Amplifying accessibility: An inclusive design guide for a more accessible website

IS IT PERCEIVABLE?

Can users perceive the content? Just because something is perceivable with one sense, such as sight, that doesn’t mean that all users can perceive it.

So tips include:

• Text Alternative: Providing text alternatives for any non-text content
• Time-based media: Providing alternatives for time-based media
• Adaptable: Create content that can be presented in different ways without losing information
• Distinguishable: Create content that can be presented in different ways without losing structure

IS IT OPERABLE?

Are UI components are UI components navigable? For example, if a component requires a hover state event to trigger functionality that would not be possible with someone using a touch device or somebody who cannot use a mouse.

So tips include:

• Keyboard accessible: make all functionality accessible from a keyboard
• Time sensitive material: provide users with enough time to read and use content
• Seizures & physical reactions: do not design content that is known to cause seizures and cause physical reactions
• Navigable: provide ways for users to navigate, find content and determine where they are
• Input modalities: make it easier for users to operate functionality through various inputs

IS IT UNDERSTANDABLE?

Can users understand the content? is the interface consistent enough for users to avoid confusion?

So tips include:

• Readable: make text content readable and understandable
• Predictable: make web pages appear and operate in predictable ways
• Input assistance: help users avoid and correct mistakes

IS IT ROBUST?

Can content be consumed by all required browsers? does it work with assistive technology?

So tips include:

• Compatibility: maximise compatibility with current and future browsers, including assistive technology

• Open the document: This document is an interactive PDF. So to ensure you are getting the best experience from it, please open with software such as Adobe Acrobat or Preview to best take advantage of its capabilities.
• Learn the principles: Each card, categorised under each chapter and category provides an illustrated guideline of best practice. Learn them so you can then implement in your product. Each of these rule pages have a link to the checklist in the top right corner for quick navigation.
• Use links to navigate: Links allow you to navigate the document quickly and seamlessly. You can click to any area from the table of contents. The link to the contents page is in the footer of each page.
• Use the checklist: You can use the checklist to tick off the rules which you have implemented in your product as part of your process. You can click back to any of the sections or information cards on the checklist by clicking on the description or by navigating via the contents page.