Purpose of the Article: Need for Accessibility in Web Development
Intended Audience: Web Developers
Tools and Technology: All Web Development Technologies
Keywords: Accessibility, a11y, Accessibility Principals
Making the Web Accessible
What is Accessibility?
Accessibility refers to the ability of individuals to complete tasks in the same amount of time and effort as others who do not have a disability. It implies that people are empowered, are independent, and won’t be annoyed by something that is ill-thought-out or improperly carried out.
There is no absolute right or wrong when it comes to accessibility. It can only be evaluated considering a particular skill or situation. Some people may be able to access something while others may not be able to.
Example:
For instance, if the video player can be operated with a keyboard, controls are clearly labelled, and if the entire video is available as audio, a video on a website may be accessible to visually impired users. The video will be unavailable to someone who has a hearing disability, but can read, if there are no captions or a text transcript is not provided. Someone with a learning disability will not be able to understand the content if it is complex or employs jargon. If there is a problem with technology being used to access it, such as a screen reader, then it will not be accessible to those using that technology.
Need of Accessibility
We want to ensure that everyone can use our services. Hence, we try to remove any obstacles that would prevent or make it challenging for anyone to use them. Everyone should be able to use our services with ease. But sometimes, it is not possible. People may have conflicting needs, and there may be circumstances that go unnoticed.
Web Accessibility
The design and development of websites usable by everyone is known as Web Accessibility (sometimes referred to as a11y). Accessibility support is required for assistive technology to understand web pages. People with impairments can use websites and web tools when they are appropriately designed and coded. However, many websites and applications today have been created with inaccessibility issues, making it difficult or impossible for some people to utilise them. Accessibility improvements help society, businesses, and people. What is required for accessibility is outlined by international web standards.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines provide guidelines for building accessible websites.
All disabilities including these given below, that restrict access to the Web are included in Web Accessibility:
- Auditory
- Cognitive
- Neurological
- Physical
- Speech
- Visual
People without disabilities can also benefit from Web Accessibility, for instance:
- Users of smartwatches, smart TVs, mobile phones, and other gadgets with small screens, various input methods, etc.
- Seniors with deteriorating abilities brought on by aging
- People with “temporary infirmities” like random issues like misplaced glasses
- Persons with “situational limitations,” such as those who can’t hear the audio clearly in noisy environments
- Those with a slow Internet connection or with pricey or little bandwidth
The Internet is becoming a vital resource for many facets of life, including work, education, government, business, health care, leisure etc. To give people with different abilities equitable access and opportunities online, the Web must be accessible.
Creating Accessible Websites
Many parts of accessibility are relatively simple to comprehend and to put into practice. Some accessibility solutions are trickier to deploy and require more expertise.
To avoid having to go back and redo work, it is more efficient and effective to include Accessibility from the very beginning of projects.
Information on Accessibility for your website:
Refer to Accessibility Principles for a summary of accessibility needs and global standards.
See Easy Checks – A First Review of Web Accessibility to comprehend some typical Accessibility obstacles from a testing standpoint.
See Tips for Getting Started for some fundamental ideas on designing, writing, and programming for Accessibility.
Consult sources like:
Planning and Managing Web Accessibility discusses organisational and project management issues.
Refer to Web Accessibility First Aid: Approaches for Interim Repairs if you need to make immediate fixes.
References:
Author Bio:
Kshipra Tatkare
Sr Specialist, Enterprise Architecture-Digital Transformation
Pursuing doctorate degree in the field of Digital Forensics. I have published 15 research papers in National and International Conferences/Journals. I am having total 11+ years of Experience. My area of interest is Advanced Web Technology, Cyber Security, Image Processing, Data Structure and Algorithms etc.
