Web Platform Inclusion Document/Requirements Analysis

Purpose

Provide resource for developers that clarifies the distinction between inclusive design and accessibility, and outlines the broader value of adopting an accessible approach to code development.

Objectives

1. Briefly explain accessibility and inclusive design
2. Explain what overlaps and differences exist between the two approaches
3. Explain the need for the two approaches
4. Explore how each approach can be incorporated into the design process
5. Provide references to other supporting materials

Audience

Front end developers and designers reading the WebPlatform.org materials.

Approach

There exist two resources on WebPlatform.org related to accessibility concepts.

• Accessibility Basics
  Summary from Webplatform.org
  This page refers to the inclusive practice of making websites usable by people of all abilities and disabilities
• Accessibility Basics
  Summary from Webplatform.org
  Accessibility is making the Web work for people with a diverse range of abilities. Accessibility is essential for developers and organizations that want to create high quality websites and web tools, and not exclude people from using their products and services. Accessibility is vital to enable people with disabilities to participate equally on the Web. It is a legal requirement in some cases, and a best practice in all cases.

The approach will be to incorporate the key messages relating to Inclusion and Accessibility into one or both of these documents.

Key messages

• How accessibility brings value beyond its initial intended use.
• How accessibility can improve things for everyone and examples of those broad benefits
• How accessibility and inclusive design are similar and what the differences are.
• Accessibility as a discipline is important as it focuses exclusively on the needs of people with disabilities.
• Inclusive design is not enough for people with disabilities as it does not focus entirely on the challenges brought with disabilities.
• Successful inclusion extends far beyond website development, e.g. infrastructure, technology availability, support for less common languages, education.
• How accessibility is an important part of coding best practices.