Showing papers on "Web accessibility published in 2018"

Website accessibility in the tourism industry: an analysis of official national tourism organization websites around the world.

Abstract: Purpose: To analyze the accessibility of official national tourism organization websites of countries around the world, in order to establish possible common patterns and rankings of those with exe...

Challenges to Assess Accessibility in Higher Education Websites: A Comparative Study of Latin America Universities

Abstract: The Web has revolutionized our daily lives, becoming a prime source of information, knowledge, inquiry, and provision of services in various areas. It is possible to obtain information easily from any institution through the Internet; in fact, the first impression of an organization an individual perceives is almost always based on its official website. Services related to education are increasing worldwide; therefore, it is important that users, regardless of their disabilities, be able to access these websites in an effective manner. However, the homepages of universities in Latin America still do not meet web accessibility criteria. This paper describes the problems of web accessibility identified in 348 main university websites in Latin America according to their rankings on Webometrics. The results show that the universities’ websites have frequent problems related to the lack of alternative image text. It was found that the university websites included in the present study violate Web accessibility requirements based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. The many problems identified concerning Website accessibility indicate that it is necessary to strengthen Web accessibility policies in each country and apply better directives in this area to make Websites more inclusive.

Web accessibility: Filtering redundant and irrelevant information improves website usability for blind users

Abstract: Accessibility norms for the Web are based on the principle that everybody should have access to the same information. Applying these norms enables the oralization of all visual information by screen readers used by people with blindness. However, compliance with accessibility norms does not guarantee that users with blindness can reach their goals with a reasonable amount of time and effort. To improve website usability, it is necessary to take into account the specific needs of users. A previous study revealed that a major need for users with blindness is to quickly reach the information relevant to the task, by filtering redundant and irrelevant information. We conducted three experiments in which seventy-six participants with blindness performed tasks on websites which filtered or not irrelevant and redundant information. Cognitive load was assessed using the dual-task paradigm and the NASA-RTLX questionnaire. The results showed a substantial benefit for information filtering regarding participants' cognitive load, performance, and satisfaction. Thus, this study provides cogent arguments for improving usability of websites by information filtering for users with blindness.

Accessibility evaluation of top university websites: a comparative study of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey

Abstract: It is important that university websites and services offered through their sites are used effectively, efficiently and satisfactorily by the whole target group of the university, including disabled users. However, universities in many countries are still unable to meet the criteria for web accessibility. This study aimed to test the websites of the top universities in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey using automated assessment tools. The results showed that university websites are more popular in Turkey, and in Turkish universities developers pay more attention to the performance of websites, followed by websites of Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz and Kazakh universities. The majority of the university websites in the study did not meet the WCAG 2.0 accessibility criteria. Only two Kyrgyz and two Kazakh university websites attained conformance level A, and only three, one Kyrgyz and two Kazakh, achieved accessibility conformance level AAA. Based on the results, it was determined that universities included in the present study need to devote more effort to making their websites more accessible for their users.

Multi-tool accessibility assessment of government department websites:a case-study with JKGAD.

Abstract: PURPOSE Nature of being accessible to all categories of users is one of the primary factors for enabling the wider reach of the resources published through World Wide Web. The accessibility of websites has been analyzed through W3C guidelines with the help of various tools. This paper presents a multi-tool accessibility assessment of government department websites belonging to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. A comparative analysis of six accessibility tools is also presented with 14 different parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS The accessibility analysis tools used in this study for analysis are aChecker, Cynthia Says, Tenon, wave, Mauve, and Hera. These tools provide us the results of selected websites accessibility status on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0 and 2.0. RESULTS It was found that there are variations in accessibility analysis results when using different accessibility metrics to measure the accessibility of websites. In addition to this, we have identified the guidelines which have frequently been violated. It was observed that there is a need for incorporating the accessibility component features among the selected websites. This paper presents a set of suggestions to improve the accessibility status of these sites so that the information and services provided by these sites shall reach a wider spectrum of audience without any barrier. Implications for rehabilitation The following points indicates that this case study of JKGAD websites comes under Rehabilitation focused on Visually Impaired users. Due to the universal nature of web, it should be accessible to all according to WCAG guidelines framed by World Wide Web Consortium. In this paper we have identified multiple accessibility barriers for persons with visual impairment while browsing the Jammu and Kashmir Government websites. Multi-tool analysis has been done to pin-point the potential barriers for persons with visually Impaired. Usability analysis has been performed to check whether these websites are suitable for persons with visual impairment. We provide some valuable suggestions which can be followed by developers and designers to minimize these potential accessibility barriers.Based on aforementioned key points, this article helps the persons with disability especially Visually Impaired Users to access the web resources better with the implementation of identified suggestions.

Evaluation of Web content accessibility in an Israeli institution of higher education

Abstract: Nowadays, the Web constitutes an integral part of higher education and offers an unprecedented level of access to information and services. The increasing number of students with disabilities in higher education emphasizes the need of universities and colleges to make the necessary adjustments to ensure their Web content accessibility. Despite the development of technical standards and accessibility legislation, studies around the world have consistently shown that Web content accessibility remains a concern in higher education. Mandatory Web accessibility in Israel is at an early stage. The scope of the legal requirements applicable to higher education is not entirely resolved. The aim of this research is to explore the current implementation of Web accessibility in the Israeli higher education context, during a period of evolving legal changes in this regard. An automated evaluation tool was used to measure the adherence of the sample Web pages to the technical standards. Results show that all examined Web pages presented accessibility barriers and were non-compliant with the most basic conformance level. “Contrast” and “missing alternative text” errors were the most frequent problems identified in the evaluation. The library’s Web pages exhibit relatively better level of accessibility compared to the other examined Web pages of the university. The research highlights the need for clear and enforceable legislation to encourage academic Web accessibility. Additionally, technical training and awareness raising could be key elements in improving accessibility.

Toward a Combined Method for Evaluation of Web Accessibility

Abstract: This study describes the problems of web accessibility, especially for people with disabilities, as external conditions can distort user behavior and limit the data that can be obtained. Several studies recommend combining some methods with each other to achieve better results. This article proposes a combined approach, with the application of automatic and heuristic tools to make websites more accessible. In this study, we apply the Web Site Accessibility Assessment Methodology (WCAG-EM) considered in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0). From the results, we conclude that most tested websites can achieve an acceptable level of compliance. We propose that future work can focus on optimizing this combined approach, also this study can serve as a guide to help develop more inclusive websites.

Web Accessibility for People with Disabilities in the European Union: Paving the Road to Social Inclusion

Abstract: Despite the drawbacks and the challenges highlighted by several scholars, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in particular the World Wide Web, has the potential to foster social inclusion of people with disabilities. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which entered into force in 2008, has illuminated the role technology can play as a tool to promote the human rights of people with disabilities, and their participation and inclusion in society. The UNCRPD has also conceptualized ICT accessibility as a precondition for the enjoyment of rights, prompting a series of reforms in domestic legal frameworks globally and in the European Union (EU). Against this background, this article aims to address the role played by the EU in fostering “digital inclusion”, and critically evaluates relevant EU policies and legal rules, locating them within the broader realm of the implementation of the UNCRPD. It pays particular attention to Directive 2016/2102 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies, as well as on the proposal for a European Accessibility Act (EAA). It attempts to show that, while the EU has thus far played an extremely important role in fostering web accessibility, many remaining obstacles must be eradicated to fully ensure access to the web to people with disabilities. This article adopts a doctrinal legal research methodology and is primarily concerned with the analysis of relevant legal rules and related scholarship. In addition, it is informed by a socially-oriented understanding of disability and builds upon the multifaceted and multidisciplinary literature on disability and technology.

Framework for Accessibility Evaluation of Hospital Websites

Abstract: Nowadays, the Web has revolutionized our daily life, it has become a source of information and service provision. The trend of eHealth to digitize the services associated with healthcare are becoming more frequent in the same way users who access these services are people with disabilities and the elderly. An initiative that allows improving the quality of life of people are websites, but not all websites are accessible and inclusive. Failures in Web accessibility create exclusion barriers in groups of people. There are several studies on accessibility in which the guidelines suggested by Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 were not adequately applied. This study describes the web accessibility problems identified in 22 hospital websites according to the Webometrics ranking. In the evaluation process, a framework was applied to help in the evaluation of the websites proposed by the World Wide Web Consortium. In this work, several hospital websites and the level of accessibility were validated, the Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology was applied to identify the ease with which a website can be accessed in accordance with WCAG 2.0 standards; of the sites evaluated, the type of patterns most violated in the analysis was the name, role, and value, which represents 13.4% followed by the guidelines of content, information and relationships without text with 12.8%. Due to the barriers encountered, this study presents the need to strengthen legislation and implement web accessibility best practices to make the websites inclusive, making content accessible to all users, including people with disabilities.

A survey on accessibility awareness of Brazilian web developers

Abstract: A huge amount of content has been made available on the Web. Although there are several initiatives to guide an accessible web development, researchers have showed that web developers are rarely aware of accessibility issues in their web projects. In this paper, we conducted a survey to verify the evolution of web accessibility awareness in Brazil. We have conducted an exploratory study based on web questionnaire, using a self-selected and non-probabilistic sampling method. The study had 404 valid answers, covering all regions of Brazil. The results show that most of participants has never developed an accessible website and 33.2% of them are not worried about considering accessibility in their future projects. Therefore, it is important to create public policies that improve the current web accessibility scenario, raising the awareness of the people involved in web development, as well as obligating compliance with Brazilian legislation.

Accessibility of eGovernment Services in Latin America

Abstract: The Web has become a primary source for communicating information and providing services worldwide. Governments are not unaware of this trend; thus, in some countries their government institutions have taken the initiative of offering web-based electronic services (eGovernment). These services are available to its citizens, regardless of their location and physical, cognitive or technological capabilities. Unfortunately, some web designers and developers of eGovernment websites do not follow the web accessibility criteria, creating a gap in the accessibility of eGovernment services. This lack of web accessibility causes exclusion of some people and infringement of the human rights. This gap must be eliminated for the purpose of enabling elderly or disabled people to benefit from the use of eGovernment services offered by governments through their websites. This paper presents a study on the accessibility of eGovernment interactive services offered by two official entities of the Latin America countries. The evaluation was carried out based on the criterion of the experts on web accessibility and the use of a web accessibility evaluation tool. In both cases, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 proposed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) were considered. These guidelines aim to achieve accessible web content for people with disabilities. The results of this research show that none of the evaluated websites which offer eGovernment services meet an acceptable level of accessibility. Additionally, several recommendations are presented to correct all accessibility errors detected in the analyzed web page. These recommendations can be applied to websites worldwide with the aim of achieving universal access to eGovernment websites.

Digital Inclusion in Library Context: A Perspective from Users with Print Disability

Abstract: Digital inclusion is a strategy pursued to foster social inclusion of those who have been sidelined from the mainstream of information society due to lack of access to digital technologies and the ...

Accessible Media: The Need to Prepare Students for Creating Accessible Content:

Abstract: Electronic media accessibility has come a long way since the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In 2010, the Communication and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) mandated closed captioning many online vid...

Exploring the Web navigation strategies of people with low vision

Abstract: People with low vision experience accessibility barriers when they interact with the web. This paper explores the navigation strategies of low vision users in order to select the appropriate accessibility techniques to design web interfaces for them. For this purpose, an exploratory study was carried out with six users with low vision. The results revealed the heterogeneity in the group of people with low vision and the variety of navigation strategies applied. Observations and analysis of data gathered in experimental sessions allowed a set of techniques to be defined that can improve accessibility for people with low vision when interacting with the web.

The Content Web-Accessibility of Information and Technology Support in a Complex System of Educational and Social Inclusion

Abstract: Support for the socialization of people with special needs is an urgent task in the European space. The study of the system of educational and social inclusion requires an interdisciplinary approach, and a large number of components, their hierarchy, and other features states that the system of inclusion is complex, and therefore requires appropriate means of its modeling - complex networks, graphs, appropriate modeling languages, etc. An important stage in the study of complex systems is the evaluation of their information and technology component in terms of the web accessibility. The use of the recommendations outlined in the WCAG 2.0 while developing information technologies as a component of a complex system of inclusion will enable compliance with high international standards.

Universal web accessibility and the challenge to integrate informal Arabic users: a case study

Abstract: Most Arabs can read text written in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). However, to easily express themselves, they may find it easier to switch to informal (colloquial) Arabic. The web is open for anyone to express him/herself freely, and people are expressing themselves through many social media platforms, such as blogs and forums increasingly in their native colloquies. Search engines are very good at handling queries in MSA, though not as good if the query is written in colloquial Arabic. Two issues will be addressed in this paper. First, many younger generation Arabs find it hard to write in MSA, which means that many results are missed due to improperly posted queries; and second, a query written in MSA will not retrieve documents written in colloquial Arabic. Thus, with the goal of universal accessibility of the web to all Arabic users, we need a successful mechanism that translates the query back and forth between MSA and the variety of colloquies spread throughout the Arab countries. As a case study, we investigate one of the local dialects in Saudi Arabia, a leading country in social media usage much of which is in colloquial language. We present a web information retrieval system for Arabic that addresses this concern. To test the proposed method, we compiled a corpus of over fourteen hundred documents and measured the performance of our system using 50 sample queries achieving an average recall and precision of 93.4 and 83.6%, respectively.

E-Government Implementation: Transparency, Accessibility and Usability of Government Websites

Abstract: In several European countries decentralization has promoted the creation of Regional Governments (RGs) with high levels of competence and responsibilities, such as promoting good governance and sustainability. Information and communication technologies (ICTs), and hence, the adoption of e-government has contributed to the adoption and dissemination of government transparency in a usable and accessible way. In this chapter, we study the transparency, accessibility and usability of websites of Spanish RGs.

Investigating Mobile Accessibility Guidance for People with Aphasia

Abstract: The World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) have become widely accepted as the standard for web accessibility evaluation. This poster investigates how the mobile version of these guidelines caters for people with aphasia (PWA) by comparing the results from user testing against that of an audit using the guidelines. We outline the efficacy of the guidelines in the broader context of how they cater for various impairments and offer some recommendations for designing for people with aphasia.

Effects of accessible website design on nondisabled users: age and device as moderating factors.

Abstract: This study examined how implementing recommendations from Web accessibility guidelines affects nondisabled people in different age groups using different technical devices. While recent research sh...

Web accessibility legislation in Italy: a survey 10 years after the Stanca Act

Abstract: Ten years after the enactment of the Stanca Act in Italy, the paper presents a survey regarding the accessibility of municipal Web sites. This study aims at checking the application of WCAG 2.0 guidelines to Italian municipalities Web sites and to understand what are the problems that still need to be solved to obtain a universal access to public local content in Italy.

Arboretum and Arbility: Improving Web Accessibility Through a Shared Browsing Architecture

Abstract: Many web pages developed today require navigation by visual interaction-seeing, hovering, pointing, clicking, and dragging with the mouse over dynamic page content. These forms of interaction are increasingly popular as developer trends have moved from static, logically structured pages to dynamic, interactive pages. However, they are also often inaccessible to blind web users who tend to rely on keyboard-based screen readers to navigate the web. Despite existing web accessibility standards, engineering web pages to be equally accessible via both keyboard and visuomotor mouse-based interactions is often not a priority for developers. Improving access to this kind of visual and interactive web content has been a long-standing goal of HCI researchers, but the barriers have proven to be too varied and unpredictable to be overcome by some of the proposed solutions: promoting guidelines and best practices, automatically generating accessible versions of pre-exisiting web pages, or developing human-assisted solutions, such as screen and cursor-sharing, which tend to diminish an end user's agency. In this paper we present a real-time, collaborative approach to helping blind web users overcome inaccessible parts of existing web pages. We introduce *Arboretum*, a new architecture that enables any web user to seamlessly hand off controlled parts of their browsing session to remote users, while maintaining control over the interface via a "propose and accept/reject" mechanism. We illustrate the benefit of Arboretum by using it to implement *Arbility*, a browser that allows blind users to hand off targeted visual interaction tasks to remote crowd workers. We evaluate the entire system in a study with 9 blind web users, showing that Arbility allows them to interact with web content that was previously difficult to access via a screen reader alone.

A framework and checklist for localised Web content accessibility guidelines for Arabic university Websites in Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The number of government universities in Saudi Arabia has increased dramatically from 7 to 28 in the last two decades. As a result, the number of university websites has also increased, but without any clear guidelines regarding accessibility, which may hinder some disabled users from benefiting from their content. Internationally, a number of initiatives such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have been implemented to develop guidelines for web accessibility to overcome this problem. However, these guidelines were developed in Western countries and applying them to Arabic websites can raise further accessibility issues, for example, those related to culture and language. This problem has been recognised by a number of researchers who recommend adapting the guidelines to the Arabic context and there have been initiatives by different bodies to improve the status of web accessibility in this region of the world. However, their work has a number of limitations and shortcomings that need to be overcome. The Yesser document provided by the Saudi government had a number of shortcomings, which included: providing accessibility guidelines not designed for the Arabic language and issuing no apparent update since publication in 2006. The initiative to translate the web accessibility guidelines into Arabic suffered from a number of weaknesses, such as: incomplete and inconsistent translation and using unfamiliar and inaccurate Arabic words in translation. Other initiatives were very limited and did not investigate the localisation to the Arabic context and its in influence on web accessibility. The current study set out to localise the existing accessibility guidelines into a form and content acceptable and easy to use by the developers of Saudi university websites, and thus raise the accessibility and suitability of these websites for Arab users with disabilities. The plan to achieve this aim was designed in three main phases, the first phase started by developing a new framework for localising web content accessibility guidelines for university websites in Saudi Arabia (FLWCAG). This framework was derived from the literature and validated through semi-structured interviews with 18 experts, 12 of whom were Saudi university website developers, Three experts were researchers in web accessibility in Saudi universities, while the remaining three experts were Arabs working with people with special needs. Overall, the experts supported the proposed framework, and the validity of the components in the framework was assured through triangulating the literature, the quantitative results and the qualitative results. In the second phase, FLWCAG was applied through a process of four stages to localise web content accessibility guidelines and success criteria. An online questionnaire was designed and conducted with experts in the field of the study to review the outcome from the localisation process. The results from the 60 respondents confirmed the importance of all the success criteria, after analysing the questionnaire results by a one-sample t-test. The last phase aimed at developing a checklist, called Wosool, based on the reviewed guidelines and success criteria from Phase Two. Wosool was developed to provide support to Arab web developers in evaluating and improving the accessibility of Arabic university websites. Interviews were designed and conducted with 15 Saudi university website developers to review the checklist. The results were positive, the developers confirmed that Wosool's items were understood, clear and easy to use. The research contributes to the body of knowledge in the fields of web accessibility and localisation, theoretically, methodologically, and practically. It also confirms that the culture of the target users has an effect on web content accessibility and the guidelines required, and that following such guidelines would result in better understanding, perceiving and navigating the web content, and hence raise the accessibility levels.

Design specific user interfaces for people with down syndrome using suitable WCAG 2.0 guidelines

Abstract: There are no specific guidelines that can be used when designing Web applications for people with Down syndrome. Nor is it defined what guidelines may have a negative or positive impact on this user profile. For this research two studies were carried out: an approximation to the needs of the users through surveys and technical test that verify the survey’s results. The conclusion of test results is related to the functioning of the brain and body of people with Down syndrome, answering to: (1) the iconicity and the abstraction in the language. (2) to the movements with the mouse. (3) the level of reading or writing. (4) multimedia playback methods. (5) appropriate decibels for the reproduction of audios. (6) temporal elements. (7) the motivational factors related to color and texture.

PDF accessibility : tools and challenges

Abstract: This paper presents a comparison of different post-processing software tools to make PDF documents accessible. The comparison is based on different qualitative and verifiable criteria. In addition, this paper gives an overview of different standards of PDF accessibility for people with visual impairments using screen-reader software. PDF formats, potential barriers for visually impaired users, PDF accessibility standards, and available software solutions are described in more detail. A discussion including challenges for further work is presented at the end of the paper.

The Relationship Between Web Content and Web Accessibility at Universities: The Influence of Social and Cultural Factors

Abstract: This research assesses whether universities from varied cultures rank significantly different with respect to the quality of their web contents and with regard to their web accessibility (WA) level. Moreover, this article tests whether universities, which make stronger efforts to improve the quality of their web contents, also take into account WA issues to ease the access to such contents. We use a database containing 399 universities from 16 countries. Main results suggest that universities in Anglo-Saxon countries pay more attention to WA issues and that those in Germanic countries rank significantly higher with regard to web quality contents. On a global basis, there is a significant relationship between the level of accessibility at university webpages and the quality of the web contents. However, if countries are grouped, results are different. While in Germanic, Nordic, and Anglo-Saxon countries, there is no relation between the level of accessibility of university webpages and the quality of the w...

Creating Disability LibGuides with Accessibility in Mind

Abstract: The Americans with Disabilities Act created regulations for the accessibility of buildings and services for individuals with disabilities, but libraries still have a deficit in information highligh...

Web Page Design Recommendations for People with Down Syndrome Based on Users' Experiences.

Abstract: At present, there is a high number of people with Down syndrome interested and trained to be an active part of society. According to the data extracted by our surveys we know that only 6% of the population with Down syndrome feels isolated in daily activities. However, when the activity requires the use of a computer, the percentage of people who feel isolated increases to 18%. This means that there are obvious website accessibility barriers that make it difficult for users with Down syndrome. To solve this problem, it is considered necessary to make an exhaustive study about Down syndrome. We know that the trisomy of chromosome 21 causes a series of symptoms that directly affect ones Internet browsing capabilities. For example, speech disturbances make communication and speed difficult. This guide is based on a neurological study of Down syndrome. Alterations in listening make understanding audio, retention of audio concepts and speed difficult. The alterations in the physiognomy of movement make it difficult for them to act quickly. Many of these alterations are caused by cognitive disability. After assessing the needs, the benefits of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0), and the existing usability guidelines are analyzed and those that may be useful for this profile are extracted. User tests are carried out through two websites developed specifically for this study with the aim of demonstrating the level of effectiveness of each of the planned guidelines. Considering the neurological characteristics of this intellectual disability, research is developed that seeks to extract a list of useful accessibility and usability guidelines for web developers.

An Analysis of Website Accessibility in Higher Education in Indonesia Based on WCAG 2.0 Guidelines

Abstract: Website accessibility is a simple way to access a website by everyone so that information on the website can be easily understood. This study aims to improve the accessibility of universities' website to analyze website accessibility problems based on WCAG 2.0 guidelines. This study analyzed 13 universities' websites in West Java, Indonesia by using TAW as an evaluation tool. The evaluation results were presented in a graph showing the error rate of each university's website. The same errors that occurred in almost all websites were: non-text content, info and relationships, page title, link purpose, language of page, on input, labels and instructions, parsing, and name, role, value criteria. This study was expected to provide information to the university and to perform as guidelines for website accessibility improvements.

Developing Accessible and Usable Security (ACCUS) Heuristics

Abstract: Currently, usable security and web accessibility design principles exist separately. Although literature at the intersect of accessibility and security is developing, it is limited in its understanding of how users with vision loss operate the web securely. In this paper, we propose heuristics that fuse the nuances of both fields. With these heuristics, we evaluate 10 websites and uncover several issues that can impede users' ability to abide by common security advice.