Accessibility

What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility (a11y) ensures that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. It benefits everyone, including those with temporary impairments.

Essential Resources

• WCAG Quick Reference - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
• WebAIM - Articles, training, and resources
• The A11Y Project - Community-driven accessibility resources
• MDN Accessibility - Comprehensive documentation

WCAG Principles (POUR)

• Perceivable: Information must be presentable in ways users can perceive
• Operable: UI components and navigation must be operable
• Understandable: Information and UI operation must be understandable
• Robust: Content must work with current and future technologies

Key Areas of Focus

• Semantic HTML: Use proper elements (nav, main, button, etc.)
• Keyboard Navigation: All functionality accessible via keyboard
• Screen Readers: ARIA labels, roles, and live regions
• Color Contrast: Minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text
• Alt Text: Meaningful descriptions for images
• Focus Management: Visible focus indicators

Testing Tools

• axe DevTools - Browser extension for accessibility testing
• WAVE - Web accessibility evaluation tool
• Color Contrast Checker - Verify contrast ratios
• Lighthouse: Built into Chrome DevTools
• Screen Readers: NVDA (Windows), JAWS, VoiceOver (Mac/iOS)

Common Disabilities

• Visual: Blindness, low vision, color blindness
• Auditory: Deafness, hard of hearing
• Motor: Limited fine motor control, inability to use mouse
• Cognitive: Learning disabilities, memory impairments
• Seizure: Photosensitive epilepsy

Best Practices

• Early Integration: Consider accessibility from the start
• Test with Real Users: Include people with disabilities in testing
• Progressive Enhancement: Build core functionality first
• Captions & Transcripts: For audio and video content
• Forms: Clear labels, error messages, validation
• Mobile: Touch targets at least 44x44px

Learning Path

• Web Accessibility by Google - Free Udacity course
• Deque University - Comprehensive a11y training
• edX Accessibility Courses - Various programs