Online accessibility
Accessibility means: something can be used well by people with disabilities.
Sarah knows many measures for accessibility in everyday life.
For example: ramps, sign language interpreters, tactile floor guidance systems.
Sarah asks: What does online accessibility mean?
Don’t worry, Sarah! We have a look at it together.
Online accessibility means: people with disabilities can use websites, tools and technologies.
This means that all people can perceive and understand contents online.
All people can navigate online
All people can communicate online.
All people can contribute to the internet.
A disability makes using the internet difficult.
So you have to consider this disability for online accessibility.
What are examples of disabilities?
• Physical disabilities • Psychosocial disabilities
• Intellectual disabilities • Sensory disabilities (seeing and hearing)
Online accessibility has advantages for people without disabilities.
For example:
• You use the internet with a smartphone, smartwatch or another device with a small display.
• You use a device with a touchscreen or voice control.
It is easier to use websites that are accessible if:
• A person is old. Therefore they have poor eyesight.
• A person has lost their glasses.
• A person has broken their am.
• A person is outside and there is bright sunlight.
Therefore, they it’s hard for them to see the content of a website.
• A person is in a loud surrounding. • Someone has a poor internet connection.
There are guidelines that tell us what online accessibility means.
How can I make my website accessible?
These guidelines are called: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
The abbreviation is: WCAG
The guidelines have 4 principles: Accessible online content has to be:
1. Perceivable. Information and the user interface must be perceivable.
For all live videos with sound there are subtitles.
For all pre-recorded videos with sound there is a sign language translation.
Adaptable: for example, using a more simple layout.
All information and the structure stays the same.
Distinguishable: It’s easy for users to see the content.
For example: separating foreground and background using contrasting colors.
The text size is can be changed.
2. Operable All elements of the website are operable.
For example: Where on the website am I?
3. Understandable
The website operates predictably.
There is input assistance so users don't make mistakes.
4. Robust Content must be clear and uncomplicated.
This way it can be read by many apps and assistive technologies.
Conformance means that the system meets a standard.
Website owners can publish conformance claims that correspond to the WCAG.
There are three different WCAG-levels: A, AA and AAA.
A is the lowest level. AAA is the highest level.
The higher the level the more accessible the website is.
Sarah is excited.
You have to consider a lot for online accessibility.
When Sarah is online in the future,