Implementing accessibility in Government: a holistic approach Ruth Ellison Canberra Web Standards Group 21 November 2007

What is accessibility?

What is accessibility?

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/563188608/

Accessibility - the definition The degree to which a system is usable by as many people as possible , including…

The degree to which a system is usable by as many people as possible , including…

Visual blindness, low vision, colour blindness Cognitive dyslexia, ADD Physical/motor temporary or permanent Hearing

Visual

blindness, low vision, colour blindness

Cognitive

dyslexia, ADD

Physical/motor

temporary or permanent

Hearing

Situational disabilities Technology/infrastructure limited Aging population People from culturally / linguistic diverse backgrounds

Situational disabilities

Technology/infrastructure limited

Aging population

People from culturally / linguistic diverse backgrounds

ABS survey in 2003…. 20% of Australians have a disability 15% accident or injury 14% disease, illness or heredity 11% working conditions, work or over-work

20% of Australians have a disability

15% accident or injury

14% disease, illness or heredity

11% working conditions, work or over-work

Understanding accessibility Impact or severity is varied Invisible disabilities Temporary impairments Permanent impairments Born with a disability Develop it over time

Impact or severity is varied

Invisible disabilities

Temporary impairments

Permanent impairments

Born with a disability

Develop it over time

Accessibility is not a stand alone process

Accessibility is not a stand alone process

Think about accessibility earlier…

Holistic and multi-disciplinary approach Usability AND accessibility together and part of the overall user experience

Holistic and multi-disciplinary approach

Usability AND accessibility together and part of the overall user experience

Considerations

ORGANISATIONAL

An ad hoc approach Many organisations take an ad hoc or as-needed approach to accessibility Issues include: Expensive retrofitting exercises Accessibility information based in a small team, which can disappear

Many organisations take an ad hoc or as-needed approach to accessibility

Issues include:

Expensive retrofitting exercises

Accessibility information based in a small team, which can disappear

Accessibility approach Accessibility team Authority and responsibility to implement change Raise awareness Set standards Quality assurance including testing

Accessibility team

Authority and responsibility to implement change

Raise awareness

Set standards

Quality assurance including testing

Management Find a sponsor / champion Get management support

Find a sponsor / champion

Get management support

Funding Consideration of a centralised accessibility fund to fund accessibility design, support and testing

Consideration of a centralised accessibility fund to fund accessibility design, support and testing

Show ROI Reduced compensation claims Reduced maintenance Reduce possibility of litigation

Reduced compensation claims

Reduced maintenance

Reduce possibility of litigation

Purchasing decisions Customised versus off-the-shelf Consideration of accessibility & usability requirements in tender processes

Customised versus off-the-shelf

Consideration of accessibility & usability requirements in tender processes

Need to factor enough time for: User research Iterative design Standards based development Testing Timeframes

Need to factor enough time for:

User research

Iterative design

Standards based development Testing

Build relationships Occupational Health & Safety Human Resources AT user groups Business areas Media team IT

Occupational Health & Safety

Human Resources

AT user groups

Business areas

Media team

IT

Training Focused training to provide good grounding of technical aspects & laws

Focused training to provide good grounding of technical aspects & laws

Other considerations Disability Action Plan / Diversity Plans Central registry of Assistive Technology users

Disability Action Plan / Diversity Plans

Central registry of Assistive Technology users

FRAMEWORK AND TOOLS

Standards and guidelines should have accessibility built into it Distribution method Keep it updated Standards & guidelines

Standards and guidelines should have accessibility built into it

Distribution method

Keep it updated

Assistive technologies JAWS, Dragon, ZoomText Other types of assistive technologies

JAWS, Dragon, ZoomText

Other types of assistive technologies

ZoomText keyboard

Braille refreshable display

Tools Which Assistive Technologies to support? Have consistent versions Factor in upgrade costs

Which Assistive Technologies to support?

Have consistent versions

Factor in upgrade costs

Evaluations Should be done early and often More than compliance Still need to do automated testing and testing requiring human judgement Usability testing with real people

Should be done early and often

More than compliance

Still need to do automated testing and testing requiring human judgement

Usability testing with real people

PEOPLE

Research Who are the users? People with disabilities should be one of your key personas What tools are they using? How well do they know their tools?

Research

Who are the users?

People with disabilities should be one of your key personas

What tools are they using?

How well do they know their tools?

Project Managers’ understanding of accessibility

Project Managers’

understanding of accessibility

Developers’ understanding of accessibility

Developers’

understanding of accessibility

Business owners’ understanding of accessibility

Business owners’

understanding of accessibility

Designers’ understanding of accessibility

Designers’

understanding of accessibility

Design Visual – size of text, colours, typography Cognitive – white spacing, progress indicators Physical – fly out menus, size of elements Hearing – captions, use of sound Situational – environmental factors

Visual – size of text, colours, typography

Cognitive – white spacing, progress indicators

Physical – fly out menus, size of elements

Hearing – captions, use of sound

Situational – environmental factors

Users Get them involved Help increase their knowledge of Assistive Technologies Test early, test often Knowledge sharing forum

Users

Get them involved

Help increase their knowledge of Assistive Technologies

Test early, test often

Knowledge sharing forum

Get passionate people on board!

Get passionate people on board!

Expertise is essential Get the right staff With the right skills With the right attitude

Expertise is essential

Get the right staff

With the right skills

With the right attitude

Get involved Conferences Web Standards Group Community of Practice Read/comment in Blogs

Get involved

Conferences

Web Standards Group

Community of Practice

Read/comment in Blogs

Remember…

Accessibility is not a stand alone process

Accessibility is not a stand alone process

Holistic and multi-disciplinary Early consideration Be passionate

Holistic and multi-disciplinary

Early consideration

Be passionate

Questions?

Need more info? Ruth Ellison Email: [email_address] Phone: 02 6280 7834 Mobile: 0423 763 314 Web: www.stamfordinteractive.com.au

Ruth Ellison

Email: [email_address]

Phone: 02 6280 7834

Mobile: 0423 763 314

Web: www.stamfordinteractive.com.au