Accessibility in software development: Introduction to Web Accessibility

Every day people use digital products like websites, mobile or web applications for private or work-related purposes - they shape how we work, communicate, and access information. However, in some cases accessing web products causes difficulties or is even impossible, particularly for people with disabilities.?

That is why building accessible and user-friendly software is immensely important to ensure an equal and better experience for all users and allow them to participate in the online ecosystem.?

In this article, we’re going to discuss the significance of web accessibility, how it affects business, and how we can make web products more accessible.?

WHAT IS ACCESSIBILITY?

In the Cambridge Dictionary, accessibility is defined as “the fact of being able to be reached or obtained easily” and “the quality of being able to be entered or used by everyone, including people who have a disability”. Eliminating barriers that people with disabilities face daily and providing direct access to services and products is accessibility's purpose.?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 16% of the world's population experience significant disability. Over 1.3 billion people are affected by various limitations that inhibit using different products and services, including the Internet.?

The essence of accessibility is providing critical elements that enable straightforward use and comprehension of a product regardless of a person's disabilities - concentrating on reducing disproportion and exclusion of particular groups of people lies at the heart of this approach.

UNDERSTANDING WEB ACCESSIBILITY?

Web Accessibility refers to designing and creating websites and digital products available for everyone, no matter a person’s limitations. It is an all-inclusive approach to software development dedicated to reducing impediments to the usage of software products.

However, it's important to consider the bigger picture and strive for accessible solutions that benefit everyone. Many people have encountered difficulties when using applications on their mobile devices. Those are commonly referred to as temporary disabilities, which include:

• Temporary limitations: sudden injuries like a broken arm or caused by unexpected situations, for example, lost glasses.?
• Situational limitations: when we find ourselves in situations where it is harder to use web products, such as direct sunlight that makes it difficult to see anything on the mobile screen, or when in a public place, you can’t play audio aloud.?
• Age-related limitations: older people often require bigger fonts and buttons due to their age-related?
• End-device limitations: using different devices with small screens or input modes (smartwatches, smart TVs).

While the issues mentioned above may only be minor inconveniences for some, individuals with permanent disabilities struggle daily with the lack of accessible solutions. That is why it is extremely important to provide features that streamline the use of digital products.?

THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF WEB ACCESSIBILITY

Software products can incorporate accessibility by following the POUR principles, which stand for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. Each principle highlights crucial factors related to its category.

PERCEIVABLE

Every user should be able to perceive all essential information on the website, including those with visual or hearing impairments. “Perceive” means that the content should be provided in multiple ways, including alternative text for images, audio descriptions, or video captions, enabling screen readers and other assistive tools to process it.

OPERABLE

Users should be able to navigate through the website using different inputs (keyboard, mouse, or assistive technology), especially needed for the ones with mobility or dexterity impairments. The software cannot require any interactions that users can’t perform.?

UNDERSTANDABLE

Any information provided on the website, including error messages, instructions, or web content, should be clear and easy to understand.?

ROBUST

A website should be robust and easily interpreted by different assistive technologies, enabling people with disabilities to access the content freely. With the evolution and development of various tools, the website should remain accessible.?

IMPORTANCE OF WEB ACCESSIBILITY FOR BUSINESS

Including web accessibility in a business's design can provide various business-related benefits and lead to a competitive edge, ultimately contributing to long-term success.

Innovations

Technology drives innovations and the development of new creative solutions to improve user experience. With a constant digital evolution prioritizing accessibility in your web products will help all users equally access innovative solutions.?

Brand Identity

Incorporating an inclusive approach with web accessibility impacts your brand perception and experience. Demonstrating your business values diversity and inclusion fosters a positive brand image and users' loyalty.

Wide Audience

As mentioned earlier, people with disabilities constitute 16% of the world population. With digital accessibility, those people can easily access your web content. Hence, you can expand a broader customer base for your products and services, increasing sales.?

Mitigating Legal Risks

While not all websites and applications are legally required to be accessible (with exceptions for government and public sites), many jurisdictions mandate them. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires equal access to goods and services, including digital platforms. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in legal consequences such as lawsuits, fines, and damage to one's reputation. To avoid such risks, it is best to research the accessibility laws and guidelines in your country and area before starting development to ensure compliance.

Better User Experience

The design of your website should be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This approach not only benefits individuals with limitations but also enhances the user experience for everyone. By prioritizing accessibility, you can increase user loyalty and make your web product easier to use.

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY GUIDES?

WEB CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES (WCAG)

WCAG is an international document presenting guidelines for web accessibility standards developed by W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) in cooperation with organizations worldwide. It aims to provide shared and consistent standards that help people with disabilities use digital products. They can obtain dynamic content, multimedia, mobile, and non-web ICT.

For now, the most recent version of the document is WCAG 2.1 - version 2.2 will be released soon this year.?

AUTHORING TOOL ACCESSIBILITY GUIDE (ATAG)

ATAG is a part of the accessibility guidelines provided by W3C, along with User Agent Accessibility Guidelines discussed below. Authoring Tools submit software and services used by web developers, writers, etc. (called authors) to create accessible web content. From this guide, you can learn how to make more accessible authoring tools and content that is available for everyone.?

USER AGENT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES (UAAG)

“User agents” are web browsers, web extensions, media players, and other applications which render web content.

The UAAG explains how to make these more accessible to people with disabilities and increase their ability to communicate with assistive tools.?

ACCESSIBLE RICH INTERNET APPLICATIONS (ARIA)

ARIA, also WAI-ARIA, is a set of roles and attributes for making accessible web content and web applications with dynamic content and complex user interface controls. Developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative, a subset of W3C, intended for applications developed with HTML, JavaScript, and related technologies. ARIA provides a framework that helps identify features for user interactions, their state, and relations between each other, and also navigation techniques for elements of web structures such as menus, content, and banners.?

The latest version is WAI-ARIA 1.1 published in 2017, the next version is still under development, but we can expect it any time soon.?

Other guidelines

Besides the above, every technology provides accessibility guidelines to streamline the software development process and help developers build applications that are available for everyone. For example, you can find the guidelines for ReactJS, React Native, or iOS and Android, with handy information on how to make an inclusive application.?

Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools

Following the guidelines is one thing, the other is testing if everything works fine. To determine if your web content meets the accessibility standards, you can use one of the Accessibility Evaluation Tools.?

Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools are software programs or online services checking if your web content complies with accessibility standards.

You can find the complete list of available tools on the W3C page.

BEST PRACTICES FOR WEB ACCESSIBILITY

Text alternatives for non-text items: Any images, icons, or graphics should have a text alternative that clearly describes what it presents so that screen readers may communicate it to visually impaired users. Commonly, developers use image alt text to describe substantial graphics. In the case of decorative images leave this attribute as “null” and screen readers will ignore it.?

Transcriptions for audio and captions for video: Provide a transcription for every audio on your website and synchronized captions for video content to help users with hearing impairments interact with content.

Content structure: Structure web content in an organized and intuitive way, including proper headings, text structure (bold, italic, etc.), and list elements in logical order.?

Color contrast and fonts: To improve the readability of your content, utilize the high contrast feature between text and background elements. Fonts should be easy to read - ornamental or decorative ones can be hardly readable for people with vision impairments.

Enable navigation through various inputs: For ones with motor disabilities, you should ensure that all functionalities and features can be reached through different navigation tools, for example, a keyboard or eye tracker.

Avoid flickering content: Flashing or blinking content may be disturbing for users with epilepsy. Therefore, avoid such content, or if you are unable to remove flashing elements, it is required to provide a warning before users reach your web page.

Website structure and navigation: Users should clearly understand the website structure - where they are and how to access certain content. To enhance user experience, it is important to offer a user-friendly menu section with distinct page titles and clickable links.

Clear instructions: Provide step-by-step instructions for every process stage, including error messages. Clearly describe what action the user has to take for the next step, why something is not working, and how to fix the problem.?

Bottom line: The Importance of Web Accessibility

By understanding the power of inclusion in the digital world, businesses can make their online presence even more visible and available for all users regardless of their limitations. Web accessibility may not be a legal requirement for your specific product, but incorporating best practices and following accessibility guidelines can drive growth and customer loyalty, increase your brand image, and give your business a competitive advantage.?