Transcript Web Site Accessibility: Too Difficult To Implement?

Web Site Accessibility:
Too Difficult To Implement?
Contents
Brian Kelly
UK Web Focus
UKOLN
[email protected]
A presentation for ILI 2003
1
Implementation Challenges:
• Beyond The Theory
• Current State Of UK HEI Web
Sites
• The Problems Encountered
• Beyond The Accessible Page
Issues:
• Issues For General
Discussion
Implementation Challenges
Implementation Challenges
In the real world we are faced with several
implementation challenges:
• Deficiencies in specs,
External Issues
tools, etc.
• Migration and support
Publisher
Issues
implications
• Addressing user needs
User Issues
& resourcing implications
A presentation for ILI 2003
2
Implementation Challenges
3
The Real World Web
In the real world Web we need to recognise several
external factors:
• Due to the rapid development of Web specs ("the
Web year") the specs themselves may be flawed,
ambiguous or over-ambitious
• Software has bugs (the cockup theory)
• Software vendors have their own agendas
(conspiracy theory)
Together with local factors:
• Inertia / unwillingness to act as guinea pigs
• Licensing costs
• Support issues
• …
A presentation for ILI 2003
Implementation Challenges
UK HEIs - A Case Study
In Sept 2002 a survey of accessibility of 160+
UK HEI entry points was carried out:
• Used Bobby tool (to report on problems which
could be spotted using an automated tool)
• How many WAI AA entry points were found?
The survey found:
• 4 entry points complied with WAI AA
• One was a JavaScripted site (so isn't accessible)
The UK HEI Web management community is aware of
importance of accessibility and wants to implement
accessibility. What are the difficulties?
See <http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue33/web-watch/>
A presentation for ILI 2003
4
UK HEIs - A Case Study (2)
An example of a
AA-approved
site is the
University of Bristol
A presentation for ILI 2003
5
Implementation Challenges
UK HEIs - A Case Study (3)
Typical problems found:
• Missing DOCTYPES
• Missing ALT attributes in IMG tags
• Use relative sizing and positioning (% values)
rather than absolute (pixels)
The first two problems could be fixed with little effort on
a single page
The third problem may conflict with usability criteria
Let us now:
• Look at the challenges in accessible Web sites
(and not just pages)
• Consider the usability issues
A presentation for ILI 2003
6
Implementation Challenges
WAI Implementation
Challenges
Many University Web managers want to comply with
WAI but have encountered implementation challenges:
• Limitations of authoring tools
• Browser bugs (e.g. Netscape 4)
• Apparent conflicts between usability and
accessibility
• Resource implications of deploying new tools,
training, etc.
• The scope of large institutional Web sites
• Finding the funding
A presentation for ILI 2003
7
Implementation Challenges
WAI Implementation
Challenges
One Web manager commented that " I too have
recently been struggling with just how rigorously the
WAI guidelines should be implemented. … I certainly
aspire to comply as fully as I can with the WAI
guidelines but ":
• Some guidelines are too theoretical
• Will have a pragmatic approach:
 Use tables for positioning
 Will not associate form controls for search
boxes
 Not necessarily nest headers correctly
A presentation for ILI 2003
8
Supporting People - Not WAI
Compliance
• We should be addressing users' needs, and not
simply striving for WAI compliance
• Is the 'universal design' mantra always valid?
• "Click here": considered bad practice as not
everyone uses a mouse
• But what about the user with learning difficulties?
• Is there a need to design for specific concerns?
•
•
•
•
Blind
Colour-blind
Physically impaired
Learning difficulties
A presentation for ILI 2003
9
Alternatives To W3C's Vision
The W3C's vision is for universal access based
on open standards.
Sound great, but:
• Is this practical? (I'm using PowerPoint!)
• Should we rule out pragmatic solutions
(our users will use Microsoft software,
Flash & PDF formats) – if proprietary
formats can be accessible is this a
problem?
• Should WAI (indirectly) impose its views
rather than leaving organisations to chose
appropriate strategies?
A presentation for ILI 2003
10
Beyond The Web
• There is life beyond the Web
• Web applications may be inherently
inaccessible or very costly to make
accessible (e.g. 3D visualisation, mapping,
fine art, etc.):
"I have a Flash animation illustrating the
effect of the HIV virus. How can I make
this accessible? How can I fund this?"
• If a real world solution to a Web problem is
provided, the user will be happy, even though
the Web site is inaccessible
A presentation for ILI 2003
11
Implementation Challenges
Accessibility Policies
You may wish to have an institutional accessibility policy
All resources on the University
Web site will comply with WAI AA
But:
• Is this practical
• All Web sites?
• What about MS Word / PowerPoint documents?
• How will compliance be audited?
• What about difficult areas (e.g. 3D maps)?
• What about people? What about usability?
• How will this be funded?
• Is this policy intended to be rigorously enforced, or
does it define an aspiration?
A presentation for ILI 2003
12
Issues
Some issues for discussion:
• What limit should we place on making
resources accessible?
• Does W3C WAI drive our accessibility
policies or inform it?
• If the latter, what is done outside of the
WAI?
• Is adopting WAI guidelines within a legal
framework wise?
A presentation for ILI 2003
13