2016: Take 2

A shift inside

A shift inside

A shift inside

A shift inside

Develop your accessibility champions

“an evangelist is only as good as the stretch of their voice. You can’t be everywhere. If you’re trying to scale across increasingly larger organizations as your career grows, you must build a group of disciples to shepherd their own flocks.”

David Malouf | DigitalOcean

A shift inside


A shift inside


A shift inside


A shift inside


Infusing accessibility as part of the culture

• Sponsor staff members to get certified in web accessibility

• SWAG acts as point of contact & information source

• Web accessibility training as a part of onboardinginduction

A shift inside



A shift inside



Accessibility as a competitive advantage

OpenCities and OpenFormsbecame fully Level AA accessibility compliant in less than 6 months

A shift inside




A shift inside




What’s next?

• Develop personas for differently abled users to ensure we’re building our products in an inclusive way

• Recruit differently abled users to participate in usability testing

What can I do right now?

• Read the WCAG 2.0 guidelines• Try out an assistive technology• Check the colour contrast• Add alt text on images• Attend A11y Camp in Sydney (September)• Start your own version of SWAG

The best we can beBe bold, make changes & learn from it

Technology

Web accessibility is everyone's job