WCAG Accessibility for not-for-profits 101 - What is Accessibility?

What is accessibility?

• Web accessibility is about creating websites that are accessible to people of all ages and types of disabilities.
• An Accessible Web means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web.
• Accessibility also benefits older people and general usability of websites.

Why is it important?

• Web Accessibility Reduces Disability Discrimination
• Increases people with a disability’s access to Information.

Accessibility also considers the way people are currently using the internet, and the functions of people’s lives that are currently online, and continue to move online. Creating an Equitable Web is important because it allows people to remain connected to the community at large.

WCAG 2.0

WCAG 2.0 refers to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. WCAG 2.0 focuses on the principles of accessibility and presents techniques and failures to help provide guidance in each section. WCAG 2.0 Principles cover Content, CSS and HTML Structure of the site.

There are Three Levels of conformance:

• A (WCAG 1.0 Compliant)
• AA (WGAC 2.0 Compliant)
• AAA (Highest level of conformance.)

Sites should focus their attention on levels A and AA. These are the baseline requirements to meet accessibility WCAG 2.0 Guidelines. If one page of your website does not conform to an AA rating then the overall website fails accessibility standards. It is pivotal that websites are designed with accessibility in mind, and that when a website is handed over, the people who are creating content understand and have strong grasp on the principles of accessibility.

Four areas of accessibility

• Perceivable
• Operable
• Understandable
• Robust

Sitting under these four areas are 12 guidelines. The guidelines provide information including pass and fail examples in the areas of design, content and technology.

Perceivable

• Text Alternatives: Provide Text Alternatives for any non-text content.
• Time-based Media: Provide Alternatives for time based media.
• Adaptable: Create content that can be presented in different ways without losing information or structure.
• Distinguishable: Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background.

Operable

• Keyboard Accessible: Make all functions available from a keyboard.
• Enough Time: Provide users enough time to read and use content.
• Seizures: Do not design content in a way that is known to cause seizures.
• Navigable: Provide ways to help users navigate, find content and determine where they are.

Understandable

• Readable: Make text content readable and understandable.
• Predictable: Make Web pages appear and operate in predictable ways.
• Input Assistance: Help users avoid and correct mistakes.

Robust

• Compatible: Maximise compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies.

WCAG resources

• W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Checklist
• WebAIMS’s WCAG 2.0 Checklist
• WCAG 2.0 Guidelines – AccessAbility