Digital accessibility (abbreviated as a11y) is about:
- designing and building digital products...
- so that they can be used in a meaningful and equal way...
- by as many people as possible — including those with disabilities.
HOW: How can you measure and improve it?
Using accessibility standards, such as:
- local and international laws, policies and industry standards
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (link)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Facts:
- Gold standard for digital accessibility.
- Created for: app designers and developers.
- Created by: the creators of the World Wide Web, in association with international organizations and governments.
Three levels (read more):
- Level A: Basic (30 rules)
- Level AA: Strong (Level A + 20 rules)
- Level AAA: Excellent (Level AA + 28 rules)
POUR Principles:
Facts:
- First step towards accessibility, based on WCAG.
- Human centric: Instead of hard-and-fast rules, it helps you understand the diverse needs of your users (including people with disabilities), and facilitating those needs.
- Four aspects: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
1. Perceivable 👀
Consider:
Can all users perceive all essential information on the screen?
Tips:
Some ways to make your product more perceivable:
- Offer alternative ways to access information.
- text content: screen-reader friendly (mark-up for headings, lists, tables etc), translations, simplified language.
- non-text content (images, videos, charts): descriptions, captions, transcripts.
- Make content easier to see and hear.
- provide sufficient contrast between the background and foreground elements (text, graphics, buttons etc)
- ensure color is not the only method of conveying meaning.
- ensure users can pause, stop, and adjust the volume of audio and video content.
- ensure no information is lost when users resize text up to 400%
2. Operable 🖱️
Consider:
Can all users interact with all interactive elements of your product?
Tips:
Some ways to make your product more operable:
- Ensure that all functionality that is available by mouse is also available by keyboard and touch-screen (click, scroll, navigate)
- Provide necessary controls for page-navigation (Go back, breadcrumb), slideshows and videos.
- Give users enough time to fill out a form or a method to extend the time.
3. Understandable 🧠
Consider:
Can all users understand the operation of the UI and the information presented on it?
Tips:
Some ways to make your product more understandable:
-
Write clear and simply:
- avoid complex words wherever possible, and provide interpretation for any unusual words, abbreviations, symbols.
-
Ensure predictability and consistency:
- provide predictable navigation mechanisms
- make sure repeated components look and behave the same way
Ensure error messages are clear and easy to resolve.
4. Robust 🔌
Consider:
Is your app compatible with different devices, browsers, assistive technologies, and other user agents?
Tips:
Some ways to make your product more compatible:
- Ensure content is consistently accessible:
- with different screen reader technologies
- regardless of screen size and orientation
Note: This post is part of a series on digital accessibility. The content of this series is based on various resources, including the Learn Accessibility course.
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