Why learn Web Accessibility?

Fran Zucolota — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 04:59:31 +0000

⚠️ ALERT ⚠️

This post is my opinion based on research and day-to-day experiences.

If the post makes you think, great, discuss it with anyone. 👽🌌

Hello, I'm Fran.
I would like to share why learning Web Accessibility is important.

Summary:

What is accessibility?

Advantages of implementing Web Accessibility

Accessibility is for everyone!

5 examples that accessibility is for everyone on the web

My motivation to study Web Accessibility

Video shows Web Accessibility

The word accessibility means something that is reachable, that has ease in approach, treatment, or acquisition of a product or service.
In other words, accessibility is about facilitating the use of a product or service - regardless of environmental characteristics, device features, and general limitations or disabilities.

Assists in SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Related to a search engine, such as Google, SEO is the process used to optimize the relevance of content and the popularity of a website's link. This way, your pages can be easily found and become more popular in user search queries, meaning the website is better ranked in the search results list.

Allows your user to actually use your website. Technically speaking, it improves user usability on your website. For example: the user opens an online shopping website and, at the end of the process, the user actually manages to buy the product.

I had a "mind-blowing" moment when I understood that accessibility is not only for people with temporary or permanent disabilities. In fact, accessibility is for everyone! And there are various types of accessibility.

5 examples on the web that accessibility is for everyone:

Virtual assistants (Google, Alexa, Siri, Bixby, Cortana, etc.) make it much easier to use voice commands without needing to use hands to interact with the device.

Having a step-by-step tutorial of new options on the website or application you use.

Video or audio with subtitles and/or transcripts available.

Responsive design website - a website that adapts to different screen sizes such as computer, mobile, and tablet.

Phone with an option to increase or decrease screen brightness - for more comfort when looking at the screen in open or closed environments.

So it's not just to looks nice.
That's accessibility! 🤘💜

Imagine a world where you are a blind person, and you cannot use a computer or a phone because accessibility is not available.
Well, that would be the reality of our world if accessibility for electronic devices did not exist.

That's why my main motivation to study web accessibility was to help improve the experience and usability of people on websites. Especially for those with disability.

I believe the easiest way to understand or follow someone's difficulty in something is to "walk in their shoes." This means being by the person's side and seeing the difficulties they face when using a product or service; and also trying to reproduce the environment yourself to test it.

If you can, watch the following video link to reflect on the barriers in web accessibility:

Note: I've already set the minute when speaker Dickson Tan starts using the screen reader on a website.

I understand that things are not perfect many times, but they can certainly get better with time and effort invested in them.

Bye, thank you.

Motivation = Motive + Action

Fran Zucolota — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 05:09:40 +0000

⚠️ ALERT ⚠️

This publication does not contain scientific references.

It is purely my opinion based on day-to-day experiences and therapy.

Here I make no promises.

I am just sharing a reflection.

If this publication makes you think: great, discuss it with anyone. 👽🌌

Hello, I am Fran.
I would like to share a summary of the reflection on the word motivation.

I grew up learning that motivation was related to being excited about doing something.

And fortunately 🙏, they have no relation at all. ❌

The well of procrastination

Procrastination means postponing or avoiding an activity by doing other activities in its place.

And it becomes a big problem when you fall into the well of procrastination.

This well appears when procrastination becomes:
-> a habit
or
-> is truly a psychological problem that requires the assistance of a psychology professional.

.
.
- "But how does procrastination become a habit?"

Generally, we lack:

understanding the reason that makes us procrastinate.

finding out what helps us reduce fatigue from day to day. It is not realistic to expect to be completely 100% rested to do something.

remembering what the motivation is for doing that activity that is being procrastinated.

understanding that along with practice, there is a long path of failures, big or small.

understanding that failure is part of the learning process. having self-compassion.

.
.

🕵️‍♀️ - Do a self-debug

# Meaning of Debug: Its goal is to find errors that can prevent codes from functioning properly. With it, it is possible to determine what is happening within the source code and get suggestions for improvement actions.

.
📝 Ask yourself and write, for example:
▶️ What makes you procrastinate?
A:
I feel that I am very tired.
I feel that I am in a hurry to learn and that I am "taking too long" or "falling behind."
My expectation to study "that way," "with that feeling" of excitement makes me procrastinate;
Etc...

▶️ What helps you reduce mental fatigue?

# Help yourself to rest a bit to be able to perform the activity.

A:
> When tired:
Watch a series - then watch an episode in your available time. Set a goal for yourself for at least 20 minutes or 1 hour.
Play a game - then set a goal for yourself for X minutes or 1 hour, within your available time.

> When anxious:
Try practicing self-compassion. Always remember that everyone has their own pace. Look more at yourself.
Pay attention to others only to be inspired or admired.
Don't compare yourself, don't put yourself in an invisible race.
Remember the plants.🌻
Each plant has its growth rhythm based on what it feeds on and its environment. But it is always paying attention to itself and not to the "neighbor plant" competing to grow more. The clarity of the plant is to grow as much as it can and be healthy.

▶️ What is your motivation for doing that activity?
This is the million-dollar question.
The answer is very important. Humans function well with good arguments.
You always need to remember why you are doing or will do that activity.

Motive + action

Because of such a reason, you do or will do an action.
This is the true meaning of motivation. It has no relation to the feeling of being excited about doing something.

Clarity. Write to make it clear to yourself, especially to observe changes in requirements and redo the self-debug. 😜

How to practice?

Ask yourself the questions and write the answers.
In about 2 days or 1 week:
- reread the tips I left. (optional)
- reread your answers.
  - Does any answer need to be changed?
    - If yes, keep the current answer and add a new answer - for you to analyze over time what you have changed.
    - If not, reread your answers and continue practicing them.
Whenever you feel the need, repeat the process.

📝Remember that it is normal to fail. Failure is part of learning.
Do not create expectations to "win" always or to feel good always before doing an activity.
Sometimes you can do it that way, other times not so much (laughs), but the most important thing is to rest a bit and remember the reasons you chose to do that activity.

Practice self-compassion.
Practicing makes you improve more and more.

Practice has a long path of failures, but also of successes.
🍞 Practice.

Bye, thank you.

DEV Community: Fran Zucolota

Why learn Web Accessibility?

What is accessibility?

Advantages of implementing Web Accessibility

Accessibility is for everyone!

5 examples on the web that accessibility is for everyone:

My motivation to study Web Accessibility