24 days of digital accessibility gifts during the season of giving and sharing
A few years ago I didn’t know what the term “accessibility” meant. I built Web sites that were partially inaccessible because I didn’t know better. Fast forward to today, I know enough to be able to write, speak and run workshops on accessibility, helping others build more a accessible and inclusive Web. Much like everyone […]
Read What a Year of Learning and Teaching Accessibility Taught Me …
If you’re a web developer, or if you develop browsers or assistive technologies (AT), the following screenshot is probably familiar to you. It’s the first part of the definition of the button element in the HTML specification. But wait… what’s that new section called “Accessibility considerations” doing there? There’s a link “For authors” and a […]
Long live the modern browser! Browsers are getting better these days. We seem to be in a golden age where there’s a never-ending stream of new features added for the benefit of the users accessing the page, and really great tools for those creating the page. It hasn’t always been the case, though. Earlier versions […]
Read Pixels vs. Relative Units in CSS: Why it’s Still a Big Deal …
There are no definites with color. Sure, you have your red, your green, and so on — but even that is relative. Try to describe a specific red color to a friend. Chances are the description will settle on, for example, is the color more of a brick-red or a fire truck-red? Describing a color […]
In the field of creating accessible products and experiences, I have found that we are behind when it comes to one group in particular: individuals with Cognitive Disabilities. As a Digital Accessibility Specialist with Cognitive Disabilities myself, I feel confident addressing this gap. I’ve been doing a lot of research and speaking about this subject, […]
Accessibility education in organizations is hard, but we can take some of the pressure off by focusing on teaching literacy instead of expertise (and making it a game). Photo by Sarah Pflug from Burst This year at a11yTO Conf, there were many wonderful talks about gaming, storytelling, and learning in regard to accessibility. I think […]
TL:DR; Jump straight to the recommendations In part 1 of this deep dive, we took a broad look at both how the native <select> element works across browsers and platforms, and the current state of accessible custom select component implementations. It’s necessary to look at how fragmented current select UX patterns are in order to […]
If the web accessibility community were to somehow collectively agree on a single rallying cry, it could easily be “use native, semantic HTML elements.” This, like most things in accessibility, is an oversimplification, but it is a helpful one. As 2019 draws to a close, many of the popular component libraries (see: Material UI and […]
I work for Code and Theory (C&T), a digital-first creative agency headquartered in New York. C&T is an exceptionally iterative company—creating products and experiences at a rapid pace for clients. In the last week alone, I have researched and implemented test solutions for a hospitality company, a financial tech corporation, a hospital system, a startup, […]
Read Why is an Agency the Perfect Place to Observe and Improve Digital Accessibility? …
For the past three years, I have been working in the Cloud +AI division of Microsoft as a subject matter expert, advising teams on how best to fix accessibility bugs and promoting accessible design. I find the work very fulfilling and look forward to continuing to make an impact on disabled people’s ability to seek […]
Do you practice Inclusive Design? Do you check the accessibility of your digital products? How accessible is your project documentation? Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, I’ll give you some ideas you can use to help make your projects more inclusive. This will help your current and future team. A few things better documentation can […]
In the mid-’90s, I saw an TV ad for hearing aids. The most ironic part was this concluding screen: If you are the target audience of this ad, then you have difficulty hearing. Lest I remind you, using the telephone requires ample hearing capabilities. So for the prospective customer to go through a challenging experience […]
It is possible to build accessible websites. We know because we have experimented with it and researched it. We have failed at it, and kept trying until we succeeded. We have tools, too. We have lists, we have articles, and we have manuals. However, there are a few things we don’t have, yet – some […]
Ian Pouncey explores how design, development, and product decisions shape the web experience. He argues for simpler, accessible, usable, performant websites that prioritize real people, native controls, thoughtful design, and reduced complexity over unnecessary features and technical complexity.
Computer games are a big deal: they are part of our culture, they provide and can promote social inclusion, they can educate (from encouraging and supporting player creativity through making modifications and new game levels, to being used as teaching aids) and they are a hugely popular means of recreation. Just as with other walks […]
Cordelia McGee-Tubb explains how she built an accessible bingo web app with React and Firebase, using ARIA grids, keyboard navigation, toggle states, live regions, responsive design, and user testing to create an inclusive experience for keyboard, touchscreen, and screen reader users.
Melanie Richards guides developers through the world of W3C specifications, explaining how to navigate web standards and find authoritative guidance. This practical introduction helps developers better understand specifications related to HTML, accessibility, WCAG, and the technologies that shape the web.
Becky Gibson explains why people with disabilities should be active participants in accessibility testing. The article explores how blind, low vision, cognitive, and other testers identify barriers that automated tools and nondisabled testers may miss, while promoting inclusive testing teams.
Homer Gaines explains how the WCAG POUR principles, Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust, provide a foundation for digital accessibility. The article explores practical examples involving alternative text, keyboard access, clear forms, semantic HTML, and assistive technology compatibility.
Ather Sharif explores the challenges of making visual content accessible, from images and alternative text to GIFs, graphs, and interactive visualizations. The article examines how screen reader users experience visual information and why accessibility should be built into emerging technologies.
David A. Kennedy explores how HTML markup, content, and context work together to create accessible web experiences. Learn why semantic HTML, meaningful labels, form structure, alternative text, and contextual controls matter for people using screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Read The Intersection of Markup, Content and Context in Accessibility …
Erik Kroes exposes 8 misguided accessibility tips with humor, challenging common assumptions about WCAG, ARIA, automated testing, focus indicators, accessible alternatives, and inclusive design. Learn why meeting technical requirements is only part of creating truly accessible digital experiences.
Read 8 Weird Tips Accessibility Specialists Don’t Want You to Know! …
Dennis Deacon explores why WCAG Level AA compliance should be a starting point, not the finish line. The article examines headings, link text, focus indicators, abbreviations, and other areas where going beyond minimum requirements can create more usable and accessible digital experiences.
Léonie Watson explores the accessibility challenges of Web Components and how the Accessibility Object Model (AOM) could address them. Discover how AOM features such as default semantics, ARIA reflection, assistive technology events, and virtual accessibility nodes could make accessibility first-class.
Read Web Components and the Accessibility Object Model (AOM) …
One of the biggest barriers to accessibility is awareness. We often hear how diversifying our workforce is good for business. I would like to examine why disabilities should be a part of that formula. When developers are tasked with making something accessible, chances are none of them has ever encountered someone with a disability, so […]
Read What Adding People with Disabilities to Your Team Brings to the Mix …