Accessibility Awareness

Helping you better understand web accessibility for people with disabilities, whether you're a student, teacher, journalist… whomever!

Run by @patrickmgarvin

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Last Notes

2024-09-10 21:18:09

When creating PDFs, avoid using "Print to PDF." A screen reader user may still be able to access the text of PDFs created this way, but heading structure, alternative text, and any other tag structure will be lost. Using "Save As" or "Export" can preserve these tags.

2024-09-08 03:42:25

You don't necessarily need to say "image of" in your alt text for users to know it's an image. Screen readers will announce that it's an image. But it can help readers to specify if it's a hand-drawn image, Polaroid, infographic, screenshot, chart, map, diagram, or so on.

2024-09-05 21:06:03

Alt text must provide context for people who cannot see the image. Describe the image's context and purpose. Do not write alt text for cute or clever jokes based on visual content you expect users can see. This is an abuse of alt text, as it violates the whole point of alt text.

2024-09-04 23:01:06

An emoji has a coded description that gets read aloud by screen readers. Putting emoji in between text could cause confusion or make content less clear. Putting an emoji after each word could be especially confusing. It's best to put emoji at the end of written content.

2024-09-03 21:51:58

If your organization has Slack, Teams, or any other messaging program, you should have a dedicated accessibility channel. This would be a great way for everyone on your team to learn together by sharing links, posing questions, and reviewing alt text, among other things.

2024-09-02 04:18:46

Many struggle with writing alt text for charts and other other data visualizations. Amy Cesal's "Writing Alt Text for Data Visualization" hammers home the importance of explaining the chart type, the type of data, and the reason for the chart.
https://medium.com/nightingale/writing-alt-text-for-data-visualization-2a218ef43f81

2024-08-15 23:37:10

Cognitive load refers to how much working memory or short-term memory someone is using at a time. Minimizing the cognitive load it takes to use your site makes it more accessible for people with cognitive disabilities. Limit what you're asking users to remember to use your site.

2024-08-11 02:53:56

For audio-only content like podcasts, provide a transcript. For videos with audio, provide both transcripts and captions. In the transcripts and captions, include the spoken information and sounds that are important for understanding the content.

2024-08-10 21:35:40

Automatic captions make it difficult to watch videos because the viewer is forced to decipher misspelled or mistranslated words that appear in a string of text without any punctuation. These can be distracting and disorienting. Always edit your captions before publishing.

2024-07-29 13:24:20

2024-07-15 17:22:10

People who are new to writing alt text sometimes feel they must describe every detail, and then get overwhelmed by this pressure. Imagine a large crowd at a football game: you are not expected to describe every single person in a crowd in detail. This would be nearly impossible.

2024-07-03 21:51:40

The Game Accessibility Guidelines have been put together by game studios, specialists and academics. While they are not an official set of standards or documents, they are a collection of tips and techniques to help developers make games more inclusive.
https://gameaccessibilityguidelines.com/

2024-06-25 03:28:24

When writing alt text, ask yourself if you would picture an approximation of the image if it was described to you over the phone using the alt text you've written. Doing that exercise can be a good way to determine if you're on the right track.

2024-06-10 16:38:23

For people just getting introduced to accessibility concepts, the number of resources can be overwhelming for people who don't know where to start. These 10 tips from Lireo Designs can be a good way to introduce your team to the basics.
https://www.lireo.com/10-ways-to-improve-accessibility-on-websites-and-social-media/

2024-06-06 14:13:25

People often ask what accessibility considerations to keep in mind when creating data visualizations. For guidance and advice, check out Sarah L. Fossheim's list of 10 things to do (or not do) when designing accessible data visualizations.
https://fossheim.io/writing/posts/accessible-dataviz-design/

2024-05-24 14:33:25

2024-05-22 22:07:54

2024-05-18 16:02:00

Avoid emoji icons in alt text. Emoji icons are a visual element, so it's counterintuitive to add them to non-visual content. You'll likely confuse people with messages that don't make sense. In alt text, use plain text, free of symbols, icons, or any weird special characters.

2024-04-25 16:23:59

Avoid using emoji as bullet points in social media posts. An emoji has a coded description that gets read by screen readers, and thus could confuse users who think that's part of the content. If you can't use standard lists, use dashes for bullet points or add line breaks.

2024-04-17 03:45:17

If you put links or hashtags in your alt text, no one will be able to click or select the link or hashtag. It's just going to be read out loud. If you have a link or hashtag to share, that should go in the written part of your post or your tweet, but not the alt text.

2024-04-15 15:05:00

Alexa Heinrich's Accessible Social is a free resource for digital marketers, communication professionals, content creators, everyday social media users, and anyone who wants to learn how to make their content accessible for people with disabilities.
https://www.accessible-social.com/

2024-04-13 02:14:53

If you use the clapping hands emoji between every word for emphasis, screen reader users will hear "clapping hands" after each word. This is true for any emoji. This will be distracting, annoying, and disorienting. The message you're trying to emphasize will likely be lost.

2024-04-10 22:20:07

Vestibular disorders affect people's balance as well as their visual perception of their world around them. Don't make animations, sliders, videos, or rapid movement start automatically, as autoplaying elements could trigger a bad reaction in people who have vestibular disorders.

2024-04-09 21:34:27

Images shared on social media always need alt text. If you have an event or program claiming to be about "diversity, belonging, equity and inclusion," then your lack of alt text for any image you share about this event or program is especially egregious and misses the mark in a big way.

2024-04-08 15:56:43

Text in all capital letters can be more difficult to read for most people, with and without disabilities. Readability can be reduced with all caps because all words have a uniform rectangular shape, so readers can't identify words by their shape.

2024-04-03 17:02:56

Don't forget transcripts for video and audio. These will help blind users and low-vision users, deaf and hard-of-hearing users, people with ADHD, and people with audio-processing disorders. Transcripts also benefit search engines, people in quiet spaces, and people in a hurry.

2024-04-02 19:30:46

"Disabled users don't use my website" is a cop-out and a lie. There's no way to know how many assistive technology users are using your site. You can't confidently exclude a large portion of the world's population that has a disability by claiming none of them use your site.

2024-04-02 03:12:45

Do not cram alt text with keywords just to improve search engine optimization. This will hinder alt text’s true purpose: improving accessibility. Focus on describing the photo's content. Search engine optimization should not be the goal for writing good alt text.

2024-03-30 15:48:59

2024-03-29 01:09:08

Audio descriptions are necessary for making videos accessible. They narrate the crucial visual elements that would be necessary for understanding the plot without the ability to see the screen. They describe non-verbal cues like gestures, facial expressions, or eye contact.

2024-03-28 20:32:44

When using Microsoft Word or Google Docs, don't just make text bigger and bolder to make it a heading. That will work for sighted users, but screen reader users will miss that and just hear it as normal paragraph text. Use actual heading styles, like level 1 through 6.

2024-03-26 21:32:01

People who are new to writing alt text sometimes feel they must describe every detail in every visual, including logos. This is unnecessary and will overwhelm screen reader users. For example, it's OK to write "Google logo" rather than describing the logo in exhausting detail.

2024-03-26 19:02:55

2024-03-25 18:21:08

Many screen readers can produce a list with all the headings on a page. This allows users to browse the list and jump to a specific heading on the page. Write down that list and structure it. Does it make sense if you read it out loud?

2024-03-23 03:47:54

Sheri Byrne-Haber's "Giving A Damn About Accessibility" has great tips on how to deal with people who challenge or dismiss the need for accessibility.
https://uxdesign.cc/giving-a-damn-about-accessibility-6caf90be5a40

2024-03-22 16:14:47

Don't write generic descriptions for alt text. "Screenshot of a news article" might technically describe an image, but it does nothing to convey the information or context sighted users get from the image. People who can't see the image need the same information and context.

2024-03-22 02:37:25

First and foremost, alt text must always be informative and descriptive of the content in the image. It can have character and humor, but it still needs to be informative and descriptive. Alt text is not a place to add easter eggs or jokes for sighted users.

2024-03-20 19:15:10

Some people may be unable to use a mouse, and instead rely exclusively on keyboards, or use assistive technologies such as speech recognition, head pointers, mouth sticks, or eye-gaze tracking systems. If a website is accessible only to mouse users, these people will be excluded.

2024-03-18 13:47:14

The Americans With Disabilities Act does not currently have specific, testable criteria to measure web accessibility. If a vendor or company promises you that they can make your site "ADA-compliant," be skeptical. The ADA has no specific standards with which one can or can't "comply."

2024-03-16 21:48:24

Meryl Evans' "Why and How to Create Accessible Social Media and Website Content" introduces content creators to basic accessibility considerations for links, hashtags, emojis, alt text, transcripts, and more.
https://meryl.net/digital-content-accessibility/

2024-03-15 19:39:27

For people who want to see a screen reader in action, it can be helpful to start with this demo from Hadi Rangin of the University of Washington's IT Accessibility Team. Among the things Rangin discusses are ARIA landmarks, headings, and text content.
https://youtu.be/7Rs3YpsnfoI

2024-03-13 16:20:50

Don't use emojis to replace words. It increases cognitive load for everyone. You can't be sure people will interpret the emoji as you intended. Emoji alt text descriptions used by screen reading and text to speech software may not be what you intended the emoji to mean.

2024-03-13 02:57:57

2024-03-12 20:55:17

2024-03-11 04:18:36

As you share Oscars images, memes, screen shots, and more on social media, don't forget alt text. Adding alt text helps everyone using a screen reader, whether they are blind, have low-vision, have a cognitive disability, etc.

2024-03-08 14:16:10

A common question about alt text is whether or not it's appropriate to mention attributes like race or skin tone. A common response is, "It depends." In this post, Tolu Adegbite explains how race can be relevant and important in providing context.
https://ux.shopify.com/the-case-for-describing-race-in-alternative-text-attributes-a093380634f2

2024-03-04 21:32:31

Intentional misspellings of words for cute memes can confuse people. This includes people with cognitive and reading disabilities, and those learning the language. Depending on how much the word is misspelled, screen readers might not pronounce it like the actual intended word.

2024-03-04 18:49:25

2024-03-02 21:08:23

For beginners, it can be difficult to know what to put in alt text, as well as when alt text is needed and when it isn't. This decision tree from @w3c helps you determine what to do, based on specific situations.
https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/decision-tree/

2024-03-01 04:40:37

When writing alt text, focus on what is actually in the image. Any relevant information that isn't describing the image itself should be in a caption below the image, not in the alt text. This includes photo credits, permissions, and copyright information.

2024-02-29 21:38:50

2024-02-28 20:09:29

2024-02-27 03:52:33

Websites about in-person events like conferences or conventions should provide information about the event's accessibility. This includes information on venues, transportation, and how and when to request accessibility needs.

2024-02-27 01:41:25

Looking for a digital accessibility job? Or looking to hire someone for an accessibility role? A11yjobs is a digital accessibility job board.
https://www.a11yjobs.com/

2024-02-26 23:06:30

2024-02-24 23:40:44

If you have an election results chart, the alt text needs to communicate the results. "Election results" is not enough. The same rules apply for alt text for images of weather charts. "Weather chart" doesn't cut it and doesn't convey what the chart is actually saying to users.

2024-02-23 15:22:17

2024-02-22 15:03:08

The Americans With Disabilities Act does not currently have specific, testable criteria to measure web accessibility. If a vendor or company promises you that they can make your site "ADA-compliant," be skeptical. Ask what standards they use to measure "compliance."

2024-02-21 16:06:56

In case you missed it: Deque Systems has filed a federal lawsuit against BrowserStack on the grounds of copyright infringement. The case could have significant ramifications for accessibility tools, accessibility efforts, and the accessibility community.
https://www.deque.com/blog/deque-systems-sues-browserstack-for-intellectual-property-theft/

2024-02-20 19:48:02

To make online meetings and presentations more accessible, use clear language and limit text on each slide. Use consistent design in presentations to reduce the cognitive load on each slide. Start slides with a summary/overview and end with a review of the most important points.

2024-02-19 16:26:50

2024-02-18 23:34:29

Don’t stuff your alt text with keywords without context. If your alt text is just a collection of keywords, it will just sound like a gibberish string. It won’t describe what’s actually in the image, and won't help a blind user get a context or content of the image.

2024-02-14 04:18:20

Get in the habit of bringing up accessibility at meetings, in stand-ups, and in demos. Bring up things you've done to address accessibility. Likewise, don't be afraid to ask, "Have we tested this on a keyboard?" or "What's the experience like on a screen reader?"

2024-02-13 01:53:48

When writing alt text, ask yourself why the image is there in the first place, and what is the vital information it provides for people who can see it. That will help you identify the most important details you need to put in the alt text. Putting too much in could overwhelm.

2024-02-12 14:33:50

Everyone who works on a website has a role to ensure the site and its content are accessible. This resource from Vox Media breaks down some accessibility tasks by job role, including content creators, designers, developers, project managers, and testers.
https://accessibility.voxmedia.com/

2024-02-12 02:47:46

For screen readers to recognize headings, heading text can't just be body text or normal text that's been made to look bigger and bolder. It must be formatted as a heading. In Microsoft Word and Google Docs, this can be done in the styles box. In HTML, use the tags h1 through h6.

2024-02-12 00:05:26

Some will publish podcasts but wait up to 24 hours before adding transcripts instead of publishing them together. The end goal should be to have the transcript ready at the same time as the podcast. This will require multiple teams working together toward that goal.

2024-02-11 16:10:11

Any image shared on social media needs alt text. So today, as you share Super Bowl images, memes, screen shots, and more, don't forget alt text. This helps everyone using a screen reader, whether they are blind, have low-vision, have a cognitive disability, etc.

2024-02-05 19:02:20

2024-01-29 17:57:42

You probably wouldn't publish an article filled with mistakes, so don't do it with transcripts or video captions, either. Auto-transcription services can be a great starting point, but that's what they are: a starting point. They still need editing to be publication ready.

2024-01-17 02:53:31

2024-01-14 03:55:23

2024-01-12 23:17:11

Avoid using images of big blocks of text. Using actual text instead of images of text will help screen reader users, but also will help people with reading disabilities. Using actual text helps users who need to adjust the text's font, color, size, and alignment.

2024-01-05 03:59:50

2024-01-01 16:18:20

Automated accessibility testing involves running a page through tools and software to detect errors. Manual testing involves humans testing pages. Automated testing can be faster, but automated tests can't catch every error. Thus, use both automated and manual testing.

A lot of big breaking news stories involve visuals, such as timelines of events, photos, memes, and screen shots. All of those images need alt text. All of them. Don't leave out people who use screen readers.

2023-11-27 01:03:26

2023-11-24 14:49:23

2023-11-21 02:21:59

Make sure that interactive elements that can be accessed by using a mouse, pen, trackpad or touch are at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels. This helps people with low vision and/or limited motor control select the intended element without accidentally selecting nearby elements.

2023-11-15 03:12:36

Hyperlink text should make sense when read out of context. Screen reader users can navigate from link to link, and can listen to links in a list. When navigating this way, only the link is read. So "click here" or "read more" won't make sense.

2023-11-04 15:31:31

When writing alt text, be specific but also succinct. Stick to as few words as you can. Is the clothing relevant? Is the color of the plate important? What about the weather in the background? Decide whether this info adds or distracts from the context of the image.

2023-11-03 19:23:28

Avoid bright colors when possible. People with sensory sensitivities can find extremely bright colors overwhelming, experiencing anxiety or even pain. Avoiding these colors will help users with sensory sensitivities, including some people with autism.

2023-11-03 02:54:47

2023-11-02 13:32:12

The difference between closed captions and open captions: Closed captions are on a separate track that can be turned on or off. Open captions are captions that are burned into the video, so that they are always showing. The viewer cannot turn them off.
https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/captions/#positioning-and-styling-captions

2023-10-30 20:16:28

The EU Web Accessibility Directive is a law that applies in all European Union countries, as well as in countries of the European Economic Area. The directive lays out accessibility requirements for public sector websites and apps.
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/web-accessibility

2023-10-27 03:37:20

Screen reader users going through a PowerPoint presentation might quickly scan through a list of slide titles and go right to the slide they want. Avoid repeating slide titles. Instead, use unique slide titles so users can clearly understand which slide they are on currently.

2023-10-26 19:31:55

2023-10-25 15:03:20

Like most other disciplines, accessibility takes practice, time, and patience. No one starts a new endeavor and is instantly excellent at it with nothing to learn. If your beginning goal is absolute perfection, you'll burn out. You'll find excuses to not try. Get started and try.

2023-10-25 04:29:35

2023-10-24 05:27:53

2023-10-23 19:43:18

You might hear vendors or companies use terms like "ADA-compliant" or "ADA compliance." But when it comes to web accessibility, The Americans With Disabilities Act offers no measurable or testable criteria with which one can comply or not comply.
https://adrianroselli.com/2022/03/ada-web-site-compliance-still-not-a-thing.html

2023-10-20 13:45:28

Animated elements, popups, jiggling icons, and spontaneous modals can distract users from tasks. To help users focus on important content and functionality, avoid anything that would distract a person's attention away from the main content or functionality.

2023-10-19 14:12:01

2023-10-18 20:06:57

Beware of companies promising to make sites completely accessible, compliant, and immune from lawsuits with just a few lines of code. This just isn't possible. Disabled users have long said these tools don't actually help them, and can often make things worse.

2023-10-17 20:32:17

Alt text is not the same as a photo caption. Captions are typically written to support a photo, and usually depend on users being able to see the photo. But alt text is meant to be the stand-in for the photo. The alt text is what a screen reader user gets in place of the photo.

2023-10-17 02:13:33

If you're looking to hire people with accessibility knowledge and experience, the Accessibility Skills Hiring Toolkit created by Teach Access can help you. The toolkit provides language to use when writing job ads, and questions to ask when interviewing.
https://teachaccess.github.io/accessibility-skills-hiring-toolkit/

2023-10-08 22:49:09

An accessibility statement lets your users know you're committed to web accessibility. These statements usually include the accessibility standard applied, such as WCAG 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA. They also include contact information in case users encounter problems.
https://www.w3.org/WAI/planning/statements