Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Audit

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Audit is a set of guidelines designed to ensure that websites and digital content are accessible to people with disabilities. The guidelines are organized into three levels of conformance: A, AA, and AAA. Each level includes specific criteria that must be met in order for the content to be considered accessible. The criteria are organized into four main categories: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. The criteria cover a wide range of topics, including text alternatives, keyboard accessibility, and the use of color and contrast. The WCAG Audit guidelines are an important tool for web developers and designers to ensure that their websites are accessible to everyone.

Testing the perceivability of a web page is an important step in ensuring that the page is accessible to all users. The first step in testing perceivability is to ensure that the page has sufficient contrast between text and background colors. Additionally, it is important to make sure that the page is readable without the need for a specific font size or color. Additionally, it is important to make sure that all images and videos have alternative text descriptions and captions. Finally, it is important to make sure that all content is organized in a logical and accessible way, and that all interactive elements are clearly labeled and easy to use. By following these steps, it is possible to ensure that a web page is perceivable to all users.

·       Provide text alternatives for non-text content.

·       Provide captions and other alternatives for multimedia.

·       Create content that can be presented in different ways, including by assistive technologies, without losing meaning.

·       Make it easier for users to see and hear content.

How many of use have seen a link with "Click here? "Testing the operability of a web page is an important step in ensuring that the page is functioning properly. You should check the page's HTML and CSS code to make sure that it is valid and error-free. All functionalities should be keyboard accessible. The links , buttons should have meaningful accessible names for assistive technologies. Finally, you should also test the page's functionality by clicking on links and buttons to make sure that they are working properly. By doing these steps, you can ensure that your web page is operable and functioning correctly.

·       Make all functionality available from a keyboard.

·       Give users enough time to read and use content.

·       Do not use content that causes seizures or physical reactions.

·       Help users navigate and find content.

·       Make it easier to use inputs other than keyboard.

How many of you are tired of seeing "Incorrect phone number format ? "Testing the understandability of the web page is an important step in ensuring that the page is accessible to all users. To test the understandability of a web page, a few key steps should be taken. First, the page should be tested to ensure that all content is written in clear, plain language, avoiding any jargon or technical terms that may be confusing. Next, the page should be tested to ensure that all instructions are easy to follow and that users can easily find the information they need. Finally, the page should be tested to ensure that all interactive elements are easy to use and that users can easily navigate between different parts of the page. Any errors in the page should have clear description and a guiding process, so users can fix the errors independently. By taking these steps, the understandability of a web page can be tested and improved, ensuring that all users can access the content.

·       Make text readable and understandable.

·       Make content appear and operate in predictable ways.

·       Help users avoid and correct mistakes.

Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, such as browsers, search engines, and assistive technologies. This means that content should be written in a way that is accessible to all users, regardless of the device they are using. By ensuring that content is robust, it can be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents and assistive technologies, allowing all users to access the content.

·       Make parsing clear and flawless

·       Provide ARIA name , roll , value for all interactive elements

 

 

Cognitive Accessibility Guidance

The digital content created today can have a huge impact on society, but unfortunately, not everyone can access it. People with cognitive disabilities are particularly affected, as they are unable to access the same digital content as the rest of the population. This can lead to a lack of understanding of the world around them, as well as a lack of access to important information and resources. This can lead to a feeling of isolation and exclusion, as well as a lack of opportunity and advancement. It can also lead to a lack of understanding of the world around them, which can lead to a lack of participation in society. This can have a negative effect on the overall quality of life for those with cognitive disabilities, and can lead to a lack of inclusion in the larger society. Therefore, it is important to ensure that digital content is accessible to all, regardless of their cognitive abilities, in order to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities and access to important information and resources.

Mental health disability is a term used to describe a wide range of mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in four people globally suffer from some form of mental health disability as of 2023. This means that approximately 25% of the world's population is affected by mental health disability in some way. 

Making purpose of your page clear, using a consistent visual design, making each step simple and clear, using icons that can help users, helping user understand the overall functionality of your digital content , helping users avoid mistakes and provide clear instructions ensure your digital content is flexible enough for cognitive disable users.

10 Easy Steps to make your digital content accessible

Making digital content accessible doesn't have to be difficult. Here are 10 easy steps you can take to ensure your digital content is accessible to everyone: 

1. Check the HTML structure and semantics - Ensure that the website's HTML structure and semantics are appropriate and semantically correct. This includes using proper heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.), labeling form fields, and using alt text for images.

2. Test for non text content -Provide text alternatives for ALL non-text content, such as images, audio, or video.

3. Test for language- Use plain language and avoid jargon. Ensure that all text and images are large enough to be easily read.

4. Test for multimedia accessibility - Provide captions and transcripts for all audio and video content.

5. Test for consistency - Create a consistent page structure and navigation to make the digital content easily understandable.

6. Test for color contrast - Check the color contrast ratio of text and images to ensure that it meets the minimum contrast ratio required for WCAG compliance. Use contrasting colors for text and background. Never use colors as the only sensory element to convey your context.

7. Test for Keyboard Accessibility - Make sure all functionalities are keyboard accessible for your non sighted user community.

8. Test for assistive technology compatibility - Test your content for compatibility with screen readers , color analyzer, magnifiers etc.

9. Test links and user interactive elements - Make sure all links and buttons are clearly labeled and easy to click.

10. Validate the website - Validate the website's code using tools such as the W3C Validator to ensure that it meets web standards and is accessible to all users.

WCAG2.0 and P.O.U.R Concept

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 includes a comprehensive set of success criteria organized under the four principles of Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). WCAG 2.0 encompasses a total of 38 success criteria for Level A and an additional 26 success criteria for Level AA accessibility compliance.

In WCAG 2.0, Level A success criteria focus on fundamental accessibility requirements, while Level AA success criteria address more advanced considerations to enhance the user experience for individuals with disabilities. Think of Level A success criteria in WCAG 2.0 as the basic building blocks of accessibility, like providing text alternatives for images (1.1.1) or ensuring keyboard accessibility (2.1.1). On the other hand, Level AA success criteria, such as maintaining sufficient contrast (1.4.3) or offering alternatives for time-based media (1.2.2), take accessibility a step further for a more inclusive and refined user experience.

Perceivable

1. Text Alternatives (Provide text alternatives for non-text content):

    1.1.1 Non-text Content: All non-text content that is presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose.

2. Time-based Media (Provide alternatives for time-based media):

    1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded): Provide an alternative for time-based media.

    1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded): Provide synchronized captions for multimedia.

    1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded): Provide an alternative for time-based media or audio descriptions.

3. Adaptable (Create content that can be presented in different ways without losing information or structure):

    1.3.1 Info and Relationships: Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text.

    1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence: When the sequence in which content is presented affects its meaning, a correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined.

    1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics: Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics.

4. Distinguishable (Make it easier for users to see and hear content):

    1.4.1 Use of Color: Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.

    1.4.2 Audio Control: If any audio on a Web page plays automatically for more than 3 seconds, a mechanism is available to pause or stop the audio.

    1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum): Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.

    1.4.4 Resize text: Except for captions and images of text, text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality.

Operable

5. Keyboard Accessible (Make all functionality available from a keyboard):

    2.1.1 Keyboard: All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface.

6. Enough Time (Provide users enough time to read and use content):

    2.2.1 Timing Adjustable: For each time limit that is set by the content, the user is able to turn off, adjust, or extend the time limit.

    2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide: For moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information, there is a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it.

    2.2.3 No Timing: Timing is not an essential part of the event or activity presented by the content, except for non-interactive synchronized media and real-time events.

7. Seizures and Physical Reactions (Do not design content in a way that is known to cause seizures or physical discomfort):

    2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold: Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one-second period, or the flash is below the general flash and red flash thresholds.

    2.3.2 Three Flashes: Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one-second period.

8. Navigable (Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are):

    2.4.1 Bypass Blocks: A mechanism is available to bypass blocks of content that are repeated on multiple Web pages.

    2.4.2 Page Titled: Web pages have titles that describe the topic or purpose.

    2.4.3 Focus Order: If a Web page can be navigated sequentially and the navigation sequences affect meaning or operation, focusable components receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability.

    2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context): The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its link context.

    2.4.5 Multiple Ways: More than one way is available to locate a Web page within a set of Web pages except where the Web Page is the result of, or a step in, a process.

    2.4.6 Headings and Labels: Headings and labels describe topic or purpose.

    2.4.7 Focus Visible: Any keyboard operable user interface has a mode of operation where the keyboard focus indicator is visible.

Understandable

9. Readable (Make text content readable and understandable):

    3.1.1 Language of Page: The default human language of each Web page can be programmatically determined.

    3.1.2 Language of Parts: The human language of each passage or phrase in the content can be programmatically determined except for proper names, technical terms, words of indeterminate language, and words or phrases that have become part of the vernacular of the immediately surrounding text.

10. Predictable (Make web pages appear and operate in predictable ways):

    3.2.1 On Focus: When any component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of context.

    3.2.2 On Input: Changing the setting of any user interface component does not automatically cause a change of context unless the user has been advised of the behavior before using the component.

    3.2.3 Consistent Navigation: Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple Web pages within a set of Web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated, unless a change is initiated by the user.

    3.2.4 Consistent Identification: Components that have the same functionality within a set of Web pages are identified consistently.

11. Input Assistance (Help users avoid and correct mistakes):

    3.3.1 Error Identification: If an input error is automatically detected, the item that is in error is identified and the error is described to the user in text.

    3.3.2 Labels or Instructions: Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input.

    3.3.3 Error Suggestion: If an input error is automatically detected and suggestions for correction are known, then the suggestions are provided to the user, unless it would jeopardize the security or purpose of the content.

    3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data): For Web pages that cause legal commitments or financial transactions for the user to occur, that modify or delete user-controllable data in data storage systems, or that submit user test responses, at least one of the following is true:

Robust

12. Compatible (Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies):

    4.1.1 Parsing: In content implemented using markup languages, elements have complete start and end tags, elements are nested according to their specifications, elements do not contain duplicate attributes, and any IDs are unique, except where the specifications allow these features.

    4.1.2 Name, Role, Value: For all user interface components (including but not limited to: form elements, links and components generated by scripts), the name and role can be programmatically determined; states, properties, and values that can be set by the user can be programmatically set; and notification of changes to these items is available to user agents, including assistive technologies.

This list is a comprehensive overview of the WCAG 2.0 success criteria, organized under the Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust principles. Each success criterion plays a crucial role in ensuring digital content is accessible to a diverse audience.

What is Web Accessibility ?

Web accessibility is the practice of making websites, web applications, and other online content accessible for all users, regardless of their physical or mental abilities. This includes accommodating users with disabilities, such as those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. Web accessibility is important because it helps ensure that everyone can access and use the same content and functionalities regardless of their physical or mental abilities. Without web accessibility, users with disabilities may not be able to access or use the content, which could lead to exclusion and discrimination. Web accessibility also helps to create an inclusive and equitable digital environment, which is important for everyone.