Web Accessibility - AODA Compliances3.amazonaws.com/lws_lift/lws_site/userfiles/LWSWebAccessibilityTalk.pdf · Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Being compliant means: That

Web Accessibility - AODA Compliance

Michael MottolaTechnical Director / Software [email protected]

What is Web Accessibility?

Web Accessibility is about making websites and web applications that areInclusive to all users.

Regardless of their browsing experience, physical and/or mental capabilities.

Main Goals are to:

● Remove barriers to access content● Provide equal access to information and functionality● Ensure equal opportunity

What is Web Accessibility?

Obstacles Affecting Computer Use

● Reading Difficulties

● Difficulty Hearing

● Difficulty Seeing / Colour Blindness

● Issues with Dexterity / Mobility

● Reduced Motor Skills

● Declined Cognitive Abilities

Assistive TechnologiesHardware and Software to aid people's computer use:

● Screen readers (reads text on screen to speech or braille displays)

Examples:

○ JAWS (most popular)

○ Thunder

○ Chrome Browser Extension

● Braille displays and keyboards

● Voice recognition programs

● Screen magnifiers

● Internet Browser extensions or plugins

Web Accessibility Regulations

Ontario's Accessibility LawsOntario has been an early leader in accessibility

● Enacted Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) in 2005

● Making sites compliant with WCAG 2.0 Level AA:○ Government and non-profit, new sites by 2012○ Government and non-profit, all sites and content by 2016○ Large organizations, new sites and content by 2014○ All public websites and content by 2021

Penalties For Non-Compliance

Failure to comply to AODA could result in fines of:

● Up to $100,000 per day for corporations.● $50,000 per day for directors and officers

By January 1, 2021 all websites and web content must be accessible.

How to be Compliant

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)Being compliant means:

That your website meets or satisfies the “requirements” of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

WCAG 2.0 is an internationally accepted standard for web accessibility developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international team of experts.

● Provides guidelines for making websites accessible● Guidelines have testable success criteria● Classified into 3 levels of accessibility: A, AA, and AAA

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)There are 12 guidelines organized under four principles:

● Perceivable

● Operable

● Understandable

● Robust

PerceivableInformation and user interface must be presented to users in ways they can perceive.

● Text Alternatives

○ Provide alternatives for non-text content (ex: images)

● Time-based Media Alternatives

○ Provide alternatives for time-based media (audio/video). i. Pre-recorded captions, audio descriptions or alternative media

○ Include captions for audio/video clips

● Adaptable Content

○ Create content that can be presented in different ways without losing information.

● Distinguishable

○ Make it easier for users to see and hear content.i. Use of colour, contrast, audio controls

OperableUsers must be able to use the interface. It cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform.

● Keyboard Accessible

○ Make all functionality available from a keyboard. Use skip navigation links

● Enough Time

○ Provide users with enough time to read and use content.i. Include timing controls: pause, stop and hide buttons for any media that moves or scrolls

● Seizures

○ Do not design content in a way that is known to cause seizures.i. Nothing that flashes (or “blinks”) more than three times in any one secondii. Avoid flashing red colours and allow any blinking elements to be stopped

● Navigable Content

○ Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are.

UnderstandableUsers must be able to understand the information as well as how to use the interface

● Readable

○ Make text content readable and understandable.○ Use distinct and meaningful titles

● Predictable

○ Make Web pages appear and operate in predictable ways.

● Input Assistance

○ Help users avoid and correct mistakes.i. Use of proper labels and error identification

RobustContent must be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents

● Compatible

○ Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies.

How to Test Your Website

Testing WebsitesWays to know if your website is accessible:

● Try navigating without using your mouse (using Tab key to navigate and Enter to “click”)

● User testing and feedback

● Use assistive technologies or software that emulates the experience:○ Browser extensions/plugins○ Screen readers emulators

● Use online tools like validators or analyzers:○ AChecker○ WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool○ SortSite - Accessibility Checker and Validator

Web Design for Accessibility

Web Design for AccessibilityAll of this leads to some challenges for web designers:

● Code must have clearly defined HTML to ensure the assistive software picks up text, links,

images, forms, buttons, etc.

● Information must be clearly laid out and easily navigable

● Can be labour intensive when converting old websites to be accessible

● Accessibility should be in mind from a very early stage in web design

Bonus Benefit From Accessibility● Search Engine Optimization

○ Google Bot scans your website, reads the content to understand what your site is about

○ Assistive tools work in very similar methods to read and understand websites

● Accessibility and Usability go hand in hand

○ If your website is accessibility, you likely have a very usable website for all visitors

Learn Morehttps://www.ontario.ca/page/accessibility-laws

https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-make-websites-accessible

WCAG 2.0 Checklist:https://www.wuhcag.com/wcag-checklist/

View Slide Deck:http://bit.ly/hdaa-aoda

Thank you

Michael MottolaLandlord Web Solutions