How People with Disabilities Access the Web Web Design – Sec 2-5 Part or all of this lesson was adapted from the University of Washington’s “Web Design & Development I” Course materials

Objectives The Student will: Develop a basic understanding of the variety of methods and technologies used by people with disabilities in accessing computers and the web. Experience some of the common barriers people with disabilities face with inaccessible web content The Student will: Develop a basic understanding of the variety of methods and technologies used by people with disabilities in accessing computers and the web. Experience some of the common barriers people with disabilities face with inaccessible web content

Barriers to Websites One of the groups most dependent on standard- based web design is people with disabilities. Consider the following examples: If a web page includes visual content (graphic images), a person who is blind can't see them. These individuals might access the computer's output using synthesized text-to-speech technology known as a "screen reader", or they might use a small Braille output device. Graphics must be accompanied (in the code behind-the- scenes) with alternate text that describes the content of the graphics for anyone who is unable to see visual content. One of the groups most dependent on standard- based web design is people with disabilities. Consider the following examples: If a web page includes visual content (graphic images), a person who is blind can't see them. These individuals might access the computer's output using synthesized text-to-speech technology known as a "screen reader", or they might use a small Braille output device. Graphics must be accompanied (in the code behind-the- scenes) with alternate text that describes the content of the graphics for anyone who is unable to see visual content.

If a web page includes audio content, a person who is deaf or hard of hearing won't be able to hear it. This content must also be provided as text, such as in a transcript. If the site includes a multimedia file, that file should be closed captioned so that a visible text track, synchronized with the video, can be turned on by the user. If a web page has buttons, controls, menus, form fields, etc., that require a user to click on them with a mouse, users with physical disabilities who are unable to operate a mouse will be unable to access these controls. All controls should be operable with a keyboard as well. If a web page includes audio content, a person who is deaf or hard of hearing won't be able to hear it. This content must also be provided as text, such as in a transcript. If the site includes a multimedia file, that file should be closed captioned so that a visible text track, synchronized with the video, can be turned on by the user. If a web page has buttons, controls, menus, form fields, etc., that require a user to click on them with a mouse, users with physical disabilities who are unable to operate a mouse will be unable to access these controls. All controls should be operable with a keyboard as well.

Computer Access: In Our Own Words While watching this video note the ways people with disabilities can use the web…

Question… What are some the ways people with disabilities accessed the web?

Visual Impairments Screen readers… Here’s an example of a screen reader reading a web page enreader-sim.htm Microsoft narrator… Screen readers… Here’s an example of a screen reader reading a web page enreader-sim.htm Microsoft narrator…

Hearing Impairments Many videos have closed captioning…

Physical Impairments Keyboard controls vs. mouse Speech to text Special keyboards Etc. Keyboard controls vs. mouse Speech to text Special keyboards Etc.

Rest of Today Experiment with various web sites… Go to Tools -> Internet Options Click on the Advanced tab Turn off the Multi-media options Experiment with various web sites… Go to Tools -> Internet Options Click on the Advanced tab Turn off the Multi-media options

Rest of Today Try accessing web pages without using your mouse Try watching videos with no sound Try accessing web pages without using your mouse Try watching videos with no sound