Before we get to the specifics of what we need to do to make our website accessible, it is important to understand some key concepts - what is AODA? What is Disability? And what is 'Universal Design'?
What is accessibility?
Accessibility, as it relates to our website, is the ability for everyone to access the information we have available on it.
The Faculty of Education's website must comply with website standards set forward by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The law mandates that organizations must follow standards to become more accessible to people with disabilities.
What is AODA?
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities ACT (AODA) is an Ontario law that provides standards that organizations must follow in order to become more accessible to people with disabilities. The initial law started in 2005 with a goal of the province being fully accessible by 2025.
What is a disability?
As defined on the AODA website:
"The term “disability” covers a range of visible and invisible conditions that may have been present from birth, caused by an accident, or developed over time. For instance, disabilities include:
- Blindness or visual impairment
- Deafness or hearing disabilities
- Speech impairment
- Physical or mobility disabilities, such as:
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Difficulty with balance or coordination
- Brain injury
- Epilepsy
- Intellectual disabilities
- Learning disabilities
- Mental health challenges
- Reliance on a service dog, such as a guide dog, or on a mobility device, such as a wheelchair, walker, or cane"
Universal Design
If you've been in the education field, you are probably aware of universal design - but if you aren't, "Universal Design is the process of creating products that are accessible to people with a wide range of abilities, disabilities, and other characteristics. Universally designed products accommodate individual preferences and abilities; communicate necessary information effectively (regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities); and can be approached, reached, manipulated, and used regardless of the individual's body size, posture, or mobility. The application of universal design principles minimizes the need for assistive technology, results in products compatible with assistive technology, and makes products more usable by everyone, not just people with disabilities. (From the University of Washington's Disabilities, Opportunities, and Technology Centre)."
The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University The principles of Universal Design include:
- Equitable Use. The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. Example: Using the built in headings in Microsoft Word for documents so that they are easily able to be read by a screen reader.
- Flexibility in Use. The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. Example: a museum that has information in an exhibition available on signs, by listening, or in braille.
- Simple and Intuitive Use. Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level. Example: Volume control buttons on remote controls.
- Perceptible Information. The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities. Example: televisions in airports that use captioning as the airport is a loud space.
- Tolerance for Error. The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. Example: web publishing platforms that inform you of mistakes you might be making before you save.
- Low Physical Effort. The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue. Example: the accessibility buttons that you can press to open doors. They help people who use wheelchairs but also people who have strollers or are using crutches.
- Size and Space for Approach and Use. Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility.
Why we need Universal Design
How Universal Design applies to our website
There are many things we can do with the content of our website that make it easier for everyone to access the information we have available. Many of these not only help people who have disabilities but also help our website be better in general.
For example, having consistent layouts is very helpful for screen readers but it also helps to make websites easier to navigate for everyone.
Now we know these concepts, it is time to learn about the specifics on our website.