What is accessibility, anyway?
Adam Thiel, CPACC
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Today’s Roadmap
So, who is �ABLE Tech?
…and why are they talking to me?
Who we are
What we do
For more info, go to okabletech.org
Intro to Accessibility
Accessibility Defined
Accessibility is the practice of making information, activities, and environments usable and meaningful for as many people as possible.
In other words, it means ensuring everyone, including people with disabilities, can receive, understand, and act upon information and services as easily as everyone else.
Up to 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. (around 27%) have a disability.
Mind blown!
What are some examples of accessibility you have seen before?
Accessibility Examples
Accessibility benefits�everyone.
Laws�& Guidelines
Legal Backing
ADA Title II Update
The What-CAG?
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Organizations Affected
And Vendors, too!
What content is covered?
NOTE: Includes both public and internal content!
Documents
Web Content
Mobile Apps
So, what types of �digital content need to be accessible?
Technically Everything*
*See the DOJ’s Fact Sheet for info on exceptions
Breathe
Four Core Skills�for Digital Accessibility
The Four Core Skills
Use good structure
Create equivalent experiences
Make content readable
Use color carefully
Core Skill 1:�Use good structure
Structure is…
Why is Structure Important?
Headings
Core Skill 2:�Create �equivalent experiences
Image Descriptions
Image descriptions (a.k.a text alternatives) provide meaning to visual objects for people that can’t see them.
Every image needs some kind of image description, and alt text is the most common way to do this.
The Telephone Game
How would you describe an image to someone over the phone?
Context is King
Context is the most important thing when writing alt text.
The same image, but used in a different context, will need different alt text.
Alt Text Practice
Killer dog on the loose!
Authorities are searching for a vicious dog attacking people in Downtown Park!
If you see this deceptively cute beast, do not approach it!
Save yourself!
Core Skill 3: �Make content readable
Reading Level
Public-facing content should aim for an 8th grade reading level or lower.
Use a tool like Hemingway to quickly check your content’s reading level.
Use Plain Language
Plain Language in Action
Learn more about plain language at PlainLanguage.gov.
Before | After |
Timely preparation, including structural and non-structural mitigation measures to avoid the impacts of severe winter weather, can avert heavy personal, business and government expenditures. Experts agree that the following measures can be effective in dealing with the challenges of severe winter weather. | Severe winter weather can be extremely dangerous. Consider these safety tips to protect your property and yourself. |
Fonts
Choose simple fonts and make them large enough to be easily read.
Use 12 pt. minimum for most documents.*
Core Skill 4:�Use color carefully
Color Contrast
Everybody sees color differently!
So, we can’t rely on our eyes to know if something has enough color contrast.
Contrast Checker
Popular contrast checkers:
Minimum Contrast Ratio
4.5:1
Use of Color
Don’t use color as the only way to tell different parts of your content apart.
People who are colorblind or have low vision may not be able to tell them apart!
Use of Color 2
It’s OK to use color, but use at least one other way too, like a symbol or text.
Q&A
Help keep the lights on!
Survey link: tinyurl.com/2drb5je6
Questions? Ask us!
Thank You!