Question
Before diving deep, here are 5 simple checks you can do to quickly see if a website or app is accessible:
Page Title
Every page should have a clear and specific title.
It tells users (and screen readers) what the page is about.
Headings
Headings (like titles and subtitles) should be used to organize content.
They should follow a logical order—like a book with chapters and sections.
Text Contrast
The text should be easy to read, even for people with low vision or color blindness.
Good contrast = dark text on a light background (or vice versa).
Keyboard Navigation
Try using only your keyboard (use the Tab key!).
You should be able to move through links, buttons, and forms without needing a mouse.
Image Text Alternatives ("Alt Text")
Pictures should have written descriptions that screen readers can read aloud.
These help people who can’t see the images understand what’s shown.
So to summarize, the five checks are:
Page Title
Headings
Text Contrast
Keyboard Navigation
Image Text Alternatives ("Alt Text")
Why These Checks Matter
These five checks help us spot major barriers that make websites hard to use for people with visual, motor, or cognitive challenges. If a site fails even one of these, it may not be accessible to everyone, and that’s a problem you can help fix.
Find a website or app that fails at least 1 of these five checks. How do you think that could impact you or someone else with a visual, motor, or cognitive challenge?
Page Title
Every page should have a clear and specific title.
It tells users (and screen readers) what the page is about.
Headings
Headings (like titles and subtitles) should be used to organize content.
They should follow a logical order—like a book with chapters and sections.
Text Contrast
The text should be easy to read, even for people with low vision or color blindness.
Good contrast = dark text on a light background (or vice versa).
Keyboard Navigation
Try using only your keyboard (use the Tab key!).
You should be able to move through links, buttons, and forms without needing a mouse.
Image Text Alternatives ("Alt Text")
Pictures should have written descriptions that screen readers can read aloud.
These help people who can’t see the images understand what’s shown.
So to summarize, the five checks are:
Page Title
Headings
Text Contrast
Keyboard Navigation
Image Text Alternatives ("Alt Text")
Why These Checks Matter
These five checks help us spot major barriers that make websites hard to use for people with visual, motor, or cognitive challenges. If a site fails even one of these, it may not be accessible to everyone, and that’s a problem you can help fix.
Find a website or app that fails at least 1 of these five checks. How do you think that could impact you or someone else with a visual, motor, or cognitive challenge?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Let's consider an example with a common website: an e-commerce platform that has problems with accessibility, specifically in the area of "Image Text Alternatives (Alt Text)." Suppose this website features a variety of products, but none of the images have alt text describing them.
### Impact on Users with Visual, Motor, or Cognitive Challenges:
1. **Visual Challenges**:
- **Impact**: Users who are blind or have low vision rely on screen readers to describe images. Without alt text, these users would encounter blank spaces or hear generic terms like "image" instead of specific product details. This could lead to a frustrating experience where they cannot effectively shop because they lack crucial information about the products.
2. **Cognitive Challenges**:
- **Impact**: Users with cognitive impairments may need clear and straightforward descriptions to understand content better. If the images of products are not described through alt text, it might confuse them further—leading to misunderstandings about what a product is or its features. Consequently, purchasing decisions may be impaired.
3. **Motor Challenges**:
- **Impact**: Individuals with motor difficulties often use assistive technologies like switch devices or eye-tracking software. These tools can read the page but will struggle to convey meaning when images have no descriptions. This lack of information can hinder a user’s ability to find and purchase products, discouraging them from using the site altogether.
### Conclusion
Failing to include alt text not only alienates those with visual impairments but also complicates the user experience for people with motor and cognitive challenges. An accessible website is crucial not just for compliance with laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but more importantly, to ensure all users can enjoy a seamless and functional experience. Improving accessibility through simple fixes like adding descriptive alt text can make a significant difference in inclusivity and usability for everyone.
### Impact on Users with Visual, Motor, or Cognitive Challenges:
1. **Visual Challenges**:
- **Impact**: Users who are blind or have low vision rely on screen readers to describe images. Without alt text, these users would encounter blank spaces or hear generic terms like "image" instead of specific product details. This could lead to a frustrating experience where they cannot effectively shop because they lack crucial information about the products.
2. **Cognitive Challenges**:
- **Impact**: Users with cognitive impairments may need clear and straightforward descriptions to understand content better. If the images of products are not described through alt text, it might confuse them further—leading to misunderstandings about what a product is or its features. Consequently, purchasing decisions may be impaired.
3. **Motor Challenges**:
- **Impact**: Individuals with motor difficulties often use assistive technologies like switch devices or eye-tracking software. These tools can read the page but will struggle to convey meaning when images have no descriptions. This lack of information can hinder a user’s ability to find and purchase products, discouraging them from using the site altogether.
### Conclusion
Failing to include alt text not only alienates those with visual impairments but also complicates the user experience for people with motor and cognitive challenges. An accessible website is crucial not just for compliance with laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but more importantly, to ensure all users can enjoy a seamless and functional experience. Improving accessibility through simple fixes like adding descriptive alt text can make a significant difference in inclusivity and usability for everyone.