These are times when the old catchphrase ‘Content is King’ is finally becoming relevant. Be it OTT entertainment like Netflix, or the way we choose whether to stick with a website or move on to the next. Content plays a major role. We live a quick-and-fast lifestyle. If the information or value we are seeking doesn’t come easy, it’s not that hard to find another source. That is why website designers and content developers are always behind value-packed, easy-to-navigate websites and information flow. The sole purpose behind creating websites being reaching out to an audience, it is but natural that web development companies would want a wider audience for their or their client’s work.
However, what about people who are differently abled or have varied kinds of disability? There is an entire stratum of people who perceive and absorb information in a manner that is unlike ours. Shouldn’t there be careful attention paid towards making websites and content easily available for them? With that goal in mind, W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) came up with the concept of web accessibility. It is not just a one-way transaction anymore. Websites can do a lot more than just convey information. You can do your monthly shopping, or get the live score of a cricket match or maybe connect with a distant friend. Web accessibility allows all these exciting trends to be enjoyed by those impaired of vision, or maybe going through physical trauma of some sort.
A little discussion on Web Accessibility
“Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web. More specifically, Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web. Web accessibility also benefits others, including older people with changing abilities due to aging.” - W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)
This of course, applies automatically to mobile websites, or other digital platforms as well along with desktop versions of websites.
Are you a techpreneur looking to make your new digital content accessible for disabled people? Or are you a veteran of the webdev world, who has just recently learned about accessibility? Before jumping into this world, you might be deterred by the hurdles of web accessibility you may have heard so much about. But times are changing, and organizations world-over are working towards standardizing web accessibility. These are perfect times to be getting into web accessibility and in the next section, we will explore why.
Opportunities Opening Up in the Field of Web Accessibility
Web accessibility relies on several components working like a well-oiled machine, including web technologies, web browsers and other "user agents", authoring tools, and websites. Despite continuous efforts in recent years, websites still are partially or in some cases completely inaccessible to the differently abled sector of the population. The reason for that largely remains that pre-conceived notions or misunderstandings have not been cleared up.
Granted, Accessibility Evaluation Methods (AEMs) are still evolving. The path towards becoming accessible was previously a little murky; it used to be difficult to understand whether you are even on the right path or not.
But not anymore!
W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have found stability. Your best bet for clarification would be to read more on the W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative. However, if you are drowning in a sea of resources, then organizations like us (Tekvision LLP) will be more than happy to equip/train you with the required Accessibility knowledge.
But before that, before we even talk about evaluating accessibility, there used to be certain issues in the development phase that have now found solutions.
1. Increased Awareness and Drive
Earlier, lack of concrete info would be a discouraging factor in achieving web accessibility. Even people willing to try and make their websites accessible were not sure regarding how to go about it. But then came the era of Big Data, after which there was an explosion of usage statistics and user behaviors. It came to light that disabled people were and still are avid users of web technology. It came to a point where we simply couldn’t ignore web accessibility. This forced the W3C to coalesce all their web accessibility concepts into one single, universally acceptable standard, which is now widely being followed.
In foreign countries, now Web Accessibility is no longer optional. Website owners are now penalized for not making their web content accessible. Different countries have accessibility mandates with different names. For e.g. US has section 508 and ADA, Equality Act 2010 in UK to name a few. However, all these standards are a subset of the WCAG as laid down by W3C. Also, ARIA governs the accessibility standards of all the Rich Internet Applications.
Such positive change is predicted to come to India soon as well. But why wait? If you have started on this path already, there is no better time than the present to trudge ahead and become fully WA compliant.
2. Influx of Data
The outburst of technology is not all that new. Smartphones have become omnipresent, and even kids under 10 can operate Alexa or Siri. Things are unfurling like scenes from a sci-fi thriller, and data surveys are revealing staggering results by the data. In these times, there are those considerate souls who want to make technology an effortless experience for the disabled persons. Big giants like Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Facebook have already realized the importance of making their web, mobile and document presence accessible. And why not? They know the fact that there are 1.3 billion people across the globe who are having some kind of disability. A disability which restricts them from using technology to the fullest, like the mainstream. These corporations simply cannot ignore this huge customer base.
So, embracing accessibility is a plus for any organization in that it widens its customer base. Also, it conveys to the world its awareness of Social Responsibility by making a difference for 1.3 billion people. So, what are you waiting for?
3. User Acceptance Testing
To certify your mobile or web app as completely accessibility compliant, you need to test it with end users (i.e. people with disabilities). The stark truth is that people without disabilities cannot comprehensively come up with the complete set of use-case scenarios. However, you do not have to be disheartened by this. You can incorporate people with disabilities into your testing team and they can test out your WA compliance first-hand.
We at Tekvision have a team of actual end users. They ensure that we don't miss even the smallest accessibility compliance flaw in any Internet app we certify for WA-compliance.
4. Automated Testing
There are many Accessibility Automation Tools available. Which and why should you select a specific tool is greatly elaborated by W3C itself in their article on Tool Evaluation.
However, one should always remember that Accessibility Testing can never be 100% automated. Any accessibility automation tool can help you with identifying at the most approximately 60% of accessibility compliance issues. The remaining issues have to be identified manually by the actual end users (for e.g VIs using screen readers). So, to certify your mobile or web-app as completely WA-compliant, it has to be tested by the end users (UAT).
How Can TekVision Help You?
We at TekVision believe in facilitating new horizons for those with special abilities. Our Team can help you in complying with any and every regulatory compliance specific to the region/country you are in. We believe in equal opportunities. With dedicated efforts, no challenge is impossible. Want to understand how to make your internet presence accessible? Drop us a line!
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