Hidde de Vries’ Post

The European Commission's view on accessibility overlays: "some overlay tools have been reported to interfere with the assistive technologies used by people with disabilities. In other words, overlay tools may make a website less accessible for some users." https://lnkd.in/ehHHQQaD Making a website accessible is not about installing a widget and assuming everything is now sorted. It needs careful consideration about how a page is built and structured, what the content means and what context is lost by not 'seeing' an image. Those with accessibility needs are humanbeings, and therefore accessibility work needs a human touch. #a11y #accessibility #WebDev

Web accessibility is crucial for visually impaired people as it ensures that digital content is accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability. Accessible websites allow visually impaired users to navigate, understand, and interact with web content using assistive technologies like screen readers, voice recognition software, and braille displays. This inclusivity enhances user experience and promotes equal access to information, services, and opportunities online. Accessibility is a requirement in many countries, such as the US and EU. Failure to follow these regulations can lead to fines or even being sued. For example, Target was taken to court over its website, which lacked access features for PWDs but was later fixed. Check out this blog on creating an image accessibility viewer via Filestack with React JS: Filestack #accessibility #webdevelopment #developers #programmers https://lnkd.in/dX3BCeh8

In case you missed it, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) released a draft of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0! 🎉 Some of the proposed items target a greater breadth of disabilities and include outcomes that would made content easier to digest for neurodiverse audiences. 🙌 If these changes make it through to the final version it could have big impacts for both developers and consumers. Their team is also seeking feedback on the guidelines so please check them out if you have the time and send them your perspectives. You can check out the full draft using the following link: https://lnkd.in/eGGDAFTm

Accessibility is a journey, not a destination! 🎯 We often think of accessibility as a destination – you put in the work, and then it's done! Unfortunately, the reality is that maintaining accessibility is a journey of continuous improvement. Even sites and applications that start strong can see their accessibility degrade over time. Here's why: - The Content Overload: Websites and apps constantly add new content. This new material can easily introduce accessibility problems if creators aren't mindful. Images without alt text, videos without captions, and complex layouts without clear headings all hinder accessibility that was once in place. - The Rush of New Features: Exciting new features often get prioritized over accessibility. If developers aren't careful, these updates can create new barriers for people with disabilities. Fancy animations might cause issues for those with vestibular disorders, or a cutting-edge UI element might not work with screen readers. - Outdated Accessibility Standards: Accessibility isn't static. The guidelines from WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) evolve as technology and our understanding of disabilities change. A site that was perfectly accessible a few years ago could become non-compliant as standards update. - Lack of Ongoing Maintenance: Sometimes, accessibility is a "check the box" exercise. Once a site or application initially passes accessibility tests, there might not be processes in place to ensure it stays accessible. - Shifting Technologies: The web is in constant flux. New coding languages, libraries, and frameworks emerge regularly. Each of these shifts has the potential to break existing accessibility features if not thoroughly tested. #accessibility #a11y

How a failed user test got me started with accessibility (and three reasons why it failed) I was running a user testing session on a website some years ago, before I had any idea about accessibility and screen readers. This person was blind, using a screen reader, and they had problems filling in a form. I instructed them to select the first option in a fancy drop down widget, but they just couldn't get to it with a keyboard. "But it's right there," I kept saying. "No, I can't get to it," they said. What the what!? I was just a deer in the headlights, completely stunned and utterly surprised by what was happening. That little widget that I was so proud of was making them feel frustrated and exhausted. Total surprise! Why was it a surprise though? 1. I didn't know what I didn't know. I wasn't aware that a lot of people will tab tab tab their way through a website. I had no idea about accessibility, people with disabilities, keyboard navigation - and semantic HTML apparently. 2. I was ignorant. I knew the tester will use a screen reader and still I thought everything will work fine. How different could it be? I did no research. 3. I wasn't prepared. Because I thought everything will go smoothly, I didn't bother to prepare for the what-if. What if something goes wrong and we can't finish the test? No preparation lead to me babbling my way through it all, probably annoying them and running the clock. That whole experience left both of us frustrated. I felt that I wasted their time and they just felt exhausted at the end. It made me realise that the way I was designing and building things on the web was excluding a whole lot of people. And that got me started on the path I am today. How did you get started?

A reader of my daily list asked: How do I know which accessibility issues matter most? "I'm stuck. We scanned our website and we have quite a few errors. It's just too much and we don't have that much time for accessibility. Can you explain how I can focus on the accessibility issues that matter most?" First off, we've all been there, and it's okay to feel a bit overwhelmed. Usually, when you're just starting with accessibility, you'll likely run an automated checker on your site as a first step. It will spit out a bunch of errors and warnings. It's likely that number is rather large and frightening. So now you have to sift through them all and figure out where to start. Here are two suggestions for you: 1. Critical issues or Level A come first These issues will prevent users with disabilities from even accessing your content. Some common critical issues I've seen: - Missing form labels - Missing alt text for images - Wonky ARIA roles or values 2. Look at your backlog Your backlog is pure gold. Just look at what you already know. The scan is great, but nothing beats user feedback. Listen to those using your site with assistive tech; they're giving you the playbook. ___ Did you know you can ask me your burning questions about accessibility? Head over to my profile and and visit the Ask me anything page on my website. #Accessibility #AccessibilityAMA #ShipAccessible ---- Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this! ❤️ Did you enjoy this? Join like-minded peeps learning and contributing to authentic conversations on accessibility. 📬 Click "Get the free daily newsletter" on my profile to subscribe. ♻️ Repost if you enjoyed this! It costs nothing and helps me spread the knowledge.

I'm excited to share sa11y: A Beginner's Guide to Website Accessibility. This project is a culmination of my personal journey into learning website accessibility.  It provides a streamlined approach, breaking down accessibility reviews into easy-to-follow steps for beginners. Accessibility is a vast field, and there's always room for different perspectives and approaches. Sa11y offers my take on the process, hoping to make it less intimidating for those starting out. The site will be continuously updated as new best practices and tools emerge. I'm also eager to hear your feedback. Is there anything you'd like to see added or a different way to explain something? Let me know by emailing support@sa11y.com or DMing me. Check out sa11y and remember that accessibility is an ongoing process. https://sa11y.com/ #accessibility #webdev #design #beginners #inclusion #sa11y

As developers, many of us may not fully understand what accessibility is and why it’s important. Web accessibility refers to designing and building digital experiences so that all users, including those with disabilities, can access and interact with content. This includes people with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. Accessibility is no longer a "nice-to-have" — it's an essential aspect of building digital experiences. Here's why we should all consider making accessibility a priority: ✅ Reach More Users: Over 1 billion people globally live with disabilities. Accessibility ensures they can engage with your content. ✅ Improve SEO: Accessible websites are easier for search engines to index and rank. ✅ Enhance Usability: Accessibility features like clear navigation and keyboard support benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. ✅ Stay Compliant: Avoid legal risks by ensuring your site meets standards like the ADA. ✅ Future-Proof Your Website: Accessible websites adapt better to emerging tech and trends. Let's build an inclusive internet! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dgVPQDMi #Accessibility #WebDesign #SEO #Compliance #Inclusion

As developers, many of us may not fully understand what accessibility is and why it’s important. Web accessibility refers to designing and building digital experiences so that all users, including those with disabilities, can access and interact with content. This includes people with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. Accessibility is no longer a "nice-to-have" — it's an essential aspect of building digital experiences. Here's why we should all consider making accessibility a priority: ✅ Reach More Users: Over 1 billion people globally live with disabilities. Accessibility ensures they can engage with your content. ✅ Improve SEO: Accessible websites are easier for search engines to index and rank. ✅ Enhance Usability: Accessibility features like clear navigation and keyboard support benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. ✅ Stay Compliant: Avoid legal risks by ensuring your site meets standards like the ADA. ✅ Future-Proof Your Website: Accessible websites adapt better to emerging tech and trends. Let's build an inclusive internet! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dKJY5X7B #Accessibility #WebDesign #SEO #Compliance #Inclusion

It's Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The purpose of GAAD (Global Accessibility Awareness Day) Foundation is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion. To celebrate the day we have a new blog post to share. In February 2024, WebAIM evaluated the home page accessibility of the top 1 million websites. This was the sixth consecutive year of analysis. Our Accessibility Lead, Nicola Saunders, looks into one of their key findings - that web pages are becoming more complex and how this affects accessibility. https://lnkd.in/eE3wyTqa Do you have questions about website accessibility? Ask us today 😀 #GAAD #Accessibility #WebForAll #WebsiteDesign #WebsiteDevelopment