Web Accessibility
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Transcript Web Accessibility
Web Accessibility
VerseOne Technologies Ltd
Michele Gaudelli
VerseOne
• UK Based technology company
– Delivering Dynamic Accessible Solutions
• Spearhead CMS - Accessible Content Management Platform
– Focus on Web Accessibility
• Consult
• Design
• Implement
• Empower
– Client Focus
• Public Sector, Housing, Education, NHS, Charities
Some clients and projects:
Agenda
• Introduction
• Web Accessibility
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What is an Accessible Website?
How disabled people use the web
Tools for accessibility
Common Problems
• Managing content in an accessible way!
– Accessible content management
Goals for session?
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General Information
Legal Requirements
Good, Bad and the Ugly
Site Stability
Ammunition
Accessibility is a Journey
• Accessibility
– Not a point solution
• Critical requirements
– People
• Education
– Product
• Accessible
– Process
• Testing
Website fundamentals
• New (Digital) media - interactive, user controlled, universal
• Can be viewed using
– Browsers,Mobile phones, PDAs etc.
– Assistive software - Screen Readers - Braille bar
– Digital TVs etc..
• Can be printed
• Can be searched by robots
• Can be copied, linked to etc.
What makes a web page ?
HTML Page
<body>
Import
images etc.
<h1>Section Heading</h1>
<p>Paragraph of text or other
content</p>
<img src=“”>
Import
applications
<a href=“next page”>
</body>
Style Sheet
Hyper
Links
Load a new
document
h1 {fontface:arial
color:red}
p {fontsize:small}
What is an accessible
website?
• The engineering (HTML) code should comply with the
W3C standard.
• “The information must be accessible no matter who
the user is or how the user views the web page.”
• “Navigation should be easy and intuitive no matter
who the user is or how the user views the web page.”
Not dull - in fact can look the same as now..
Comparison
Page consisting of five images
No alt tags, main image contains text
Alt tags for logo, navigation buttons
and cropped wheelbarrow image.
Text delivered using HTML
How disabled people use the
Web
• Standard web-browsers
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Enlarge the fonts
Change default colours etc.
Use TAB key instead of mouse
Use other pointing device (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBlaiBV_yJs)2.04 min
Magnification software (zoomtext)
Screen Readers (Jaws, SuperNova, etc,)
Braille pad
Text only browser (Lynx)
Tools for Accessibility
Screen magnification (zoom-text)
Touch screen
Alternative pointing device
Braille Reader & Keypad
Hand-held screen reader
Who benefits - Users
• For disabled people the Internet is a “life enhancing
experience”
– They can shop, pay bills, keep up-to-date, learn new skills
etc. on-line
– Blind people can hear the content
– Visually impaired can enlarge the text
– Deaf people can read audio transcripts
– Physically handicapped can use tools to navigate
– People with learning disabilities can take time to understand
• Up to 10 million people in the UK have a long-term
disability.
(source - Disability Rights Commission)
Who benefits - Owners
• Increase potential market by 20+%
• Reliability & Portability - works on many platforms
• Easier to maintain - clear structure makes correcting and
updating simpler
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Better search engine results
Improve credibility - gain customer respect & confidence
Help create an inclusive society
Comply with the law
The Law
• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Code of Practice (2006)
states:
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4.3 (p25): “The Act makes it unlawful for service providers to discriminate against a
disabled person in relation to the service in question.”
4.15 (p28) “All those involved in providing services – from the most senior director
or manager to the most junior employee, whether full or part time, permanent or
temporary – are affected by the duties in the Act. It does not matter whether the
person involved in providing the services is self-employed or an employee, volunteer,
contractor or agent.”
6.3 (p39) “The duty to make reasonable adjustments is a cornerstone of the Act and
requires service providers to take positive steps to ensure that disabled people can
access services.”
7.22 (p68): “For people with hearing disabilities, the range of auxiliary aids or services
which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might
include ... accessible websites.”
7.27 (p72): “For people with visual impairments, the range of auxiliary aids or services
which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might
include ... accessible websites.”
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/Documents/Disability/Services/DRC Access code of practice.pdf
The Standards (WAIG)
• W3C Accessibility Initiative Guidelines (WAIG) have
become the “de facto” standard.
• Three levels
– Priority 1 (level A) “Satisfying these checkpoints is a
basic requirement or some groups will find it impossible to
use Web documents”.
– Priority 2 (level AA) “Satisfying these checkpoints will
remove significant difficulties to accessing Web documents”.
– Priority 3 (level AAA) “Satisfying these checkpoints will
improve ease of access to Web documents”.
Source http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/
Version 2.0 has recently been published
Common problems
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Incorrect HTML code
No text alternatives
Lack of structured headings
Mixing style with content
Unclear navigation
Content (language) not targeted at users
– Editors trying to impress superiors etc.
Sources of Information
• W3C Accessibility Initiative
– http://www.w3.org/WAI/
• Equality & Human Rights Commission (previously Disability
Rights Commission)
– http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/pages/eocdrccre.aspx
• Royal National Institute for the Blind
– http://www.rnib.org.uk
• PAS 78 - Good Practice Guide to Commissioning Accessible Websites
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http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/Documents/Disability/Accessibility_guidan
ce/PAS78.pdf)(free download)
(
• Washington University Videos
– http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/comp_acc.html
• Madison University Videos
– http://www.doit.wisc.edu/accessibility/video/
What should we do now ?
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Staff training (technical and awareness)
Independent verification
Regular checking
User testing
Feedback process
Accessible CMS
VerseOne
How to manage content
to ensure that your site remains
Accessible
now and in the future
Using Spearhead CMS
VerseOne
• UK Based technology company
– Delivering Dynamic Accessible Solutions
• Spearhead CMS - Accessible Content Management
– Focus on Web Accessibility
• Consult
• Design
• Implement
• Empower
– Client Focus
• Public Sector, Housing, Education, NHS, Charities
Spearhead Solutions
Spearhead for Housing
Spearhead for Local government
Spearhead for NHS
Spearhead for Education
Spearhead for Commerce
Spearhead for Non-profit organisations
Accessible Content is Key!
Spearhead CMS
Some clients and projects:
Spearhead in action…..
IOM3 Offer
VerseOne have agreed to offer all IOM3 associate organisations discount on
all of their Web Accessibility products and services including:
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Spearhead CMS
Web Accessibility Training
– Introduction and awareness
– Technical Workshop
– Creating accessible PDF’s
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Web Accessibility Auditing
Accessible Design Services
Web Accessibility Consultancy
Summary
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Accessibility
Training
Panel Testing
– Is a Journey not a tick in the box!
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Audit
Training
Re-design
Testing
Accessible tools
Spearhead CMS – Accessible CMS
Browsealoud – making a website talk!
Questions / Comments
Feedback Forms
Audit
Spearhead CMS
Re-design