Selfish AccessibilityPresented by Adrian Roselli for ACE! Conference

About Adrian Roselli

• Co-written four books.

• Technical editorfor two books.

• Written over fifty articles, most recentlyfor .net Magazine andWeb Standards Sherpa.

Great bedtime reading!

About Adrian Roselli

• Member of W3C HTML Working Group, W3C Accessibility Task Force, five W3C Community Groups.

• Building for the web since 1994.

• Founder, owner at Algonquin Studios (AlgonquinStudios.com).

• Learn more at AdrianRoselli.com.

• Avoid on Twitter @aardrian.

I warned you.

What is a11y?

• A numeronym for “accessibility”:

• The first and last letter (accessibility),

• The number of characters omitted (a11y).

• Prominent on Twitter (character restrictions):

• #a11y

• Examples:

• l10n → localization

• i18n → internationalization

Ain’t language funsies?

Accessibility Gets No Respect

In fairness, Sherwin Williams needs to come up with a lot of color names...

“Cyberspace” (gray)

“Online” (blue)

“Lime Rickey” (green)

Accessibility Gets No Respect

…however I think the team could have done better than this.

What We’ll Cover

• Boring Statistics

• Be Selfish

• Some Techniques

• Basic Tests

• Questions (ongoing!)

Work with me, people.

Boring Statistics

1 of 5 sections.

Any Disability

• In the United States:• 10.4% aged 21-64 years old,

• 25% aged 65-74 years old,

• 50% aged 75+.

• Includes:• Visual

• Hearing

• Mobility

• Cognitive

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/2012/English/HTML/report2012.cfm?fips=2000000&html_year=2012

Vision Impairments

• 285 million worldwide:

• 39 million are blind,

• 246 million have low vision,

• 82% of people living with blindness are aged 50 and above.

• 1.8% of Americans aged 21-64.

• 4.0% of Americans aged 65-74.

• 9.8% of Americans aged 75+.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/2012/English/HTML/report2012.cfm?fips=2000000&html_year=2012

Hearing Impairments

• 360 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss.

• 17% (36 million) of American adults report some degree of hearing loss:

• 18% aged 45-64 years old,

• 30% aged 65-74 years old,

• 47% aged 75+ years old.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs300/en/https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/Pages/quick.aspx

Mobility Impairments

• In the United States:

• 5.5% aged 21-64 years old.

• 15.6% aged 65-74 years old.

• 32.9% aged 75+.

http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/2012/English/HTML/report2012.cfm?fips=2000000&html_year=2012

Cognitive Impairments

• Dyslexia,

• Dyscalculia,

• Memory issues,

• Distractions (ADD, ADHD),

• In the United States:

• 4.3% aged 21-64 years old.

• 5.4% aged 65-74 years old.

• 14.4% aged 75+.

http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/2012/English/HTML/report2012.cfm?fips=2000000&html_year=2012&subButton=Get+HTML

Be Selfish

2 of 5 sections.

WebAIM’s Hierarchy for Motivating Accessibility Change

http://webaim.org/blog/motivating-accessibility-change/

My Hierarchy for Motivating Accessibility Change

Is better, no?

Getting Older

• Affects (nearly) everyone,

• Carries risks and side effects,

• Is not for the young.

I’m still experimenting with it.

Rising Damp on Flickr.

Darren Baldwin on Flickr.

Accidents

• Broken limbs,

• Eye injuries,

• Hearing injuries,

• Head trauma.

All of these have happened to me, multiple times.

Rev Stan on Flickr.

Let Ideas Compete on Flickr.

Fluffy Steve on Flickr.

Paul Townsend on Flickr.

But I’m Invincible!

• Multi-tasking,

• Sunlight,

• Eating at your desk,

• No headphones handy,

• Content is not in your native language.

The sun is trying to kill me.

https://twitter.com/aardrian/statuses/388733408576159744

Mariëlle on Flickr.

barockschloss on Flickr.

Seb on Flickr.

A.Davy on Flickr.

Steve Rhodes on Flickr.

SuperFantastic on Flickr.

World Bank Photo Collection on Flickr.

Lars Kristian Flem on Flickr.

Tech Support

• Think of your family!

• Think of your time spent helping them!

• Think of the wasted holidays!

This is why we hate the holidays.

Robert Simmons on Flickr.

The Message

• Supporting accessibility now helps to serve future you.

Do or do not.

The Message

• Supporting accessibility now helps to serve future you.

• Supporting accessibility now helps injured you, encumbered you.

There is no try.

The Message

• Supporting accessibility now helps to serve future you.

• Supporting accessibility now helps injured you, encumbered you.

• Getting younger developers to buy in helps future you – if you teach them well.

Always pass on what you have learned.

Some Techniques

3 of 5 sections.

User Stories

• Components:

• User,

• Outcome,

• Value.

• Writing:

• As user, I want outcome.

• As user, I want outcome so that value.

• In order to get value as user, I want outcome.

How to Write User Stories for Web Accessibility

Selfish User Stories

• As a user on a sun-lit patio, I want to be able to read the content and see the controls.

Add beer and as a user I may have trouble focusing.

Selfish User Stories

• As a user in bed with a sleeping spouse, I want to watch a training video in silence so that I can get caught up at work.

As a user who doesn’t want to get punched for having slacked off at work.

Selfish User Stories

• In order to click links as a user with no elbow room in coach class with a tiny trackpad, I want click areas to be large enough and adequately spaced.

As a user in coach class who also paid too much for the drink he’s spilling on his keyboard.

Selfish User Stories

• As a user distracted by the TV, I want clear headings and labels so that I don’t lose my place.

As a user who really should be finishing his work in the office.

User Stories

• Physical Impairment

• As a keyboard-only user, I want to be able to use the entire application.

This includes seeing what has focus and not getting lost in off-screen elements.

User Stories

• Physical Impairment

• As a keyboard-only user, I want to be able to use the entire application.

• As a keyboard-only user, I want to navigate a product list with the tab key so that I can find the right option.

Arrow keys are acceptable as well, making sure that it is clear to the user.

User Stories

• Physical Impairment

• As a keyboard-only user, I want to be able to use the entire application.

• As a keyboard-only user, I want to navigate a product list with the tab key so that I can find the right option.

• In order to click links as a limited-mobility user, I want click areas to be large enough and adequately spaced.

Else I may click the wrong item and have to hit the back button, which can be time consuming.

User Stories

• Visual Impairment

• As a color blind user, I want to be able to see links in page content.

Underlines are important, but users also like to know what they clicked already.

User Stories

• Visual Impairment

• As a color blind user, I want to be able to see links in page content.

• As a low-vision user, I want to zoom the page so that I can read the content.

Without the text overlapping itself or every other item on the page.

User Stories

• Visual Impairment

• As a color blind user, I want to be able to see links in page content.

• As a low-vision user, I want to zoom the page so that I can read the content.

• In order to use the site as a blind user, I want to use a screen reader to navigate.

Good headings, clear structure, landmark roles to jump around the page.

User Stories

• Hearing Impairment

• As a low-hearing user, I want to be able to access transcripts.

From a clear link, not through some acrobatics to find them.

User Stories

• Hearing Impairment

• As a low-hearing user, I want to be able to access transcripts.

• As a low-hearing user, I want access to closed captions so that I can use training videos.

Timed to match the video is important.

User Stories

• Hearing Impairment

• As a low-hearing user, I want to be able to access transcripts.

• As a low-hearing user, I want access to closed captions so that I can use training videos.

• In order to participate in a webinar as a deaf user, I want real-time captioning or transcripts.

This can be tricky, since you’ll need to have a resource typing in real-time.

User Stories

• Cognitive Impairment

• As a user with a vestibular disorder, I want to be able to disable parallax scrolling.

But you don’t just use it for no reason, right?

User Stories

• Cognitive Impairment

• As a user with a vestibular disorder, I want to be able to disable parallax scrolling.

• As a user with dyscalculia, I want distinct number fields for each block of digits in a credit card number so that I can purchase a product.

You can auto-detect card type. Do the same for expiration date.

User Stories

• Cognitive Impairment

• As a user with a vestibular disorder, I want to be able to disable parallax scrolling.

• As a user with dyscalculia, I want distinct number fields for each block of digits in a credit card number so that I can purchase a product.

• In order to not get confused on pages with long text passages as a user with dyslexia, I want control over text size, spacing, and/or alignment.

At the very least, turn of justified text.

Personas

Adrian

• Works when he should be relaxing, relaxes when he should be working.

• Lives between motorcycles.

• Works late at night with the TV on.

• Uses sub-titles in Netflix.

• Keeps all screens as dark as possible.

That photo is from official ID.

Personas

Book Excerpt: A Web for Everyone, by Sarah Horton, Whitney Quesenbery

Manifesto for Accessible UX

• Coming Soon! (The Paciello Group)

• Looking to these examples:

• Lean UX Manifesto

• Manifesto for Agile Software Development

• UK Gov. Data Services Design Principles

Watch this space: http://www.paciellogroup.com/blog/2014/08/developing-a-manifesto-for-accessible-ux/

Accessible Design Maturity Continuum

• Coming Soon! (The Paciello Group)

• Variation on Jess McMullin’s Rough Design Maturity Continuum:

1. No Conscious Design,

2. Style,

3. Function and Form,

4. Problem Solving,

5. Framing.

Watch this space: http://www.paciellogroup.com/blog/2014/06/accessibility-maturity-continuum/

Basic Tests

4 of 5 sections.

Click on Field Labels

• When you click label text next to a text box, does the cursor appear in the field?

• When you click label text next to a radio / checkbox, does it get toggled?

• When you click label text next to a select menu, does it get focus?

http://www.karlgroves.com/2013/09/05/the-6-simplest-web-accessibility-tests-anyone-can-do/

Unplug Your Mouse

• Turn off your trackpad, stick, trackball, etc.

• Can you interact with all controls (links, menus, forms) with only the keyboard?

• Can you tell which item has focus?

• Does the tab order match your expectation?

http://www.karlgroves.com/2013/09/05/the-6-simplest-web-accessibility-tests-anyone-can-do/

Turn off Images

• Can you still make sense of the page?

• Is content missing?

• Can you still use the site?

• Is your alt text useful?

http://www.karlgroves.com/2013/09/05/the-6-simplest-web-accessibility-tests-anyone-can-do/

Turn on High Contrast Mode

• Windows only.

• Background images and colors are replaced.

• Text colors are replaced.

• Does this make your site unusable?

http://www.karlgroves.com/2013/09/05/the-6-simplest-web-accessibility-tests-anyone-can-do/http://blog.adrianroselli.com/2012/08/css-background-images-high-contrast-mode.html

Turn off CSS

• Does important content or functionality disappear?

• Do error messages or other items that rely on visual cues make sense?

• Is content still in a reasonable order?

• Do any styles (colors, text effects, etc.) remain?

http://www.karlgroves.com/2013/09/05/the-6-simplest-web-accessibility-tests-anyone-can-do/

Test for Colorblindness/Contrast

• Is there enough contrast?

• Are hyperlinks, menus, etc. still visible?

• Tools:

• Chrome Color Contrast Analyzer

• Lea Verou’s Contrast Ratio

• WebAIM Color Contrast Checker

• CheckMyColours.com

http://www.inpixelitrust.fr/blog/en/tips-create-accessible-color-palette/http://alistapart.com/blog/post/easy-color-contrast-testing

Protanopia

Deuteranopia

Tritanopia

Look for Captions & Transcripts

• Do video/audio clips have text alternatives?

• Are links to closed-captions or transcripts built into the player or separate text links?

• Is there an audio description available?

• Tools:• Media Access Australia YouTube captioning tutorial,

Vimeo captioning tutorial,

• Tiffany Brown’s WebVTT tutorial,

• DIY Resources for Closed Captioning and Transcription from 3 Play Media.

http://webaim.org/techniques/captions/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCqN_cCLnnk

Hyperlinks!

• Is there any “click here,” “more,” “link to…”?

http://www.sitepoint.com/15-rules-making-accessible-links/

Hyperlinks!

• Is there any “click here,” “more,” “link to…”?

• Are you using all-caps, URLs, emoticons?

http://www.sitepoint.com/15-rules-making-accessible-links/

Hyperlinks!

• Is there any “click here,” “more,” “link to…”?

• Are you using all-caps, URLs, emoticons?

• Do you warn before opening new windows?

http://www.sitepoint.com/15-rules-making-accessible-links/

Hyperlinks!

• Is there any “click here,” “more,” “link to…”?

• Are you using all-caps, URLs, emoticons?

• Do you warn before opening new windows?

• Do links to downloads provide helpful info?

http://www.sitepoint.com/15-rules-making-accessible-links/

Hyperlinks!

• Is there any “click here,” “more,” “link to…”?

• Are you using all-caps, URLs, emoticons?

• Do you warn before opening new windows?

• Do links to downloads provide helpful info?

• Are you using pagination links?

http://www.sitepoint.com/15-rules-making-accessible-links/

Hyperlinks!

• Is there any “click here,” “more,” “link to…”?

• Are you using all-caps, URLs, emoticons?

• Do you warn before opening new windows?

• Do links to downloads provide helpful info?

• Are you using pagination links?

• Are your links underlined (or otherwise obvious)?

http://www.sitepoint.com/15-rules-making-accessible-links/

Hyperlinks!

• Is there any “click here,” “more,” “link to…”?

• Are you using all-caps, URLs, emoticons?

• Do you warn before opening new windows?

• Do links to downloads provide helpful info?

• Are you using pagination links?

• Are your links underlined (or otherwise obvious)?

• Is there alt text for image links?

http://www.sitepoint.com/15-rules-making-accessible-links/

Hyperlinks!

• Is there any “click here,” “more,” “link to…”?

• Are you using all-caps, URLs, emoticons?

• Do you warn before opening new windows?

• Do links to downloads provide helpful info?

• Are you using pagination links?

• Are your links underlined (or otherwise obvious)?

• Is there alt text for image links?

• Is the link text consistent?

http://www.sitepoint.com/15-rules-making-accessible-links/

http://blog.adrianroselli.com/2014/03/i-dont-care-what-google-did-just-keep.html

Questions

5 of 5 sections.

Resources

• Web Accessibility and Older People:Meeting the Needs of Ageing Web Users

http://www.w3.org/WAI/older-users/Overview.php

• Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility

http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/preliminary

• How People with Disabilities Use the Web: Overview

http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/people-use-web/Overview.html

In addition to the gems I’ve sprinkled throughout.

Resources

• 2.11 ARIA Role, State, and Property Quick Reference

http://www.w3.org/TR/aria-in-html/#aria-role-state-and-property-quick-reference

• 2.12 Definitions of States and Properties (all aria-* attributes)

http://www.w3.org/TR/aria-in-html/#definitions-of-states-and-properties-all-aria--attributes

In addition to the gems I’ve sprinkled throughout.

Resources

• a11yTipshttp://dboudreau.tumblr.com/

• Designing For The Elderly: Ways Older People Use Digital Technology Differentlyhttp://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/02/05/designing-digital-technology-for-the-elderly/

• How to Write User Stories for Web Accessibilityhttp://www.interactiveaccessibility.com/blog/how-write-user-stories-accessibility-requirements

• Book Excerpt: A Web for Everyonehttp://uxmag.com/articles/book-excerpt-a-web-for-everyone

In addition to the gems I’ve sprinkled throughout.

Selfish AccessibilityPresented by Adrian Roselli for ACE! Conference

My thanks and apologies.

Slides from this talk will be available at rosel.li/ACE