Making the Web Accessible: Forms and Multimedia Local Government Web Network Conference 2008

Why is Web Accessibility Important for Local Government?

Disability in Australia 4 million people have a disability (ABS Survey) Ageing population and workforce Disabilities having most affect on daily living Vision loss Physical disability Hearing loss

4 million people have a disability (ABS Survey)

Ageing population and workforce

Disabilities having most affect on daily living

Vision loss

Physical disability

Hearing loss

The Concept of Print Disability Person with a print disability cannot access “print” content in its standard format. Low Vision No vision Learning disability Physical impairment

Person with a print disability cannot access “print” content in its standard format.

Low Vision

No vision

Learning disability

Physical impairment

Legal and General Insurance - UK success story Rebuilt site to meet accessibility guidelines and ensure standards compliance Business benefits Return on Investment within 12 months 90% increase in traffic Conversion rates to sales have increased by 26% - 200% Site maintenance £200,000 saving per year Source: Dave Wilton (L&G), Julie Howell (Fortune Cookie), Jan 2007

Rebuilt site to meet accessibility guidelines and ensure standards compliance

Business benefits

Return on Investment within 12 months

90% increase in traffic

Conversion rates to sales have increased by 26% - 200%

Site maintenance £200,000 saving per year

Source: Dave Wilton (L&G), Julie Howell (Fortune Cookie), Jan 2007

Legal and Policy Contexts Disability Discrimination Act 1992 HREOC Web Accessibility Advisory Notes (2002) Intranets & Extranets also covered Government Policies Australian Govt. Web Publishing Guidelines Each State & Territory has similar guidelines

Disability Discrimination Act 1992

HREOC Web Accessibility Advisory Notes (2002)

Intranets & Extranets also covered

Government Policies

Australian Govt. Web Publishing Guidelines

Each State & Territory has similar guidelines

When is Content Accessible?

Accessibility is Experiential Person with a disability should be able to use data, information and services as effectively as someone without a disability Compliance with technical rules is necessary, but not sufficient W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Person with a disability should be able to use data, information and services as effectively as someone without a disability

Compliance with technical rules is necessary, but not sufficient

W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Accessible Content Must be: Perceivable Operable Understandable Robust

Must be:

Perceivable

Operable

Understandable

Robust

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines – W3C Version 1 - Current reference standard www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/ Version 2 - In final draft stage (likely in 2009) www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/

Version 1 - Current reference standard www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/

Version 2 - In final draft stage (likely in 2009) www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/

Making Content & Functionality Accessible Accessible Forms Accessible Multimedia

Forms are used to : Submit applications Contact organisations Request information Access account information Search a website Pay an account Forms

Forms are used to :

Submit applications

Contact organisations

Request information

Access account information

Search a website

Pay an account

Typical Forms

Example

Accessibility Outcome A web-delivered PDF Form is: A lot better than going to council offices and completing the form there Can use some assistive technology at home Do not have to use the phone No need to confront mobility challenges A little better than requesting the form by phone and receiving it in the post Can use some assistive technology at home Do not have to use the phone

A web-delivered PDF Form is:

A lot better than going to council offices and completing the form there

Can use some assistive technology at home

Do not have to use the phone

No need to confront mobility challenges

A little better than requesting the form by phone and receiving it in the post

Can use some assistive technology at home

Do not have to use the phone

Accessibility Problems Cannot complete it online Screen reader may not be able understand form Solutions HTML form is the best option (for users and for organisation) Possible to make a PDF form completable and accessible, but technically difficult

Cannot complete it online

Screen reader may not be able understand form

Solutions

HTML form is the best option (for users and for organisation)

Possible to make a PDF form completable and accessible, but technically difficult

Example Form

Example Continued

Accessibility Outcome Better than a PDF for many people Can use some assistive technology Can complete the form online Do not have to use the phone No need to confront mobility challenges

Better than a PDF for many people

Can use some assistive technology

Can complete the form online

Do not have to use the phone

No need to confront mobility challenges

Accessibility Problems Hard to complete it online Screen reader may not be able understand form instructions Confusing – particularly for screen magnifier users No option to print form Hard to use with some assistive technology

Hard to complete it online

Screen reader may not be able understand form instructions

Confusing – particularly for screen magnifier users

No option to print form

Hard to use with some assistive technology

Zoom 4X Magnification

Normal Size

Another Example

Laid out using tables

Clearly identify required fields Forms

Clearly identify required fields

Position labels correctly Position labels before input boxes, text areas and dropdown boxes. Position labels immediately after checkboxes and radio buttons. Ensure that labels are close to their corresponding input controls. Forms

Position labels correctly

Position labels before input boxes, text areas and dropdown boxes.

Position labels immediately after checkboxes and radio buttons.

Ensure that labels are close to their corresponding input controls.

Ensure that all label text is clear and unique Forms

Ensure that all label text is clear and unique

Associate labels with the corresponding input controls Forms <label for=“name”> Name: </label> <input id=“name” />

Associate labels with the corresponding input controls

Group form items into sections using <fieldset> and <legend> Forms <fieldset> <legend> Personal Details </legend> ...FORM CONTENT GOES HERE… </fieldset>

Group form items into sections using <fieldset> and <legend>

<fieldset>

<legend> Personal Details </legend>

...FORM CONTENT GOES HERE…

</fieldset>

Recap: Test with mouse and keyboard Clearly identify required fields Position labels correctly Use clear and unique labels Associate labels with the input Set the font size in relative units Group similar areas together Forms summary

Recap:

Test with mouse and keyboard

Clearly identify required fields

Position labels correctly

Use clear and unique labels

Associate labels with the input

Set the font size in relative units

Group similar areas together

Accessible Multimedia Captions Auslan Audio description Embedded between words Extended, via video pause Full text equivalent Transcript Other sounds Audio description

Captions

Auslan

Audio description

Embedded between words

Extended, via video pause

Full text equivalent

Transcript

Other sounds

Audio description

Web Accessibility Workshops To find out more – Introductory & techniques workshops in 2008: Sydney: 12 & 13 November Brisbane: 3 & 4 September Canberra: 5 & 6 November Melbourne: 15 & 16 October www.visionaustralia.org.au/training

To find out more –

Introductory & techniques workshops in 2008:

Sydney: 12 & 13 November

Brisbane: 3 & 4 September

Canberra: 5 & 6 November

Melbourne: 15 & 16 October

www.visionaustralia.org.au/training

Vision Australia Contacts Brian Hardy, Gaynor Eccleston Vision Australia: Accessible Information Solutions 45 4 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong Vic 3144 4 Mitchell Street, Enfield NSW 2136 Kent Street, Woolloongabba Qld 4102 Web Accessibility Team: 1300 367 055 [email_address] [email_address] www.visionaustralia.org.au/ais

Brian Hardy, Gaynor Eccleston

Vision Australia: Accessible Information Solutions

45 4 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong Vic 3144

4 Mitchell Street, Enfield NSW 2136

Kent Street, Woolloongabba Qld 4102

Web Accessibility Team: 1300 367 055

[email_address]

[email_address]

www.visionaustralia.org.au/ais

Vision Australia – Consulting Services Vision Australia – Accessible Information Solutions Web accessibility Accessibility testing and audits Accessibility advice & support Accessibility “Help Desk” (ad hoc advice) Customised web workshops and seminars for various in-house audiences Accessibility advice and training in relation to buildings and the physical environment

Vision Australia – Accessible Information Solutions

Web accessibility

Accessibility testing and audits

Accessibility advice & support

Accessibility “Help Desk” (ad hoc advice)

Customised web workshops and seminars for various in-house audiences

Accessibility advice and training in relation to buildings and the physical environment

Vision Australia – Production Services Preparation of transcripts for audio files, videos and Flash movies PDF – creation of “accessible” versions PDF – creation of accessible interactive forms Alternative formats production – audio, Braille, large-print, tactile signs

Preparation of transcripts for audio files, videos and Flash movies

PDF – creation of “accessible” versions

PDF – creation of accessible interactive forms

Alternative formats production – audio, Braille, large-print, tactile signs