A Holistic Approach To Web Accessibility

Brian KellyUKOLNUniversity of BathBath

Email:B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.ukURL:http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/

UKOLN is supported by: TechDis is supported by:

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/mla-2005-02/http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/mla-2005-02/

Lawrie PhippsJISC TechDis ServiceYork

Email:Lawrie.Phipps@heacademy.ac.uk

URL:http://www.techdis.ac.uk/

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About This Talk

This talk:• Summarises the role of W3C WAI and WAI

WCAG guidelines in helping to provide universal access to digital resources

• Describes some of the difficulties experienced in implementing guidelines

• Describes some of the limitations and dangers with the guidelines

• Provides a holistic framework for (Web) accessibility

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About The Technical LevelThe talk outlines WAI WCAG limitations. The details may not be relevant unless you are a Web developer. However they raise issues of relevance if commissioning Web design from third parties

About The Technical LevelThe talk outlines WAI WCAG limitations. The details may not be relevant unless you are a Web developer. However they raise issues of relevance if commissioning Web design from third parties

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About The Speakers

Brian Kelly:• Works for UKOLN – a national centre of expertise

in digital information management

• Web adviser to the UK cultural heritage and higher and further education communities

• Funded by MLA and the JISC

Lawrie Phipps:• Works for TechDis, an educational

advisory service, working across UK, in the fields of accessibility and inclusion

• Senior Advisor for Higher Education• Funded by the JISC

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W3C WAI and WCAG

W3C (World Wide Web Consortium):• Body responsible for coordinating development of

Web standards

WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative):• W3C group responsible for developing guidelines

which will ensure Web resources are widely accessible

WCAC (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines):• One of three sets of WAI guidelines. WCAG

provides advice of accessibility on Web content (e.g. HTML pages)

• Other two WAI guidelines cover accessible user agents (browsers) and accessible authoring tools

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Where Are We Now?

Current status on Web accessibility:• Widespread awareness of Web accessibility

issues within many Web/public sector Web communities

• Widespread support for implementation • Sharing of approaches, discussions, etc.

But:• Implementation challenges• Lack of clarity of what exactly we should do• Still ambiguities (cf DRC report)• Have things changes since WAI WCAG 1.0

released in 1999?

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Interpretation of WAI WCAGHow do you interpret WAI WCAG (must use ALT tags for images; HTML must be valid; must use style sheets for presentation; …):

• Mandatory, with following characteristics:Clearly defined rules ObjectiveChecking mostly objectivePenalties for non-complianceSimilar to checking that HTML complies with the

standard

• Advisory, with following characteristics:Useful guidelines, to be interpreted in contextIt's about providing useful, usable resourcesChecking mostly subjectiveIt's similar to checking that a Web site is well-designed

Which reflects your views most closely?

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Accessibility Survey

Survey of ~160 UK University home pages carried out in August 2002 and repeated in June 2004

Used Bobby – so only objective criteria measured

Findings 2002 2004

WAI AA 3 (<2%) 7 (4%)

WAI A 70 (43%) 93 (56%)

See <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/webmaster-2004/talks/phipps-kelly/survey/>

What figures do you expect?

Reminder: this is probably an over-estimate of compliance. Problems which can only be spotted with manual detection can reduce these figures.Also note that this is just the home page – not the entire Web site!

Reminder: this is probably an over-estimate of compliance. Problems which can only be spotted with manual detection can reduce these figures.Also note that this is just the home page – not the entire Web site!

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What Can We Conclude?

What can we conclude from the lack of WAI WCAG AAA and small percentage of AA compliance:

• The HE community doesn't care about Web accessibility Need for stronger enforcement Let's make an example of someone

• WCAG is poorly / ambiguously defined• WCAG AA and AAA compliance is difficult to

achieve (even on a single, high profile page)• There are other issues, other priorities, etc.

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Similar low level of compliance with WAI guidelines found by SiteMorse using automated checker across UK disability organisations’ Web sites − which led to heated debate!

Similar low level of compliance with WAI guidelines found by SiteMorse using automated checker across UK disability organisations’ Web sites − which led to heated debate!

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What Is Meant By A, AA, AAA?

WAI WCAG has three levels of compliance: A, AA, and AAA

What is meant by this?

A – achievable easily with today's technologiesAAA – needs new technologies, new formats

…

A – addresses some disabilitiesAAA – addresses all disabilities

A – for small, volunteer organisations, colleges,…AAA – for large, well-funded nationals, Oxbridges, ..

If there is a lack of consensus, how can we specify what we want, implement this, check this, …

Note see <http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/#priorities>Note see <http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/#priorities>

X Univ. has AA policyHow? Can't! Committee decreed policy, then appointed me!

X Univ. has AA policyHow? Can't! Committee decreed policy, then appointed me!

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WAI WCAG AA and AAA

In order to achieve WAI WCAG AA compliance:• Avoid deprecated features (e.g. FONT)• Use W3C technologies when available and

appropriate (no Flash, MS Word or PowerPoint)• .. use the latest versions [of W3C formats] • Create documents that validate to published formal

grammars (i.e. HTML must be valid)

In order to achieve WAI WCAG AAA compliance:• "Specify the expansion of each abbreviation or

acronym in a document where it first occurs" (BBC?)

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I think this means the format is appropriate (i.e. HTML for slides) but others argue it means resources, expertise, … available

I think this means the format is appropriate (i.e. HTML for slides) but others argue it means resources, expertise, … available

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Concerns Over WAI WCAG

Guidelines Too Theoretical• Some WCAG guidelines appear theoretical• WCAG seeks to promote W3C standards

(including new, untested ones) in addition to addressing mainstream accessibility issues

• Overall WAI approach is dependent on content, authoring tools and user agent guidelines – the latter two are outside the remit of Web authors

Developments Outside Of W3C• WAI has succeeded in raising awareness of

accessibility – and commercial sector has responded (cf. accessibility in OS, proprietary formats, …)

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A WCAG AAA Web Site?

Many Google hits for "wai aaa council"

But:• Are the claims

correct?• Are the sites

accessible?

Note in this example:• Site uses PDFs• Web pages invalid

Therefore Web site is (probably) WAI A at best – but does this mean inaccessible?

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Can We Break The Guidelines?

What do you do?• Use access keys, as required by WCAG AAA (even

though you feel they're not much use)• Don't use them and claim WCAG AA at best• Use them and claim WCAG AAA …

What do you do?• Use access keys, as required by WCAG AAA (even

though you feel they're not much use)• Don't use them and claim WCAG AA at best• Use them and claim WCAG AAA …

The same Web site has decided to not use access keys as support is flawed

One expert (Joe Clarke) states that access keys are:

"severely compromised in practical application..." and "If you add access keys, then, you are really coding for a future utopia"

ConclusionsIf treating WCAG as rigourous standard is flawed what should we do?

ConclusionsIf treating WCAG as rigourous standard is flawed what should we do?

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The User

When designing for a user group:• We have come to accept that 'design for

all' is a misnomer • Design for most is probably the highest

standard we can achieve• The reality is design for some

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The User Experience (in HE)

Fieldwork

Labwork

Lectures

Peer learning

Group work

Viva Voce

Library

Tutorials

Webresources

CAA

E-learning

Student

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Usability

Accessibility is not a product

Creating a resource that is inclusive is a process

The process must involve users

The experience of the JISC X4L programme• Creating learning materials• A tick list for accessibility

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Usability as a process

… of accessibility, objectives and needs• You need to consider your context• What do your community want or need to

access• Prioritise those areas – test them with the

users

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The Holistic Approach• Accessibility is only important in achieving

a user's objective• This objective does not (usually) state

“I want to read Wuthering Heights on a Web site that is XHTML Strict and complies with WCAG AAA”

• You have resources other than the Web

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Pragmatism and Holism • You have limited resources• Prioritise• Seek to implement a basic level of

accessibility – but test the important resources with users

• Usability of material is as important as accessibility

• Be flexible, state that you want to support users and provide a contact

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TechDis – UKOLN Approach

Remember legislation expects organisations

to take "reasonable measures"

Remember legislation expects organisations

to take "reasonable measures"

UsersNeeds

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Holistic framework for e-learning accessibility published in CJLT:

• Focusses on the userand recognises:

• External pressures e.g. funders, QAA, …

• Technical infrastructure • Resource implications• Learning & teaching objectives

and requires Quality Assurance based on documented policies and systematic checking

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Other Relevant Factors

You should give equal thought to:• Open standards: aim to provide application and

system independence; architectural integrity; long term access; etc.

• Interoperability: access to data by new devices (PDAs, digital TVs, …) and to automated tools (Google, …). Note that Flash may be accessible but not interoperable (i.e. no learning 'chunks').

• Systems architecture/information flow: you'll need to address this to manage system effectively

• Usability and accessibility: as discussed

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You should address such issues in a holistic way. There will be arguments, difficult decisions to be made. There isn't a simple set of rules, but there are useful guidelines. In fact, this is similar to many business processes.

You should address such issues in a holistic way. There will be arguments, difficult decisions to be made. There isn't a simple set of rules, but there are useful guidelines. In fact, this is similar to many business processes.

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Cultural Heritage Example

Flash game in public library:• Described at UKOLN's Public Library Web

Conference, 2004• A fun resource for children visiting library

*

* Many people feel threatened by such questions

The Tate Gallery's i-Map learning resource about Picasso & Matisse paintings for blind users is another good example

The Tate Gallery's i-Map learning resource about Picasso & Matisse paintings for blind users is another good example

Q: What about accessibility?A: We'll have to remove it, shame – they liked itQ. What's it for?A. Keep kids amused while parents borrow booksQ. Why not provide building blocks, bouncy castle, ... as equivalent real world accessible alternative

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What Should You Be Doing?• Ensure you have an accessibility policy

Google 'council accessibility policy wai' – but remember this is 'an evolving process & not a finished product'

Audit your Web site (e.g. using Firefox & various tools• User test your Web site• Address usability & accessibility issues in tender documents• Develop processes for acceptance testing

<http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue38/phipps/><http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue38/phipps/>

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Conclusions

• WAI guidelines have been developed for a reason – so seek to understand them and implement them if possible

• But be flexible if implementation is difficult or conflicts with other goals

• Select guidelines / standards that mean something to the context of the resource

• Think holistically!

BK

This may not be new to you. You probably make such choices when designed exhibitions, etc.