Download Web Site Accessibility: Too Difficult To Implement?

Web Site Accessibility:
Too Difficult To Implement?
Contents
Brian Kelly
UK Web Focus
UKOLN
[email protected]
A presentation for ILI 2003
1
Implementation Challenges:
• Beyond The Theory
• Current State Of UK HEI Web
Sites
• The Problems Encountered
• Beyond The Accessible Page
Issues:
• Issues For General
Discussion
Implementation Challenges
Implementation Challenges
In the real world we are faced with several
implementation challenges:
• Deficiencies in specs,
External Issues
tools, etc.
• Migration and support
Publisher
Issues
implications
• Addressing user needs
User Issues
& resourcing implications
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Implementation Challenges
3
The Real World Web
In the real world Web we need to recognise several
external factors:
• Due to the rapid development of Web specs ("the
Web year") the specs themselves may be flawed,
ambiguous or over-ambitious
• Software has bugs (the cockup theory)
• Software vendors have their own agendas
(conspiracy theory)
Together with local factors:
• Inertia / unwillingness to act as guinea pigs
• Licensing costs
• Support issues
• …
A presentation for ILI 2003
Implementation Challenges
UK HEIs - A Case Study
In Sept 2002 a survey of accessibility of 160+
UK HEI entry points was carried out:
• Used Bobby tool (to report on problems which
could be spotted using an automated tool)
• How many WAI AA entry points were found?
The survey found:
• 4 entry points complied with WAI AA
• One was a JavaScripted site (so isn't accessible)
The UK HEI Web management community is aware of
importance of accessibility and wants to implement
accessibility. What are the difficulties?
See <http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue33/web-watch/>
A presentation for ILI 2003
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UK HEIs - A Case Study (2)
An example of a
AA-approved
site is the
University of Bristol
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Implementation Challenges
UK HEIs - A Case Study (3)
Typical problems found:
• Missing DOCTYPES
• Missing ALT attributes in IMG tags
• Use relative sizing and positioning (% values)
rather than absolute (pixels)
The first two problems could be fixed with little effort on
a single page
The third problem may conflict with usability criteria
Let us now:
• Look at the challenges in accessible Web sites
(and not just pages)
• Consider the usability issues
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Implementation Challenges
WAI Implementation
Challenges
Many University Web managers want to comply with
WAI but have encountered implementation challenges:
• Limitations of authoring tools
• Browser bugs (e.g. Netscape 4)
• Apparent conflicts between usability and
accessibility
• Resource implications of deploying new tools,
training, etc.
• The scope of large institutional Web sites
• Finding the funding
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Implementation Challenges
WAI Implementation
Challenges
One Web manager commented that " I too have
recently been struggling with just how rigorously the
WAI guidelines should be implemented. … I certainly
aspire to comply as fully as I can with the WAI
guidelines but ":
• Some guidelines are too theoretical
• Will have a pragmatic approach:
 Use tables for positioning
 Will not associate form controls for search
boxes
 Not necessarily nest headers correctly
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Supporting People - Not WAI
Compliance
• We should be addressing users' needs, and not
simply striving for WAI compliance
• Is the 'universal design' mantra always valid?
• "Click here": considered bad practice as not
everyone uses a mouse
• But what about the user with learning difficulties?
• Is there a need to design for specific concerns?
•
•
•
•
Blind
Colour-blind
Physically impaired
Learning difficulties
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Alternatives To W3C's Vision
The W3C's vision is for universal access based
on open standards.
Sound great, but:
• Is this practical? (I'm using PowerPoint!)
• Should we rule out pragmatic solutions
(our users will use Microsoft software,
Flash & PDF formats) – if proprietary
formats can be accessible is this a
problem?
• Should WAI (indirectly) impose its views
rather than leaving organisations to chose
appropriate strategies?
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Beyond The Web
• There is life beyond the Web
• Web applications may be inherently
inaccessible or very costly to make
accessible (e.g. 3D visualisation, mapping,
fine art, etc.):
"I have a Flash animation illustrating the
effect of the HIV virus. How can I make
this accessible? How can I fund this?"
• If a real world solution to a Web problem is
provided, the user will be happy, even though
the Web site is inaccessible
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Implementation Challenges
Accessibility Policies
You may wish to have an institutional accessibility policy
All resources on the University
Web site will comply with WAI AA
But:
• Is this practical
• All Web sites?
• What about MS Word / PowerPoint documents?
• How will compliance be audited?
• What about difficult areas (e.g. 3D maps)?
• What about people? What about usability?
• How will this be funded?
• Is this policy intended to be rigorously enforced, or
does it define an aspiration?
A presentation for ILI 2003
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Issues
Some issues for discussion:
• What limit should we place on making
resources accessible?
• Does W3C WAI drive our accessibility
policies or inform it?
• If the latter, what is done outside of the
WAI?
• Is adopting WAI guidelines within a legal
framework wise?
A presentation for ILI 2003
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