Inclusive Design Techniques - Advanced Accessibility

How to approach Inclusive Design

When designing an accessible webpage, start by addressing problems that users have with similar web apps. Ensure that users have access to all content, and that these common problems are solved first. After this, continue to implement accessibility by following WCAG or other general design guidelines.

This approach is similar to designing a secure website. Known vulnerabilities should be closed up first.

History of Accessible Design

Web developers used to follow: Graceful Degradation.

• Building for the majority of users instead of all users
• Implements accessibility as a hack, patching a complete website

Web developers now follow: Progressive Enhancement

• Building websites based on organized, efficient and accessible content
• Gets content out there for everyone ASAP
• Considers accessibility a part of core functionality
• Adds “nice to have” features afterward

Choosing Accessible Software for your Web App

Because most web apps are created by sewing other packages into the company's own code, it is important that other software that is being used is also accessible.

Here are some questions ask yourself when choosing software to build on:

• Please demonstrate how to use this software without a mouse
• How did you test the software with users with disabilities?
• Does the software have a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)?
  • VPATs are a set of tables that describes what accessible features the web app has
  • It can be broken down into 4 tables (according to an example by the U.S. Department of State)
    • Diskeeper Summary Table
      • Lists which tables below are applicable to the software
    • Software Applications and Operating Systems
    • Telecommunications Products
    • Video and Multi-media Products
    • Self-Contained, Closed Products
    • Desktop and Portable Computers
    • Functional Performance Criteria
    • Information, Documentation and Support
    • Web-based Internet Information and Applications

Example Diskeeper Summary Table

References

1. U.S. Department of State - VPAT
2. Advanced Web Accessibility