This beginner-friendly series introduces the fundamentals of digital accessibility and explains how to create websites, applications, and digital content that are usable by people with disabilities. Explore essential accessibility concepts, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), accessible design and development practices, assistive technologies, accessibility testing, and common barriers. Whether you are new to accessibility or beginning your organization’s accessibility journey, this series provides practical guidance for building more inclusive digital experiences.
Dennis Deacon examines how inaccessible gift card emails and redemption pages can exclude people with disabilities. He identifies common HTML and keyboard accessibility issues, including missing alt text, unassociated form labels, and inaccessible help content, then shows how simple fixes restore access.
Read Congrats! You Just Received an Inaccessible Gift Card …
Scott O’Hara explores the accessibility challenges of HTML’s title attribute, including inconsistent browser and screen reader support. He explains common misuses and identifies situations where title can still provide accessibility value.
Beth Raduenzel explores why passing WCAG color contrast requirements does not always create an accessible experience. She examines links, focus indicators, navigation, toggles, form controls, and maps, showing how designers can improve contrast and usability for people with low vision.
Paul J Adam reviews accessibility testing tools for desktop and mobile websites, including WAVE, aXe, a11yTools, tota11y, and HTML_CodeSniffer. He explains how automated tools complement manual keyboard and screen reader testing to identify accessibility issues earlier.
Read Accessibility Testing Tools for Desktop and Mobile Websites …
Job van Achterberg shares lessons from building the local Inclusive Design & Accessibility meetup. He explores growing attendance, finding speakers, choosing accessible venues, engaging diverse audiences, and connecting designers, developers, and accessibility advocates.
Alaina Wiens challenges the idea that accessibility belongs only to technical experts. She argues that accessibility is a philosophy and an ongoing pursuit, encouraging everyone to advocate for a web that works for everyone.
Donna Maddox examines the practical challenges organizations face when implementing accessibility. She explores over-compliance, redundant content, ARIA misuse, competing requirements, and why access matters more than a perfect solution for users today.
Dennis Lembrée examines the accessibility of SVG icons, icon fonts, sprites, and images, comparing their strengths and limitations. Using Easy Chirp as a case study, he explores screen reader support, keyboard access, performance, styling, and the practical tradeoffs of each approach.
Lainey Feingold explores how digital accessibility law can motivate organizations to create more inclusive technology rather than fuel fear of lawsuits. She explains the role of the ADA, Structured Negotiation, accessibility standards, testing, training, and proactive accessibility practices.
Read Shifting from Fear to Motivation When Talking about Digital Accessibility Law …
Dominic Berry explores how to convince oil and gas companies to embrace inclusive design. Using real-world examples involving color blindness, deafness, mobility, aging, usability, and safety, Berry demonstrates why accessibility is both good design and smart business.
Read How do you Convince a Company that Tames Dinosaurs to Design Inclusively? …
Dennis Deacon shares his journey from front-end developer to accessibility advocate, describing how accessibility work at United Airlines, community involvement, WCAG testing, and direct user experiences transformed his career and purpose.
Tim Wright explores why text resizing and zooming are essential for people with low vision. He examines WCAG 1.4.4, the impact of disabling user scaling, and how small development changes can significantly improve accessibility and create a better experience for users.
Melanie Sumner and Sean Massa explain how developers can build more accessible web applications through semantic HTML, appropriate ARIA, keyboard support, accessible names, automated testing, and screen reader testing, while integrating accessibility into their teams and development communities.
Denis Boudreau examines how artificial intelligence could transform web accessibility through image and facial recognition, automated lip-reading, text summarization, and real-time translation. He explores how these emerging technologies could reduce barriers and improve digital inclusion for people with disabilities.
Read Five Ways in Which Artificial Intelligence Changes the Face of Web Accessibility …
Melanie Myers examines five common misconceptions about web accessibility, including who benefits, whether it affects functionality, how much time it requires, whether it is optional, and whether accessible websites can still be attractive and engaging.
Scott O’Hara uses a Three Little Pigs-inspired story to show how developers can create accessibility barriers through poor HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and ARIA choices. He highlights semantic HTML, keyboard access, accessibility testing, and learning from users with disabilities.
Allen West shares his experiences as a blind screen reader user, examining inconsistent web accessibility, inaccessible media controls, login barriers, and other challenges. He urges organizations to prioritize accessibility and create a truly inclusive web.
Carie Fisher explores an accessibility-first approach to web design and development. She explains how inclusive design, accessible components, typography, structure, color, forms, and media can improve usability while making accessibility an integral part of the development process.
Read Accessibility First: Rethinking the Way We Approach Website Design and Development …