Course Content
Module 1: Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusivity
• 1.1 What is Digital Accessibility? Understand the importance of accessibility in the digital world and its impact on individuals with disabilities. • 1.2 Overview of Disabilities and Assistive Technologies Explore different types of disabilities (visual, auditory, cognitive, motor) and the assistive technologies used by people with disabilities. • 1.3 The Role of Inclusive Design in Promoting Diversity Learn how inclusivity strengthens design and fosters a diverse user base by addressing diverse needs. • 1.4 Legal Frameworks for Accessibility (ADA, Section 508, and WCAG) Gain insight into legal standards and guidelines that promote digital accessibility.
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What is Digital Accessibility?
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Overview of Disabilities and Assistive Technologies
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The Role of Inclusive Design in Promoting Diversity
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Legal Frameworks for Accessibility (ADA, Section 508, and WCAG)
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Module 2: The POUR Principles in Web Design
• 2.1 Perceivable: Creating Content for All Senses Explore strategies to ensure that all content (text, images, audio, video) can be perceived by users with different disabilities. - Lab: Writing effective alternative text for images - Lab: Using transcripts and captions for media • 2.2 Operable: Designing Functional Interfaces Learn how to make digital interfaces operable for users with diverse abilities, including keyboard navigation and accessible control mechanisms. - Lab: Creating keyboard-accessible navigation - Lab: Designing intuitive form controls • 2.3 Understandable: Clear and Consistent Design Understand how to make content and design easy to comprehend, using clear language, logical layout, and predictable functionality. - Lab: Designing for readability and cognitive load • 2.4 Robust: Future-Proofing Your Design Discover ways to ensure your design remains accessible across various devices, browsers, and assistive technologies. - Lab: Testing your design on multiple platforms and with screen readers
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Perceivable: Creating Content for All Senses
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Operable: Designing Functional Interfaces
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Understandable: Clear and Consistent Design
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Robust: Future-Proofing Your Design
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Module 3: Applying WCAG Standards
• 3.1 Introduction to WCAG 2.1 Guidelines Deep dive into the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and their application to digital design. • 3.2 Levels of Conformance: A, AA, and AAA Learn about the different levels of accessibility conformance and how to prioritize accessibility improvements. • 3.3 Evaluating Your Website for WCAG Compliance - Lab: Conducting an accessibility audit using online tools
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Introduction to WCAG 2.1 Guidelines
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Levels of Conformance: A, AA, and AAA
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Evaluating Your Website for WCAG Compliance
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Module 4: Designing for Specific Disabilities
• 4.1 Designing for Visual Impairments (Including Color Blindness) Learn how to optimize your design for people with visual impairments, using contrast, screen readers, and magnification tools. - Lab: Implementing high-contrast color schemes • 4.2 Designing for Auditory Disabilities Discover ways to make multimedia content accessible to users with hearing impairments, including transcripts and sign language options. - Lab: Adding captions to videos • 4.3 Designing for Motor Disabilities Learn best practices for designing websites and apps that are easy to navigate for users with motor impairments. - Lab: Simplifying navigation and form inputs for motor disabilities • 4.4 Designing for Cognitive Disabilities Explore strategies to simplify content and interface design to support users with cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, or neurological conditions. - Lab: Reducing cognitive load through simple UI design
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Designing for Visual Impairments (Including Color Blindness)
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Designing for Auditory Disabilities
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Designing for Motor Disabilities
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Designing for Cognitive Disabilities
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Module 5: Tools and Resources for Accessible Design
• 5.1 Accessibility Evaluation Tools Explore various online tools and plugins that help evaluate the accessibility of digital designs. • 5.2 Assistive Technology Simulations Experience how users with disabilities interact with websites using screen readers, magnifiers, and other assistive technologies.
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Accessibility Evaluation Tools
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Assistive Technology Simulations
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Module 6: Best Practices for Ongoing Accessibility
• 6.1 Creating an Accessibility Plan for Your Organization Learn how to develop a comprehensive accessibility plan that integrates POUR principles into your design process. • 6.2 Accessibility Testing and Maintenance Understand the importance of continuous accessibility testing and strategies to keep your digital designs inclusive over time. • 6.3 Case Studies of Successful Accessible Designs Review real-world examples of websites and applications that have successfully implemented accessibility standards.
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Creating an Accessibility Plan for Your Organization
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Accessibility Testing and Maintenance
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Case Studies of Successful Accessible Designs
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Module 7: Final Project
• 7.1 Capstone Project: Designing an Accessible Web Page Apply all the concepts learned in the course by designing a fully accessible web page, meeting WCAG 2.1 guidelines and incorporating POUR principles. Participants will receive feedback on their designs. ________________________________________ Assessment • Quizzes and Knowledge Checks Each module will contain quizzes and exercises to reinforce the principles and practices discussed. • Final Project Evaluation The capstone project will be assessed for accessibility, usability, and compliance with WCAG standards.
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Capstone Project: Designing an Accessible Web Page
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Quizzes and Knowledge Checks
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Final Project Evaluation: Capstone Project Assessment Criteria
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The POUR Principles of Design: Inclusivity and Accessibility for People with Disabilities
About Lesson

Introduction to Accessibility Testing and Maintenance

Accessibility testing is not a one-time task; it requires continuous attention to ensure digital products remain inclusive and meet the evolving needs of users with disabilities. Regular accessibility testing helps organizations catch new issues as content is added, software is updated, or design changes are made. Maintenance involves ongoing efforts to ensure that accessibility remains a core aspect of your digital development process.

Accessibility testing and maintenance are essential for ensuring compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), improving user experience, and avoiding costly legal penalties. This process should be integrated into every stage of the design and development lifecycle.

Why Continuous Accessibility Testing is Important

  1. Evolving Content and Technology:
    Websites, apps, and digital products are continually updated with new content, features, and technologies. Accessibility must be checked regularly to ensure that updates don’t introduce new barriers for users with disabilities.

  2. Legal Compliance:
    Regular testing ensures that your digital products comply with accessibility standards like WCAG 2.1, Section 508 (U.S.), or other regional laws. Keeping accessibility up to date reduces the risk of legal challenges or penalties.

  3. Inclusive User Experience:
    Consistent testing helps maintain a positive user experience for people with disabilities. Accessibility improvements often enhance usability for everyone, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

  4. User Feedback and Real-World Use:
    Real-world use of assistive technologies evolves, and users may encounter new challenges as technology changes. Testing ensures that your product remains usable for people who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers, magnifiers, or voice control.

Types of Accessibility Testing

1. Automated Testing

Automated testing tools can quickly scan websites and applications for common accessibility issues, such as missing alt text, poor color contrast, or improper heading structures. These tools provide a broad overview of accessibility problems, making it easier to spot obvious violations of WCAG guidelines.

Popular Automated Tools:

  • WAVE: Identifies basic accessibility issues and provides visual feedback on problems like missing alt text and keyboard inaccessibility.
  • Axe Accessibility Checker: A browser extension that detects WCAG 2.1 violations and offers guidance on how to fix them.
  • Lighthouse (Google Chrome): Tests for accessibility, performance, and SEO, providing an overall score and detailed report of issues.

Pros:

  • Fast and easy to use.
  • Can cover large sections of content in minutes.
  • Great for identifying basic errors.

Cons:

  • Cannot catch all issues, particularly those related to usability and user interaction.
  • Requires follow-up with manual testing.
2. Manual Testing

Manual testing involves human testers evaluating the accessibility of a website or app by using assistive technologies (like screen readers) and navigating with alternative input methods (like keyboard-only navigation). This type of testing is essential for uncovering issues that automated tools might miss, such as confusing language, poor focus order, or interaction problems.

Types of Manual Testing:

  • Keyboard Navigation: Ensure that all interactive elements are accessible using only the keyboard.
  • Screen Reader Testing: Use screen readers like NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (macOS) to check how content is read aloud.
  • Color Contrast Testing: Test whether content remains legible for users with visual impairments, even when color contrast is reduced.
  • Form Accessibility: Ensure that forms are easy to complete, with clear labels and error messages that are announced properly by screen readers.

Pros:

  • Provides deeper insight into user experience.
  • Can identify complex issues that automated tools miss.
  • Ensures real-world usability.

Cons:

  • Time-consuming and resource-intensive.
  • Requires testers to be familiar with assistive technologies.
3. User Testing with People with Disabilities

Incorporating real users with disabilities into your testing process provides invaluable insights into how your digital products perform in the real world. This type of testing helps validate your accessibility efforts by allowing people who rely on assistive technologies to test your products and offer feedback.

Why It’s Valuable:

  • Provides first-hand user feedback.
  • Highlights usability issues specific to assistive technology users.
  • Improves both accessibility and general user experience.

Strategies for User Testing:

  • Recruit users who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, voice commands, and other assistive technologies.
  • Conduct usability tests for key tasks, such as completing a form, navigating menus, or using search functionality.
  • Gather feedback on areas that need improvement and make adjustments accordingly.

Key Areas to Test for Accessibility

  1. Keyboard Accessibility

    • Ensure that all interactive elements, such as links, buttons, and form fields, are accessible using only the keyboard.
    • Test for logical tab order and visible focus indicators.

  2. Screen Reader Compatibility

    • Use screen readers like NVDA or VoiceOver to check if content is announced in the correct order.
    • Ensure that all images have descriptive alt text and that interactive elements are properly labeled.

  3. Color Contrast

    • Use tools like Color Contrast Analyzer to ensure that text meets WCAG guidelines for contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
    • Test for readability under different visual conditions (e.g., grayscale or color-blindness simulators).

  4. Forms and Input Fields

    • Ensure all form fields have clear labels and can be accessed with a keyboard or screen reader.
    • Test whether error messages are announced properly and provide actionable guidance for fixing the issue.

  5. Multimedia Accessibility

    • Ensure all video content has closed captions or transcripts.
    • Provide audio descriptions for important visual elements in videos that are essential to understanding the content.

Strategies for Ongoing Accessibility Maintenance

1. Regular Accessibility Audits

Conduct regular accessibility audits to identify and fix any issues that may arise as content, features, and technologies are updated. An audit should include both automated and manual testing to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Frequency:

  • Conduct audits at least quarterly for high-traffic websites or apps.
  • Perform an audit before major updates, redesigns, or content overhauls.
2. Continuous Monitoring

Integrate accessibility testing into your continuous integration and deployment pipeline. Automated tools like Axe or Siteimprove can run tests on new code before it goes live, helping catch issues early in the development process.

Tools for Continuous Monitoring:

  • Siteimprove: A platform that continuously monitors websites for accessibility, SEO, and content quality issues.
  • Deque Axe: Provides continuous monitoring and reporting for accessibility violations within development workflows.
3. Accessibility Training for Team Members

Ensure that all team members—designers, developers, content creators, and project managers—are trained in accessibility best practices. This ensures that accessibility is built into every stage of the product lifecycle.

Training Topics:

  • WCAG guidelines and legal accessibility requirements.
  • How to create accessible content (e.g., using alt text, captions, and clear language).
  • How to test for accessibility using both automated and manual methods.
4. User Feedback Loop

Encourage feedback from users with disabilities to continuously improve accessibility. Implement a system for users to report accessibility issues, and actively engage with the feedback to make necessary updates.

How to Encourage Feedback:

  • Add an accessibility feedback form on your website.
  • Offer incentives for users with disabilities to participate in testing and provide feedback.
  • Act on user feedback by making improvements and communicating those changes to your audience.

Lab: Conducting Continuous Accessibility Testing

In this lab, you will conduct an accessibility test on a website or app using a combination of automated tools and manual methods. You will also explore how to set up ongoing monitoring and maintenance strategies.

Instructions:

  1. Select a Web Page or App:
    Choose a website or app to test for accessibility. This can be your own project or an existing product.

  2. Automated Testing:

    • Use an automated tool like WAVE or Axe to scan the web page for basic accessibility issues.
    • Document the issues identified, such as missing alt text, poor contrast, or inaccessible forms.

  3. Manual Testing:

    • Test the website using only the keyboard to navigate and interact with elements. Check for logical tab order and visible focus indicators.
    • Enable a screen reader like NVDA or VoiceOver and navigate through the page. Ensure that the content is read aloud in the correct order, and that all interactive elements are labeled properly.
    • Use a Color Contrast Analyzer to check if the text contrast meets WCAG standards.

  4. Set Up Continuous Monitoring:

    • Explore a continuous monitoring tool like Siteimprove or Axe. Set up automated testing that will regularly scan your website for accessibility issues and report them in real time.

  5. Create a Maintenance Plan:

    • Develop a plan to maintain accessibility over time, including regular audits, continuous monitoring, and training for team members.
    • Set goals for improving accessibility, such as fixing critical issues within one month and conducting quarterly accessibility reviews.

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Ongoing Accessibility Monitoring for a News Website

A news website implemented continuous monitoring using Siteimprove to ensure that every new article published adhered to accessibility standards. The platform automatically scanned new content for issues like missing alt text, insufficient contrast, and improper heading structures. The website also trained its editorial team to use accessibility best practices when creating content. As a result, the site saw an increase in usability and engagement from users with disabilities.

Case Study 2: Real-World Testing for a Banking App

A banking app initially relied on automated tools to ensure accessibility compliance. However, users with disabilities continued to report issues with screen reader navigation and keyboard operability. The development team integrated real-world user testing into their process, inviting customers with disabilities to provide feedback. Based on this feedback, the app was improved, resulting in a better user experience and fewer support requests.

Online Tools for Accessibility Testing and Monitoring

End of Lecture Quiz

1. Why is manual testing important in addition to automated testing?

  • a) It ensures the site looks visually appealing.
  • b) It identifies real-world usability issues that automated tools might miss.
  • c) It makes the site load faster.

Answer: b) It identifies real-world usability issues that automated tools might miss.
Rationale: Manual testing is essential for uncovering complex accessibility barriers that affect how users interact with the site, such as keyboard navigation, focus order, and screen reader functionality.

2. What is the main benefit of continuous accessibility monitoring?

  • a) It ensures that accessibility is maintained as new content is added or updates are made.
  • b) It improves the site’s overall design.
  • c) It boosts the site’s SEO rankings.

Answer: a) It ensures that accessibility is maintained as new content is added or updates are made.
Rationale: Continuous monitoring helps detect accessibility issues in real time as content and features are updated, ensuring the site remains compliant with accessibility standards.

3. What type of testing provides the most valuable feedback for real-world usability?

  • a) Automated testing
  • b) User testing with people with disabilities
  • c) Color contrast testing

Answer: b) User testing with people with disabilities
Rationale: Real-world user testing with people who rely on assistive technologies provides direct feedback on how accessible and usable the website is for individuals with disabilities.

Conclusion

Accessibility testing and maintenance are ongoing processes that ensure your digital designs remain inclusive over time. Automated tools help identify basic issues, but manual testing and real-world user feedback are essential for understanding how people with disabilities experience your products. By integrating continuous testing and monitoring into your workflow, you can maintain accessibility, improve user experience, and ensure compliance with evolving standards.

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