Web Accessibility

Web Accessibility ensures that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. More specifically, people can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web.

Who benefits?

• People with visual impairments (blindness, low vision).
• People with motor impairments (inability to use a mouse).
• People with auditory impairments (deafness).
• People with cognitive disabilities.
• Everyone: Accessibility helps older people, people with slow internet, or those using devices in bright sunlight.

Key Principles (POUR)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are organized around four principles:

1. Perceivable: Information must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive (e.g., text alternatives for images).
2. Operable: UI components must be operable (e.g., keyboard navigation).
3. Understandable: Information and operation of UI must be understandable.
4. Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is web accessibility a legal requirement? In many countries (including the US, EU, and Israel), yes. Websites providing public services or commerce must comply with accessibility standards (like WCAG 2.1) by law.

2. What is a Screen Reader? Software used by blind or visually impaired people to read the content of a computer screen aloud. Popular examples include NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.

3. Does accessibility hurt the design? No. Accessible design is simply good design. High contrast, clear fonts, and logical layouts improve the experience for all users, not just those with disabilities.

4. What is ARIA? Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) is a set of attributes you can add to HTML elements to describe their purpose to screen readers (e.g., telling a user that a div functions as a button).

5. How can I test my website for accessibility? You can use automated tools like Google Lighthouse, WAVE, or axe. However, manual testing with a keyboard and a screen reader is essential for full compliance.