In the physical world we understand that not everyone can climb 20 flights of stairs, so under the ADA we created rules to overcome these situations. Buildings now have commitments they need to make during construction to include ramps and elevators to access areas that someone might not be able to climb stairs. This is an example of multiple ways. Let’s review how that translates to digital spaces.
Reading the WCAG Quickref, this success criteria tells us:
More than one way is available to locate a web page within a set of web pages except where the web page is the result of, or a step in, a process.
Most digital properties have a way to move between a set of pages. Navigation or a “menu” is used to separate content into sections, which could again sub-divide. This is the first way we meet this criteria.
The next thing we need to do is determine if there are any pages that are part of workflow. Can I get to the page by just linking to it or put a URL in? Or do I have to complete a task first? If it part of a workflow, liker logging in or registration, make a note of it. The pages following the initiation of the workflow are exempted from this.
What is a Set of Web Pages?
It’s important to note that if your product has a login screen, the following screen would not need to be included in the second way we need to supply due to an exemption. But once logged in, we have changed context and have a new set of pages.
A set of web pages is defined as a group of pages that are related. Looking at retail, Men’s, Women’s, and Kid’s could each be a set of web pages. They can also be one set. We determine this by the similarities in the pages. WCAG asks for consistent navigation, consistently located help as well. These will be clues we use to determine if we have a new set of pages. Another example is your marketing site is meant for luring in buyers. It has a blog, details on your product, has a company history, pricing, and maybe some testimonials. But you have a web application you sell. It has a website dedicated to support and documentation. Once you sign up and login, then you get to the application. These are examples of three different sets.
How to Provide a Second Method
The two main methods of providing alternate access are search and a sitemap. Each set of pages needs this. Since documentation, support, and the marketing site, you could use one search component across all of them and solve for each set. You would need a separate search for those logged in.
The other thing is the sitemap. A lot of times you will see these written in XML, but the format doesn’t matter. Here we have a list of lists. For every section and page, we provide a link grouped under the section of the site. This can include links into your application too, they’ll just need to be logged in to access them.
If you are using a content management system, it should have some method of helping you build out the site map so as your site changes it updates automatically. If you are not using a content management system, you will need to do this manually. Platforms like Drupal, WordPress, Eleventy (11ty), and Jekyll have tools either built in, or easily added for sitemaps.
Not everyone uses the stairs. Not everyone remembers the room. We use physical signage to direct users and we provide ramps and elevators. Sitemaps and search are our digital equivalents.