Article Idea:
Accessible design needs good foundations
suggested by Frances Forman on 2006/08/31
Accessibility is sometimes overlooked during the earlier stages of a web development project lifecycle. As accessibility is related to standards compliant code and meeting Web Accessibility Initiative single A to triple A targets, it is often given more attention during the implementation phases of a web developmnent project. Accessibility needs to be considered at all stages of a project lifecycle and designing information architectures with accessibility in mind ensures a more inclusive approach to both usability and findabiilty for all.
I’d like to shed light on how a variety of information archtiecture design decisions can have a profound impact on website accessibility as well as findability.
I’ve written an introductory article describing a methodology for bringing accessibility considerations into the IA process. This article explains why WAI guidelines are so important and illustrates how understanding the rationale behind guidelines, in addition to audience behaviour, enables IAs to design good foundations for accessible websites.
I’m happy to share this article or alternatively to provide a more advanced article describing how a variety of information architecture strategies or designs influence the ease of finding specific information for different audience groups. A more advanced article might investigate how topic maps and metadata schema can be applied to improve the accessibiity of information and services in both real and virtual worlds.
The current article investigates general considerations that are applicable to many websites, including link labelling, hierarchical organisations and link length. A more advanced article might use case studies to illustrate more specific examples of inclusive design, for example a tourism information service or a hotel website.
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Alok Jain
92 Reputation points
Posted 2006/08/31 @ 12:06PM with
Frances,
This would be a very important article. I have been focussing on this aspect as well on accessibility right from strategy to every stage of design and development.
In most cases people satisfy themesleves by making system Section 508/W3C/DDA compliant, but in my view that is just making it “compatible to assistive technology”, accessibility from overall experience perspective and from a real solution perspective goes much deper.
Cheers
Alok Jain
Fredy D. Ore
1 Reputation points
Posted 2006/10/17 @ 08:11AM with
Hi Fran,
I just read your article on the Nomensa website.
It’s great :) and touches on a number of important areas, such as clear sign posting, and how applying meaningful links helps within non-visual assistive technologies like screen readers e.g. your “more, more, more” read- out-loud example.
Identifying tone of voice, language and applying meaningful links (like you mentioned) is very important I feel. As it defines the context of how people interact, but more importantly, how it is put within the perspective of user needs, their journey(s), mental models or particular scenarios.
You’re right, by thinking about Accessibility early within any project, allows for adequate budget to be allocated for the entire process (including development), and that’s only a good thing :)
In the UK and in March earlier this year, a Publicly Available Specification (PAS 78), was developed by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) in collaboration with the British Standards Institution (BSI). This document outlines good practice in commissioning websites that are accessible to and usable by disabled people.
http://www.bsi-global.com/ICT/PAS78/index.xalter
Although it is targeted at a slightly different audience to the W3C WAI guidelines, PAS78 does a similar thing to describing the WAI guidelines but in a more palatable way for Projects Managers, CMS Administrators, Copy writers, IA’s, Usability and User Experience professionals.
We have a copy here in the office at work, but an accessible PDF version of PAS 78 is available as a free download from the Disability Rights Commission website, http://www.drc.org.uk/pas
It is also available in other formats such as: large print, easy read, audio, braille, daisy and Welsh
Cheers,
Fredy :)