A Methodology for Web Accessibility Development and Maintenance

2007 ◽  
pp. 185-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Abascal ◽  
Myriam Arrue ◽  
Markel Vigo
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Web Engineering ◽  
Standard Equipment ◽  
Evaluation Methodologies ◽  
Accessibility Evaluation ◽  
Legal Restrictions ◽  
Basic Concepts

Web design and evaluation are currently framed by legal restrictions and social demands for full accessibility. The main reason is that currently most web sites are not accessible for people with physical, sensory or cognitive restrictions due to diverse causes, such as disability, use of non-standard equipment or special work conditions. Accessibility awareness has advanced considerably in recent years, but designers are still having difficulties in updating or creating new accessible pages. Even though useful tools and sound evaluation methodologies are being designed, they are of no use if they are not integrated into the standard web design lifecycle, interacting naturally with common design and authoring tools. This chapter introduces the basic concepts related to web accessibility and proposes a method for including accessibility in standard web engineering methodologies. The key phases, accessibility, evaluation and maintenance, are described in detail. Finally, a model is proposed for implementing accessibility policy in organizations.

A Methodology for Web Accessibility Development and Maintenance

2008 ◽  
pp. 538-559
Author(s):  
Julio Abascal ◽  
Myriam Arrue ◽  
Markel Vigo
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Web Engineering ◽  
Standard Equipment ◽  
Evaluation Methodologies ◽  
Accessibility Evaluation ◽  
Legal Restrictions ◽  
Basic Concepts

Web design and evaluation are currently framed by legal restrictions and social demands for full accessibility. The main reason is that currently most web sites are not accessible for people with physical, sensory or cognitive restrictions due to diverse causes, such as disability, use of non-standard equipment or special work conditions. Accessibility awareness has advanced considerably in recent years, but designers are still having difficulties in updating or creating new accessible pages. Even though useful tools and sound evaluation methodologies are being designed, they are of no use if they are not integrated into the standard web design lifecycle, interacting naturally with common design and authoring tools. This chapter introduces the basic concepts related to web accessibility and proposes a method for including accessibility in standard web engineering methodologies. The key phases, accessibility, evaluation and maintenance, are described in detail. Finally, a model is proposed for implementing accessibility policy in organizations.

scholarly journals Pautas, métodos y herramientas de evaluación de accesibilidad web [Guidelines, methods and tools for web accessibility evaluation]

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinthia De Oleo Moreta ◽  
Luis Rodríguez Baena
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
Evaluation Tools ◽  
Wcag 2.0 ◽  
Success Criteria ◽  
Design For All ◽  
Accessibility Evaluation ◽  
Different Types

Resumen El siguiente artículo presenta un análisis sobre pautas, métodos y herramientas de evaluación de accesibilidad web, tomando como referencia las WCAG 2.0, estándar de la W3C. Además, se estudian los diferentes tipos de discapacidad y limitaciones de acceso. También se muestran los principales beneficios de la accesibilidad, los siete principios del diseño web para todos que comprenden la base de la accesibilidad y un breve análisis sobre las WCAG 2.0 y sus niveles y criterios de conformidad. Finalmente, se considera los métodos de evaluación manual y automática, con algunos ejemplos de herramientas de validación basadas en la normativa de la W3C. Este análisis tiene el objetivo de ayudar a concientizar sobre la necesidad del diseño y desarrollo de sitios web accesibles, y a la vez promover las recomendaciones de la W3C para tales fines. Palabras claveaccesibilidad web, discapacidad, diseño universal, pautas WCAG 2.0.   Abstract The following paper presents an analysis on guidelines, methods and evaluation tools of web accessibility, taking the WCAG 2.0, standard of the W3C as a reference. In addition, it studies the different types of disability and access limitations. It also shows the main benefits of the accessibility, the seven web design for all principles that contain the base of accessibility and also presents an analysis about the WCAG 2.0 guidelines and his conformity levels and success criteria. Finally, both evaluation methods, manual and automatic are considered, and some examples of validation tools based on the W3C regulation. This analysis has the goal to help to create conscience on the need to design and develop accessible web sites, and simultaneously to announce the W3C recommendations to achieve it.Keywordsweb accessibility, disability, universal design, WCAG 2.0 guidelines

Web Accessibility and the Law

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Yu
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
State Laws ◽  
Section 508 ◽  
Rehabilitation Act ◽  
Accessibility Issues

Through a series of federal and state laws and standards, the legal foundation concerning Web accessibility that impact people with disabilities and their ability to fully overcome digital barriers and participate in the Web environment has been established. Currently, the concept of accessible design or universal design is increasingly becoming an important component of Web design. However, the unanswered questions in laws, the absence of the obligation in fulfilling legal requirements, and the general unawareness of the need to make Web pages accessible have created barriers in implementing the Americans with disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1998, and others. In many cases, the absence of obligations is due to unfamiliarity with legal responsibility of creating accessible Web sites. As a result, the response to Web accessibility concerns frequently comes about only on an ad hoc basis. Identifying these barriers is the first step toward solutions. There are legal and practical approaches for addressing Web accessibility issues in policies, education, research and development, and technology and tools.

The Ethics of Web Design

2008 ◽  
pp. 3410-3429
Author(s):  
Jack S. Cook ◽  
Laura Cook
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Site ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
The World ◽  
Technological Issue ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Web Designers ◽  
Complete Access

Web accessibility is really not a technological issue but rather a cultural problem. A Web site is said to be Web accessible if anyone, regardless of capabilities or disabilities, using any kind of Web browsing technology to visit the site has full and complete access to the site’s content and has the ability to interact with the site if required. If properly planned from the start, a Web site can be functional, accessible and aesthetically pleasing. This chapter focuses on ensuring access to information available on the Internet. The overall objective is to increase awareness of Web accessibility issues by providing rationale for why Web designers should be interested in creating accessible sites. Specifically, this chapter identifies some of the emerging digital barriers to accessibility encountered by those with disabilities. Current efforts to address these barriers legally are identified and their effectiveness for breaking down barriers is discussed. The World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C’s) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is discussed, followed by a study of the 50 most visited Web sites. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the importance of this topic and future developments.

A Service Oriented Ontological Framework for the Semantic Validation of Web Accessibility

2011 ◽  
pp. 522-540
Author(s):  
Rui Lopes ◽  
Konstantinos Votis ◽  
Luís Carriço ◽  
Spiridon Likothanassis ◽  
Dimitrios Tzovaras
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
Scale Free ◽  
Service Oriented ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Accessibility Guidelines ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Ontological Framework

The Web serves as the principal mediator for information sharing and communication on a worldwide scale. Its highly decentralized nature affords a scale free growth, where each endpoint (i.e., Web site) is created and maintained independently. Web designers and developers have the onus of making sure that users can interact without accessibility problems. However, coping with users with disabilities poses challenges on how to ensure that a Web site is accessible for any kind of user. When (and if) this is done, designers and developers do it in a post-hoc way, (i.e., verify and tweak Web sites according to guidelines such as WCAG). In this Chapter the authors present SWAF, the Semantic Web Accessibility Framework, a base framework for supporting the integration of accessibility services into Web design and development processes. SWAF affords both tailoring accessibility to user needs and specifying the semantic validation of accessibility guidelines in different application situations.

The Ethics of Web Design

2008 ◽  
pp. 3805-3823
Author(s):  
Jack S. Cook ◽  
Laura Cook
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Site ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
The World ◽  
Technological Issue ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Web Designers ◽  
Complete Access

Web accessibility is really not a technological issue but rather a cultural problem. A Web site is said to be Web accessible if anyone, regardless of capabilities or disabilities, using any kind of Web browsing technology to visit the site has full and complete access to the site’s content and has the ability to interact with the site if required. If properly planned from the start, a Web site can be functional, accessible and aesthetically pleasing. This chapter focuses on ensuring access to information available on the Internet. The overall objective is to increase awareness of Web accessibility issues by providing rationale for why Web designers should be interested in creating accessible sites. Specifically, this chapter identifies some of the emerging digital barriers to accessibility encountered by those with disabilities. Current efforts to address these barriers legally are identified and their effectiveness for breaking down barriers is discussed. The World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C’s) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is discussed, followed by a study of the 50 most visited Web sites. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the importance of this topic and future developments.

Evaluation of Web Portals

2011 ◽  
pp. 376-383
Author(s):  
Demetrios Sampson
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Web Portals ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Web Engineering ◽  
Evaluation Methodologies

Evaluation of Web portals is an important issue in Web engineering, taking into consideration the Internet explosion and the exponential growth of Web sites and online information sources. Web portals present nowadays a significant variety of features, complexity of structure, and plurality of offered services. It is therefore important to adopt evaluation frameworks that go beyond the simple assessment of the different operational aspects of Web portals, and that address issues such as quality monitoring and analysis of the assessment results, in the direction of interpreting the factors that affect users’ satisfaction. Moreover, there is also a need for supportive evaluation methodologies that can integrate the results of the assessment of every portal aspect being evaluated, and provide measurable, synthesized results to the key decision makers (being either those financially supporting the service or those involved in the design, development, operation, and/or exploitation of the service) aiming to facilitate the improvement of the offered services.

The Ethics of Web Design

2011 ◽  
pp. 73-101
Author(s):  
Jack S. Cook ◽  
Laura Cook
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Site ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
The World ◽  
Technological Issue ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Web Designers ◽  
Complete Access

Web accessibility is really not a technological issue but rather a cultural problem. A Web site is said to be Web accessible if anyone, regardless of capabilities or disabilities, using any kind of Web browsing technology to visit the site has full and complete access to the site’s content and has the ability to interact with the site if required. If properly planned from the start, a Web site can be functional, accessible and aesthetically pleasing. This chapter focuses on ensuring access to information available on the Internet. The overall objective is to increase awareness of Web accessibility issues by providing rationale for why Web designers should be interested in creating accessible sites. Specifically, this chapter identifies some of the emerging digital barriers to accessibility encountered by those with disabilities. Current efforts to address these barriers legally are identified and their effectiveness for breaking down barriers is discussed. The World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C’s) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is discussed, followed by a study of the 50 most visited Web sites. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the importance of this topic and future developments.

Library Web sites for people with disability: accessibility evaluation of library websites in Pakistan

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arif khan ◽  
Haroon Idrees ◽  
Khan Mudassir
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Web Accessibility ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accessibility Evaluation ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Accessibility Issues

Purpose – This study aims to assess the accessibility of library Web sites of top ten universities of Pakistan. The study also explores commonly identifies accessibility barriers in the subject Web sites. Accessibility analysis of library Web sites has been conducted using Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAET) to examine compliance of the library Web site with Web Content Accessibility Guideline 2.0. The study also attempts to rank each Web site according to number of quality issues identified. Based on literature review, the study also proposes a framework to conduct Web accessibility evaluation of library Web sites. Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the Web, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive and aging (old-age). Design/methodology/approach – This study examines accessibility of subject Web sites using automated accessibility evaluation tool based on Library Web site Accessibility Evaluation Framework (LWAEF). Commercial WAET SortSite® was used to assess accessibility issues in library Web sites. The tool was also tested to validate components of the LWAEF. Findings – Result shows that 70 per cent of library Web sites do comply with World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards. It means that compliance to essential guidelines of priority A level of WCAG 2.0 are finely met by 70 per cent library Web sites of Pakistan. However, important accessibility issues still exist in the subject Web sites. Moreover, in terms of accessibility issues, overall quality of university library Web sites in Pakistan is in better condition. Originality/value – Equal access to information by all citizens is an important UN charter supported by all developing countries. Assessing the needs of all citizens has been of great importance and value to developing countries like Pakistan, with 19.2 per cent population consisting of disabled people. The paper presents the overall status of accessibility to information and is conducted to focus the library Web sites of Pakistan for the first time. Focusing the library Web sites for accessibility evaluation, this research study will help improve accessibility elements of library Web sites in other developing countries also.

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