Web Axe – blog and podcast on web accessibility

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We Don’t Need A Native .visually-hidden

Post author By Dennis
Post date March 12, 2023
10 Comments on We Don’t Need A Native .visually-hidden

Some web professionals say that The Web Needs a Native .visually-hidden. I respectfully disagree, particularly as a matter of priority.

A visually-hidden CSS class, as it’s often named, is used to visually hide textual content from sighted users but expose it to screen reader users. This is a common practice in web development, too common in my opinion. Another name for the class you’ll come across is “sr-only” (which I believe stemmed from Bootstrap but was modified in version 5). The properties of the class are complex and implemented in different ways.

So technically, this may be true—a native HTML attribute for the same functionality would be somewhat useful. But it’s not anywhere near the importance of other, more foundational needs. My point is that, in the big picture, a native visually-hidden should be much, much lower on the priority list. So low that it’s a bit discouraging to hear folks requesting it.

What the web really, greatly needs is the following:

Web developers who practice semantic HTML.
Designers who don’t want to customize every single UI element.
VPs who prioritize usability and accessibility.
Designers and VPs who prioritize usability and accessibility over the latest visual design trends (which most of the time cause accessibility problems).
A lot less adverts, pop-ups, notifications, and other UI shyte.

These fundamental needs will go tremendously further for usability and accessibility than any HTML attribute, ARIA attribute, automated testing tool, Figma plugin, etc.

Also, as web professionals, we don’t want to encourage the use of visually hidden text but discourage the use — in favor of universal design, creating the same design and experience for all users. This will also save a lot of time and hassle during the SDLC.

Upcoming Accessibility Events (2023)

Post author By Dennis
Post date February 5, 2023
6 Comments on Upcoming Accessibility Events (2023)

Mark your calendar! Here are some terrific digital accessibility events coming up in 2023. Please add any good ones that I missed in the comments.

March 8, Ability Summit by Microsoft, online
March 13-17, 38th Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference in Anaheim, CA
March 15-16, axe-con by Deque Systems, online
April 27-28, ACCESS by 3PlayMedia, online, free
May 9-12, John Slatin AccessU 2023 by Knowbility, hybrid
May 16-18, Virtua11y web accessibility conference 2023 by Nomensa @we_are_Nomensa
May 18, Global Accessibility Awareness Day @gaadfdn #GAAD
HighEdWeb 2023 Accessibility Summit, July 25,
Online, @highEdWeb
21 September, Inclusive Design 24 @ID24Conf #ID24, online
TBD, Web Accessibility in Mind Conference by WebAIM and Pope Tech
TBD, Accessibility Toronto Conference, @a11yTO #a11yTOConf
October 10-12, M-Enabling Summit, Washington DC, @mEnablingSummit
November 6-10, 26th Annual Accessing Higher Ground in Denver, CO, hybrid

Also, check out my Twitter list of accessibility meetup groups around the world.

disability roundup

Stock photos of people with disabilities

Post author By Dennis
Post date January 7, 2023
7 Comments on Stock photos of people with disabilities

Slightly off topic, but if you’re seeking a stock photo including people with a disability, here is a list of resources. Please submit a comment if you know of any others!

Pixabay (disability search) – free images & royalty free stock.
Disability Inclusive Stock Photography – Disability:IN is pleased to offer disability inclusive stock photography to the public. In an effort to empower business to achieve disability inclusion and equality, we encourage corporations to use this in recruitment material, marketing material, internal and external communications, etc. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Pexels (disability search) Free Disability Photos.
Disabled And Here Collection – This stock library is a disability-led effort to provide free and inclusive images from our own perspective, with photos and illustrations celebrating disabled Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC).
DisabilityImages – Nice photos but requires payment. Disability Images was acquired by Design Pics Inc. in July of 2019. After building this unique collection depicting authentic persons with real disabilities over the past many years, the previous owners elected to have Disability Images become part the Design Pics family of brands. This transition allows for continued service to the valued clients who have come to rely on this collection to serve their specific image requirements.
PhotoAbility – Nice photos but requires payment. Stock Image Library featuring individuals with disabilities in Travel, Leisure and Lifestyle settings.
The Disability Illustration Pack – by Black Illustrations, $18 at time of publishing
SocietyPix / gesellschaftsbilder.de (added from comments) – their vision is to “expand the photo collection to show members of other marginalized communities in non-stereotypical ways”. They are free to use for editorial purposes and for a small fee for others.