This document provides an overview of web accessibility, including what it means, why it's important, and benefits. It introduces Harvard University's online accessibility website, which contains best practices, examples, and resources for content creators, developers, and others to support the WCAG 2.0 accessibility guidelines. The website includes sections on techniques, resources, and an accessibility testing tool that is currently in development.

1. Web Accessibility:
What you need to know and why
created by
Accessibility Team
presented by
Kyle Shachmut, Vittorio Bucchieri, Curtis Wilcox

2. Accessibility Team
accessibility.huit.harvard.edu 2
Mildene Bradley Administrative Technology
Services (Security & Accessibility)
617 496 1465
Vittorio Bucchieri Teaching & Learning Technologies vittorio_bucchieri@harvard.edu
Michele Clopper University Disability Services 617 495 1859
Richard Clinch Harvard Web Publishing 617 384 6579
Amy Deschenes Harvard Libraries 617 496 2619
Michael Hilborn Academic Technology Development 617 384 9380
Scott Kearney Administrative Technology Services
(FAS)
617 384 7201
Mike Lawrence HUIT Architecture & Engineering mike_lawrence@harvard.edu
Richard Ohlsten Administrative Systems (CAADS) 617 495 1026
Kyle Shachmut HarvardX kyle_shachmut@harvard.edu
Janet Taylor Library Technology Services 617 495 3724
Curtis Wilcox FAS Instructional Media Services /
Assistive Technology Center (ATC)
ccwilcox@fas.harvard.edu

3. What is accessibility?
Digital accessibility means making
electronic content available to and usable
by everyone, including and especially
people with disabilities
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4. Why strive for accessibility?
 Improves usability of digital content for everyone,
including people with disabilities
 Improves overall user experience
 Enhances clarity for non-native English speakers
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5. Benefits of accessible content
 Reduces development effort when accessibility is
considered from the start
 Reduces cost when problems are addressed before
users encounter accessibility barriers
 Increases search engine optimization & content
findability
 Demonstrates inclusiveness
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6. What does accessibility ‘look’ like?
Using a screen reader, we will explore the Accessible University
3.0 site from UW’s DO-IT Center. The before and after links
demonstrate the same site with and without accessibility
improvements that are very apparent to users of assistive
technology. The “about” link explains the accessibility
enhancements that make all the difference.
 About Accessible University:
https://www.washington.edu/accesscomputing/AU/
 AU (accessible):
https://www.washington.edu/accesscomputing/AU/after.html
 AU (inaccessible):
https://www.washington.edu/accesscomputing/AU/before.html
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7. Online accessibility website
accessibility.huit.harvard.edu 7

8. Online accessibility website – Content Creators
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This section is for people who create and publish content on websites.
It contains best practices, examples, testing methods, and resources to support
WCAG 2.0 guidelines.
 Web content optimized for usability.
 Focus on content and features that provide the
greatest impact.
 Content separated from visual information.
 Navigational framework is provided.
 Content optimized for legibility and readability.
 Minimize barriers with plain language.
 Images and media available to everyone.

9. Online accessibility website – Developers
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This section is for people who develop websites and web applications.
It contains best practices, examples, testing methods, and resources to support
WCAG 2.0 guidelines.
 Key web content areas of focus.
 Built to standards so that content is stable,
robust and secure.
 Content designed for maximum usability.
 Content created without reliance on color or
other visual elements.
 Visual content accessible by assistive
technologies.

10. Online accessibility website – Resources
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This section contains resources to support accessible web content creation and
development.
 Help to identify specific accessibility issues.
 Terminology used when working on accessibility.
 Resources for accessibility and user experience
information.
 Information for the creation of accessible media.
 Information for accessible labs and third-party
tools and resources.

11. Online accessibility website – Techniques
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This section includes coding and other specific instructions about how to meet
accessibility guidelines, which are organized by:
 Techniques categorized by different types of
disability.
 Different tools people use to help them access
content.
 WCAG 2.0 principles of web accessibility.
 Different interface patterns.
 Web technologies we incorporate in accessible
interfaces.

12. Techniques
 ✎ Technique: Identifying headings
 ✎ Technique: Writing link text
 ✎ Technique: Accessible modal dialogs
 Use accessible design patterns
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13. Accessibility testing tool - Preview
 Single page testing
 Site crawling
capability
 Reporting and track
progress over time
 Plain language best
practice fixes
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14. Accessibility testing tool – Preview continued
 Detailed reports and
how to fix (with
code examples)
 Extensive training
modules for lots of
content types
 Facilitates testing:
 Automated
 Manual
 Assistive
technology
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15. Next steps – for everyone . . .
 Take a tour of the Online Accessibility website
(accessibility.huit.harvard.edu).
 Use the website as a resource as you build new content or web
pages.
 Watch for news and training about the Harvard University
accessibility testing tool – coming soon.
 If you need assistance or answers to questions, please contact
Accessibility team members.
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