Making digital content accessible can be daunting. So, we have a quick checklist to help you get started or benchmark existing content.
Disabilities are diverse. It sounds obvious, but it is often forgotten. Accessibility is commonly stereotyped and oversimplified. When thinking about online content, it evokes an image of a user requiring a screen reader.
"Disability is not just a health problem. It is a complex phenomenon, reflecting the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives."World Health Organisation
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community in which Member organisations, full-time staff, and the public collaborate to develop Web standards.
Keep in mind that some of the checks listed below overlap or are identical to those used in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Therefore, you may discover that this checklist is less of a hassle than you anticipated when it comes to web content.
Much will already be covered if your web/marketing team is practising SEO (as they should be!). So, if you are trying to sell the need for accessibility internally, remember it's good for traffic, it's good for usability, and it's the law!
W3C has created a set of easy accessibility checks for your content.
Having clear and descriptive page titles is crucial for website navigation. It enables users to understand their current location and easily switch between open pages in their browser.
The first thing screen readers say when the user goes to a different web page is the page title. The best practice is for titles to be "front-loaded" with important and unique identifying information at the beginning.
E.g. Accessibility in E-learning | Skillcast
Text alternatives are needed for those who do not see the image (e.g. people who are blind and use screen readers can hear the alt text read out loud).
The text alternatives on digital content are derived from the "alt-text". They need to convey the purpose of an image, including pictures, illustrations, charts, etc.
They need to be functional and provide an equivalent user experience, not necessarily describing the image. Most SEO and CMS tools will allow you to generate lists of assets that lack an "alt-text".
E.g. Alt-text for a search button would be "search", not "magnifying glass".)
Text alternatives are needed for those who do not see the image (e.g. people who are blind and use screen readers can hear the alt text read out loud).
Those who cannot use a mouse and use only the keyboard or a screen reader need correctly marked-up headings to navigate.
Some people cannot read content without sufficient contrast between the text and background, such as light grey text on a light background. Others, including some people with reading disabilities such as dyslexia, need low luminance.
WebAIM has a great free contrast checker.
Some people need to enlarge web content to read it, while others may need to change other aspects of text display, such as font, line spacing, and more.
Many people cannot use a mouse and rely on the keyboard to interact with online content. People who are blind and some sighted people with mobility impairments rely on the keyboard or on assistive technologies and strategies that rely on keyboard commands, such as voice input.
Accessible websites enable people to access all content and functionality via links, forms, and media controls through their keyboards.
E.g. Alt-text for a search button would be "search", not "magnifying glass".)
When forms, labels, and error messages are marked up correctly, people can interact with them using only the keyboard, voice input, and screen readers.
Also, the label itself becomes clickable, increasing the target area and making it easier to select small radio buttons or checkboxes.
The text alternatives on digital content are derived from the "alt-text". They need to convey the purpose of an image, including pictures, illustrations, charts, etc.
Users need to be able to control moving content, especially those with attention deficit disorder or visual processing disorders.
Visual information cannot be seen by those who are blind or have low vision unless provided in an alternative format, such as audio or text.
A basic structure check helps ensure that the page flows and makes sense. The easiest way to do this is by checking the web page without images, styles, and layout.
Current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) stipulate that e-learning content must be POUR:
If you want to improve your accessibility, follow POUR guidelines to ensure that your online content is accessible to all learners.
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