Headings and labels need to describe the content they are identifying in the content. This means when you have a H1 is should describe the page as a whole. Labels need to describe the data they are collecting. Seems simple. And usually it is. Let’s look at some examples of when it isn’t as clear.
Comments closedI’ve been encountering a pattern lately of developers trying to do things right when it comes to live regions, but not understanding how they essentially work. This tip is to provide a super high level on how they function.
Leave a CommentLinks are what make the internet the world wide web. The original idea was that the internet is a set of digital documents. The link allows you to move between them. To make them as effective as they can be, we want to make them clear in what they do. Often though, the simple link doesn’t provide a clear purpose. Let’s look at what it takes to pass 2.4.4 Link Purpose (in Context).
Comments closedThe internet today far exceeds what we initially thought it could be. We’ve advanced so far that we can replicate desktop applications running in the browser. Cloud-based software is everywhere. We’ve crafted frameworks to speed up development and solve the hard parts of server-client communication.
But the same problem keeps happening. We keep rebuilding interactive components using custom coding. And we forget all the things we need to do to make them accessible.
Today I’m looking at a why we should be using more native HTML controls and fewer custom ones. I’ll show you what is included if you use a native control.
Comments closedWalking into a library you are faced with thousands of books to read. Each one has a title, and they’re grouped together in like topics. You’re looking for a book on how to develop accessible websites, so you head to the internet section. As you walk into the aisle, all the books are pages out with spines to the back of the shelf.
1 CommentYou’ve most likely heard the term “skip link.” The standard take on the skip link is we include a visually-hidden link at the top of the page. When it receives focus, it becomes visible and when activated jumps you to the main content. While this is the primary use and function of this guideline, I’ve found it applies to other areas. Let’s look at the different reasons and methods.
1 CommentYou’ve seen the warnings before TV shows and movies. “This show contains flashing lights.” This warning on visual media also applies web sites and apps. Guideline 2.3.1 addresses this by implementing a requirement that reduces the potential for severe damage. Let’s discuss why.
1 CommentIt was Christmas Day in 2012 that I had my first major incident. You see, for as long as I could remember I suffered from migraines. I recall having to takes days off school when I was a freshman. But they started before that. At this moment in time, I was getting 20+ migraines a month. I had migraines that would last days. I had some last hours. Those were the worst. I’d start to feel better to only have another come on before the end of the day. Along with the migraines would come anxiety, nausea, dizziness, brain fog, aphasia. But that day was different.
1 CommentYou know the feeling. You’ve just spent the last twenty minutes filling out a form on a website. Suddenly, it asks for a specific piece of information. You need to dig for this information. You spend the next 7 minutes digging in your desk, files, computer, until you find it. Flip back to your form, and you are logged out.
If you are lucky, the form will allow you sign back in and continue from there. There’s a good chance you may need to start over. For you it is frustrating and takes time. But what if you can’t complete the form in the time given? Maybe it’s because you can’t answer the questions quickly enough.
1 CommentHopefully those of you working towards EAA are breathing a little easier today. While some of you were pushing last minute updates, I attended my local Pride celebration.
Well organized and attended, it reminded me why I do this work. People from 1-99+. People with visible disabilities. People with disabilities only visible because they made it so by wearing a device to control the disability (hearings aids off, headphones, walkers instead of canes). This wasn’t a celebration of LGBTQ+, this was a celebration of people being people.
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