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 …
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Hello, my name is Ian and I’m a grumpy, old (yet at the same time not quite middle-aged) web developer and accessibility specialist. I have a confession to make: sometimes I don’t enjoy using the web. I’m a fairly average person. I can usually use a mouse and keyboard without any trouble, although I have […]
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 […]
2019 has been a landmark year for web standards milestones: the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) turned 25 this October, and it published the first version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 20 years ago in May 1999. Across these past couple decades, the standards body has published quite a few sets of guidelines […]
“The issue in Web accessibility is the fact that blind and visually-impaired people need the single biggest boost to achieve equivalence since the real-world Web is a visual medium.” — Joe Clark Esperanza Spalding sings about perception in her song, “Touch in Mine” where she describes the sensation of being able to feel, listen, and […]
Zoey loves browsing the Internet. They enjoy getting lost in the interconnected web full of information, unraveling pieces of knowledge that are bookmark worthy. But they don’t enjoy skimming through large bodies of text. They prefer pictures. A lot of them. They go through their crush’s photos on Facebook before they even consider reading their […]
You’ve heard of this inclusive design thing, and know that a11y is a numeronym for accessibility. It matters to you, and you try to make the people and projects around you better for it. But you’ve conquered the basics. Now what? I have good news to share: going beyond the basics isn’t as hard as […]
Read The intersection of markup, content and context in accessibility …
Number 4 Will Give You a Seizure The title is written as a so-called clickbait title and meant as a tongue-in-cheek joke. Often clickbait titles deceptively present tips as a form of powerful secret knowledge. In this case, accessibility specialists don’t want you to know these tips because they’re bad practice. These are tips you […]
Read 8 Weird Tips Accessibility Specialists Don’t Want You to Know! …
I reference the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Success Criteria in my daily work. Recently, I looked back at how I have applied my interpretation to several success criteria and how I either misinterpreted them or was too aggressive in my interpretation. I’ve since studied the success criteria further and have discussed my interpretations […]
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 …
Read Case Study – Podcast Becomes a WCAG 2.1 Implementation Site …
Read Not Your Father’s Navigation Strategy: There’s More Than Just the TAB Key …
Read How To Advocate For Accessible And Inclusive Tech Events …
Wrapping up the 24 Accessibility series for 2017, Ray Campbell shares what you need to know in order to work professionally in the accessibility space and encourages digital professionals to consider the accessibility space as a career choice.
In today’s article, Job van Achterberg tells the story of how he created and grew an accessibility meetup, and how he encourages others to develop meet ups in their locales. And it all started with some whisky.
In today’s article, Alaina Wiens shares her thoughts on her advocacy in accessibility, and how she reminds herself that accessibility is a pursuit, a philosophy and is no longer going to worry about where to start because making the web truly accessible is about refusing to stop.