WCAG
The Web is fundamentally designed to work for all people, whatever their hardware, software, language, location, or ability. When the Web meets this goal, it is accessible to people with a diverse range of hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive ability.
The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Web “content” generally refers to the information on a web page or web application, including:
– Text, images, videos, and sounds
– Code or markup that defines the structure, presentation, etc.
Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
– Customizable Text (font, size, spacing, color)
– Voice recognition
– Understandable content
– Video captions, Audio Described version
– Keyboard compatibility
– Clear layout and design
– Large links, buttons, and controls
– Notifications and Feedback
– Text to speech
– Colors with good contrast
EXAMPLES
– Display an audio recording of a speech
The link to an audio clip says, “Chairman’s speech to the assembly.” A link to a text transcript is provided immediately after the link to the audio clip.
– Display a traffic Web camera
A Web site allows users to select from a variety of Web cameras positioned throughout a major city. After a camera is selected, the image updates every two minutes. A short text alternative identifies the Web camera as a “traffic Web camera.” The site also provides a table of travel times for each of the routes covered by the Web cameras. The table is also updated every two minutes.
– Display a photograph of a historic event in a news story
A photograph of two world leaders shaking hands accompanies a news story about an international summit meeting. The text alternative says, “President X of Country X shakes hands with Prime Minister Y of country Y.”
In summary, 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.