Categories
csun theory w3c wcag2

Overwhelmed? Stick To Basics

A few people at the CSUN conference last week commented on the overbearing WCAG 2.0 specs. Many folks agree that WCAG is extremely large and difficult to read (not unlike the HTML5 spec). And especially for accessibility newbies, WCAG can be a difficult place to start.

In a session at CSUN, even the W3C WAI members said that beginners should not read the spec but start with other docs such as How To Meet WCAG2 which pulls the Understanding and Techniques together. The WAI is also working on a “Easy Checks” documents. Here’s a sneak peak to the draft titled Easy Checks – A First Review of Web Accessibility [link updated].

If you are feeling overwhelmed or confused about web accessibility, my advice is this: stick to the basics.

For design, this means not re-inventing HTML elements and behaviors. Particularly form elements, such as re-rendering a select dropdown for the sake of aesthetics. There’s also the horrible trend to make labels appear and function like placeholders.

For development, this means the proper foundational techniques. Namely, the four layers of web development:

  • Semantic HTML for content.
  • CSS for presentation.
  • JS to enhance behavior.
  • ARIA to fill any accessibility gaps.

This fun diagram on Flickr helps illustrate this point.

Using the four layers approach encourages the following good practices:

  • Separating content from presentation from behavior.
  • Maintaining code in external files.
  • Adding ARIA only when needed.

If these practices are implemented in a website, it’s well on its way to being accessible.

Categories
theory

“Accessibility Backlash” Is Good?

Here’s a nifty blog post by Julie Howell on E-Access Blog, The ‘accessibility backlash’ – it’s a good thing!. It’s nifty article on why industry representatives’ passion against web accessibility is actually good.

It thrills me to now learn that industry representatives are finally responding to accessibility, and with such passion. Industry figures aren’t merely aware of web accessibility. They’re now arguing about it!

Categories
podcast theory

Podcast #43: Progressive Enhancement

Ross goes solo for this Web Axe episode. He discusses the levels of Progressive Enhancement and how it benefits accessibility. I would also label some of his discussion as “graceful degradation”.

Download Web Axe Episode 43 (Progressive Enhancement)

Categories
definition expert podcast theory web

Podcast: #41: The Definition of Web Accessibility

Dennis and guest Joe Dolson discuss the definition of Web Accessibility including the W3C definition and WCAG 2.0, universal access, balance of effort, a principal?

Download Web Axe Episode 41 (Definition of Web Accessibility)

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