The document discusses why accessibility is an important component of good web content. It notes that millions of people have disabilities in Germany and accessibility laws exist to address barriers faced by those with visual, auditory, cognitive and physical impairments. The document advocates that organizations implement accessibility into their content strategies by assessing user needs, testing content, and managing changes to lift barriers for all users regardless of ability. It argues that accessibility results in business benefits like increased traffic, clients and optimized mobile content.

1. Barrier-free content
Why accessibility is a vital component of good web content
IA Konferenz, May 2012, Essen
Irene Walker, @1rene

2. Name: Michael
…………………………………………………….
Age: 18
…………………………………………………….
Occupation: Student
…………………………………………………….
Limitation: Blind
…………………………………………………….
“I need to buy my climbing equipment online”

3. Uses a screen reader that reads
webpages’ information out loud
Never uses a mouse
Uses a keyboard only – for
navigation and inputting text
Relies on audio cues to let him
know what’s happening on the
screen
Frequent barriers:
- blocks of repetitive content
- image links without alt text
“I need to buy my climbing equipment online”

4. Name: Harriet
……………………………………………………..….
Age: 72
…………………………………………………..…….
Occupation: Pensioner
………………………………………………………...
Limitation: RSI
……………………………………………………..….
“I need to send gifts to my grandchildren”

5. Can’t use a mouse
Uses voice recognition
software that lets her
dictate passages of text
Relies on keyboard support in
her web browser
Frequent barriers:
- excessive navigation
- complex forms
“I need to send gifts to my grandchildren”

6. Name: Janet
……………………………………………………..….
Age: 30
…………………………………………………..…….
Occupation: Teacher
………………………………………………………...
Limitation: Deaf
……………………………………………………..….
“I follow popular blogs to stay ahead of my game”

7. Relies on captions or text
transcripts for multimedia
Requires an email field as a
contact option
Frequent barriers:
- no text alternatives for
multimedia
- Phone number-only forms
“I follow popular blogs to stay ahead of my game”

8. Name: Kevin
……………………………………………………..….
Age: 27
…………………………………………………..…….
Occupation: Candidate
………………………………………………………...
Attorney
……………………………………………………..….
Limitation: Epilepsy,
……………………………………………………..….
Dyslexia
……………………………………………………..….
“I need to access my online study materials”

9. Requires sufficient contrast
between foreground and
background colours
Can’t be confronted with
flashing images or text at all
Frequent barriers:
- Low colour contrast
- Content that moves
“I need to access my online study materials”

10. eLearning News
Email eCommerce
Banking
Multimedia
Sport Social

11. Accessibility is about lifting barriers

12. 8.6 million .
people have a disability in Germany
- German Federal Statistics Office

13. The majority of people in Germany acquired their impairments through
illness or accident
- Deutsche Bundesregierung, 2008

14. There are several
important national laws
in Germany:
United Nations Convention
General Equality Act (2006)
Federal Disability Equality Act (2002)
Social Code Book IX (2001)
- Deutsche Bundesregierung, 2008

15. Accessibility is not a checklist –
it’s an ongoing commitment.

16. What are the users’ barriers to
getting to this content?
What perspectives or tools can I
bring to limit these barriers?

17. Visual
Auditory
Cognitive and
neurological
Speech
Physical
All disabilities that affect access to the web

18. Visual Older people
Auditory New web users
Cognitive and Low
neurological bandwidths
Speech
Physical
Also, access for people who don’t have disabilities

19. Accessibility is the capacity of ANY user,
regardless of ability or disability, to
access the same content and
information.

20. …It’s everyone’s job

21. Crafting barrier-free content

22. Assessing user goals
Briefing writers
Sew accessibility into your content strategy processes

23. Checklist for content creation

24. Assessing user goals
Briefing writers
Testing content
Managing change
Sew accessibility into your content strategy processes

25. Qualitative content audit

27. Less development time
Increased usability Direct cost savings
Accessibility
means business
Wider clientele Increased findability
Optimised mobile content

28. How to spread the love
1. Pitch at the top level, to drive it down
2. Appoint an a11y champion
3. Workshop with decision-makers
4. Collate and share

29. Let a11y be
your ally

33. Danke! Let’s carry on talking about barrier-free content
About.me/1rene
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