Open Web Platform

Accessibility Imperative

The Web has become an essential part of society:

• 15-20% of the population has cognitive, hearing, physical, neurological, speech, or visual disability
• Rapidly growing ageing population also affected
• Benefits for ~57% of the population (Microsoft)
• Business benefits and increased market share
• Legal requirements in many parts of the world

Accessibility Features

Examples of web accessibility features include:

• Text alternatives for images, video, and sound
• Marking-up headings, lists, and other structures
• Labels and instructions for forms and controls
• Consistent labeling, interaction, and behavior
• Adaptable content (text size, color, spacing, ...)
• Understandable instructions, messages, ...

WCAG 2.0

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0:

• Internationally recognized accessibility standard
• Applies to web applications including on mobile
• Authorized W3C translations in 10+ languages
• Also available as ISO/IEC 40500:2012
• Being applied to software (US Section 508, EC Mandate 376) – interpretation in WCAG2ICT

WCAG 2.0 Structure

Structure of the normative WCAG 2.0 standard:

• 4 Principles
  • 12 Guidelines
    • 25 Level A Success Criteria
    • 13 Level AA Success Criteria
    • 23 Level AAA Success Criteria
• Conformance Requirements

WCAG 2.0 Principles

Four core principles of WCAG 2.0:

• P - Perceivable
• O - Operable
• U - Understandable
• R - Robust

WCAG 2.0 Guidelines

Examples of WCAG 2.0 Guidelines:

• Guidelines 2.1 Keyboard Accessible: Make all functionality available from a keyboard
• Guideline 3.3 Input Assistance: Help users avoid and correct mistakes

WCAG 2.0 Criteria

Examples of WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria:

• 1.1.1 Non-text Content: All non-text content that is presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose - Level A
• 2.2.4 Interruptions: Interruptions can be postponed or suppressed by the user, except interruptions involving an emergency - Level AAA

WCAG 2.0 Structure

Structure of the normative WCAG 2.0 standard:

• 4 Principles
  • 12 Guidelines
    • 25 Level A Success Criteria
    • 13 Level AA Success Criteria
    • 23 Level AAA Success Criteria
• Conformance Requirements

WCAG 2.0 Techniques

Techniques are non-normative, non-exclusive, and non-exhaustive documentation of approaches:

• Sufficient Techniques - minimum requirement
• Advisory Techniques - further improvement
• Common Failures - often encountered issues

Test Procedures

WCAG 2.0 techniques contain test procedures:
Technique H36:

1. For all input elements that have a type attribute value of "image", check for the presence of an alt attribute.
2. Check that the alt attribute indicates the button's function.

How To Meet WCAG 2.0

Quick Reference

Evaluation Tools

Many tools exist to help testing for WCAG 2.0:

• Automated website crawlers
• In-page and per-page tools
• Focused tools (eg. colors, ...)
• Built into web authoring tools
• Combination of all the above

Evaluation Process

Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM) 1.0 – working draft:

1. Define the evaluation scope
2. Explore the target website
3. Select representative sample
4. Audit the selected sample
5. Report evaluation findings

Participation

Many ways to participate and contribute:

• Uptake and use of W3C/WAI resources
• Translation and promotion of materials
• Review of drafts and providing feedback
• Active participation in Working Groups
• Increased W3C Member organizations
• Opportunities for sponsoring W3C/WAI

Thank You

Shadi Abou-Zahra, W3C/WAI
Activity Lead, WAI International Program Office
http://www.w3.org/People/shadi/