Accessibility

From Digipedia

OVERVIEW

Web accessibility is important because it ensures that everyone can use the web. Adopting an accessible approach to web design, content creation and software provides equality of opportunity and access. Today, the web is integrated into all aspects of life, and an accessible web is a web which supports and engages society.

When creating an accessible website, there are many elements to take into consideration: typeface and font size, the colour scheme, installing appropriate assistive technology, making sure that all non-text materials have alternative text tags, avoiding the use of frames and plug-ins if possible, providing a text-only alternative to the site if necessary and a facility for users to adjust the font size and colour scheme to suit their needs are some examples. Accessibility guidelines are available for all aspects of web development.

Accessibility is required by law. In the UK this is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act

"The power of the web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect". Tim Berners Lee, inventor of the world wide web and Director of W3C.

Sources of advice and guidance

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

The international authority on accessibilty standards and guidelines is the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). It is part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and works in partnership with organisations involved in all areas from industry to government, disability and research. Through collaboration, it develops guidelines which are established as the international standard on web accessibility together with a range of support materials to help implementation. These are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0 and it is recommended that conformance with WCAG 2.0 forms a part of all web development policies. A quick reference tool for meeting WCAG2.0 has been produced.

WAI has developed three levels of accessibility compliance: levels A, AA and AAA where level A represents achieving the minimum set of requirements and AAA the highest level.

RNIB Web Access Centre

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Web Access Centre provides technical, editorial and design advice and guidance on web accessibilty. This is supported with a range of case studies, articles and other resources together with consultancy services covering website audits, training and bespoke work. Websites which carry the RNIB "See it Right" logo, mean that they have been audited by the RNIB and have attained a high level of accessibilty. Audits can be undertaken against both the See it Right standard and the WCAG 2.0 guidelines. The RNIB has also teamed up with AbilityNet to offer an audit which includes testing by a panel of people with a range of disabilities. The Centre offers links to a wide range of other sources on accessibility including assistive technology, legislation, testing tools and advice and guidance.

TECHDIS

TechDis is a JISC service supporting the education sector through the provision of advice and guidance on disbaility and technology. In addition to expert advice and practitioner support, TechDis also works with policymakers to promote a culture of inclusion and undertakes a technology watch to identify any issues of accessibilty in emerging technologies and to advise accordingly. They provide a web accessibility self-evaluation tool along with a wide range of other materials such as How To guides and a repository of accessibility-related tools and software to create an inclusive learning environment.