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The Practicalities of Accessibility

Discover the significance of accessibility in technology, including legal implications, ethical views, and how it impacts various user groups. Learn why accessibility is vital for all users, with tips on how to ensure your site is inclusive.

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The Practicalities of Accessibility

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  1. The Practicalities of Accessibility What lack of accessibility can mean to many users Sue King, 16th February 2007

  2. Benefits of new technology • independent access to information and services • improved communication • better access to education • increased employment opportunities • more fun

  3. Ethical view • disabled people deserve to be included in mainstream society • their interests are much the same as everyone else’s • they also have money to spend

  4. The legal implications • Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) - UK • US Govt Section 508 • Australian DDA and the Sydney Olympics

  5. Accessibility v. usability • many sites about accessibility • usability must not be forgotten • a site can be accessible but unusable • accessibility and usability often overlap

  6. Some people affected by new technology Those with: • visual impairment • motor control • brain injury • stroke • deafness • cognitive difficulties

  7. Three main visual impairment groups • screen reader users – who may also use Braille • magnification users • those who change browser and/or PC settings

  8. Deafblind users • small group but most in need as few alternatives • tend to be hidden and isolated in community • technology can aid daily quality of life immeasurably

  9. Khaled Alvi’s ‘Indian Family’ Khaled is deafblind

  10. What all users need to be able to do • find out where they are on the site/product • easily navigate the entire site – no ‘mystery’ areas • use all the functions, ie search box

  11. Screen reader users • the screen is read from top left to bottom right • users get no overview • graphics and movies should have text description • access to entire site and functions must be possible by keystrokes

  12. Reading a website Skills and knowledge required: • good listening skills - and patience • good Braille skills • be able to touch type • be able to use the Braille display • know how to surf the internet • know how to use the browser

  13. Barriers to accessibility - screenreaders • poor or absent Alt text • ‘click here’ links • constant repetition • inaccessible tables and forms

  14. Links list (1) • mfabut • banner • banner • banner • banner • advanced search

  15. Links list (2) • search tips • images/bullet • home page • images/bullet • Israeli Missions homepage • images/bullet

  16. Links list (3) • related links • images/bullet • feedback • images/bullet • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (English) • images/bullet

  17. Links list (4) • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Hebrew) • data/108830 • data/108826 • for more information, including details of specific events • click here for the calendar and details

  18. Links list (5) • data/104618 • culture@london.mfa.gov.il • data/107574 • please click here • data/107576 • data/107588 and so on …

  19. Partially sighted users • may use magnification software • may change screen resolution • may change PC or browser settings to reverse/change colours or increase/decrease font size

  20. Magnification users • may magnify from x2 to x6 + • can see only part of the screen • must keep scrolling across and down - tiring

  21. Checking your site • consider accessibility from start • keep checking your site • don’t rely on automatic validators • ask real users to try it • there is no convenient generic user so assume nothing

  22. Emerging technology • products becoming more complex and smaller • websites becoming more interactive • users are becoming contributors

  23. ‘People’ first, ‘Disabled’ second Accessibility should be part of the natural development cycle from the start - not an afterthought. If the legal and ethical reasons don’t really interest you then do it for selfish ones. But do it.

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