Web 2.0 and Accessibility
The term Web 2.0 is used to describe a new generation of websites. Being quite static in the past, nowadays websites are often using interactive, dynamic and responsive features on their website. The user has much more control about the content, the look and the interaction on a web page. Web applications such as networking sites, blogs, virtual worlds and wikis have gained widespread popularity and many educational institutions have started to use them to provide students an enhanced and up-to-date learning experience. Common examples of Web 2.0 sites are Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and Second Life.
Whereas the static web already provided some challenges for disabled users, Web 2.0 applications or websites are often very difficult to control by users with assistive technology.
One of the biggest advantages of Web 2.0 applications, the freedom the user has in providing and changing content is also one of the major accessibility problems. The difficulty is to guarantee that if a user uploads a photo, for example, she also provides meaningful alt text.
Main Problems
- The user cannot use a page because the interface depends on drag and drop and no keyboard options are provided
- The user cannot see if content on the page has been dynamically updated and changed
- The user is unable to hear the audio on a page
- The user is unable to see the content of a video on a page
- The user is unable to operate the controls of video player provided on a page
- The user cannot access the information conveyed by images or animations
- The user has problems to orient herself on the page
- The user has problems to keep pace with content changes
- The user cannot access the information and controls in the correct order
- The user cannot hear her screen reader because other audio sounds are interfering
- The user has problems to log in or/and to use the captcha function
Solutions
- Provide access through the keyboard
- Inform the user that the page is updated dynamically
- Provide audio captions [Learn how to create audio captions]
- Provide audio description [Learn how to create audio descriptions]
- Use an accessible video player
- Provide text equivalents for images and animations
- Use structural elements such as headings
- Avoid fast content changes and allow user to control content changes
- Make sure the reading and tab order follows a logical flow
- Make sure audio and video does not auto start if the user arrives at your page
- Make sure the login form elements are correctly labeled. Instead of a captcha use a question/answer solution.
- Please read about WAI-ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications). WAI-ARIA is a set of documents and guidelines that help developers make their applications and dynamic pages more accessible to people relying on keyboard access or screen readers.
More information on Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA).
Tested Web 2.0 tools/pages
Accessibility Report for Facebook
Accessibility Report for Twitter
Flickr
Accessibility Report for Flickr
Accessibility Report for LinkedIn
Resources on Facebook
Facebook works with the blind on accessibility
Resources on Twitter
http://www.accessibletwitter.com
Resources on RSS Feeds
http://speedrssreader.com/10-accessibility-tips-for-rss-feeds
Resources on Flickr
Easy Flickr
Easy Flickr documentation
Resources on YouTube
Easy YouTube
Easy YouTube documentation
Resources on Second Life
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Accessibility
General Resources on Web 2.0 and accessibility:
http://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/web20andaccessibility
Resources on WAI-ARIA
http://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria
http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/introduction-to-wai-aria
