6 replies to this topic

[iamlost]

For those of you who don't follow practicalecommerce.com there is the first of what appears to be a new series on the impact of the new (updated from 1999's version 1) WCAG 2.0 W3C recommendation on accessible web content by Joseph C. Dolson.

That would just happen to be our own joedolson, Cre8 Moderator.

If you want to know 'why?' before tackling the 'how?' of WCAG 2.0 this series reads really well.
Note: if you already know 'how' learning 'why' is still quite useful.

The new web content accessibility guidelines are designed around four fundamental principles:
1. Is it perceivable?
2. Is it operable?
3. Is it understandable?
4. Is it robust?

This first article tackles that first principle of 'is it perceivable?'.

Providing an accessible website does not mean excluding rich media, such as Flash or JavaScript/AJAX; nor does it mean eliminating all traces of video, audio, or graphic content from your site. Rather, accessibility is about implementing these resources in such a manner that the maximum number of users can take advantage of them.

[joedolson]

Cre8 moderator who, for some reason, never remembers to post on interesting things such as this article, leaving it for others to raise...

Thanks, iamlost!

And yes, it's going to be a four-part series. Once a month, so you'll have to wait to learn about operability!

[iamlost]

Well we certainly wouldn't want a Mod to set a bad self-promo example.

Anticipation. Always nice to have something to look forward too.

[A.N.Onym]

Ah, I remember reading a draft of WCAG 2.0 and the why: definitely useful.

Eagerly anticipating your next article, Joe

[iamlost]

Off Topic

Joe Dolson: A+ for Accessibility Knowledge; Z- for Marketing of Self.

Apparently Joe is still shy and I have been asleep...

Part 2: New Accessibility Guidelines Part II: Operability

The concept behind website operability is simple: Can everybody use the tools and mechanisms required to operate your website? Operability may seem easy, but it can be very challenging. Every control, every link, and every button on your site is a potential point of failure for operability...

Start With Smart Architecture
...
Keyboard Navigation for Sight Impaired
...
Keyboard accessibility is a major issue for operability, particularly when applied to rich media methods such as AJAX (asynchronous JavaScript and XML)...
...
Enough Time to Complete
...
This particular guideline is primarily targeted at timed processes...
...the expiration of authenticated sessions...
...
Seizures
...
...guidelines suggest that web page content should not flash more than three times per second.
...
Test Your Site For Operability
...

Part 3: New Accessibility Guidelines Part III: Understandability

The understandability of text is crucial to web accessibility.
...
Identify the Language
...
Specifying Language in XHTML & HTML Content
...
Does the site do what you expect?
...
What happens if I make a mistake?
...
[b]Ask Yourself: Why is this an accessibility issue?
...
[b]Summary
In short, understandability (for you) simply means taking a close look at your website and determining whether it actually makes sense. Solving the problems (particularly when it comes to forms) can be a challenge, but locating them requires little more than common sense.

I touched on the headings and a few snippets. Go read. You just might learn a few things (plus where to go to learn even more) and reach a wider audience (depending upon definition 12-40% of the population is disabled) and increase mundane things such as traffic, time on site, page views, conversions, ROI, profit...

[joedolson]

Z- for Marketing of Self.

Ouch...

Thanks, iamlost!

And that's why I'm not in marketing.

[joedolson]

And part 4 is now available:

New Accessibility Guidelines Part IV: Robustness

[Finally, I managed to beat iamlost to the punch. Ha ha! Make that a Z+ now, baby!]