Web Accessibility
Digital Inclusion Division
18 June 2013
Office of the Government Chief Information Officer
Agenda
1. What is and Why Web Accessibility?
2. International Standards & Testing Methods 3. Web Accessibility Campaign
4. Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme
What is Web Accessibility?
• Making website Content available for ALL
• ALL people of the community
• Including persons with disabilities (361,000 about 5.2% of total population)
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1. No alternatives for non-text content
• Persons with visual impairment cannot perceive the image content
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
Alt = “Officiating guests attending the Launch Ceremony of the Web
Accessibility Recognition Scheme”
e.g. contain descriptive text alternative for image
Alt = “Image 1”
2. Inaccessible PDF Files
• Screen reader cannot read the content
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Scanned Image not accessible Text-based accessible PDF
e.g. use proper PDF generator to produce a PDF document from a text-based source document;
use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software after scanning
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
3. Text in Image is not accessible
• Information is not conveyed to all
Text in image Accessible text on a webpage
Avoid to convey information of wide public interest
If avoidable, provide descriptive text alternatives
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
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4. Small font sizes
• Persons with low vision cannot read the text
Cannot resize text Can resize text
e.g. provide text resize function
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
5. Insufficient colour contrast
• Persons with low vision have difficulty reading text that does not contrast with its background
Poor background contrast Easier to read with higher contrast
e.g. provide sufficient contrast ratio
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
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6. Complicated website infrastructure
• Persons with cognitive impairment have difficulty reading complex website structures
e.g. provide simpler and ordered website structure
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
Complex structures Simple structure
7. Unable to skip inaccessible Adobe Flash and moving objects
e.g. add a skip function
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
Unable to skip Skip function added
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8. Websites with background audio
e.g. add a function to control background audio
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
Background audio plays automatically
Function to control background audio
9. Video without captions and audio description
• Persons with visual or hearing impairments have difficulty to understand the video
e.g. provide captions and audio description
Common Pitfalls in Web Accessibility
Why Web Accessibility?
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Legislation / Guideline
Country Legislation / Guideline
Australia • Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) of 1992
• WWW Access: DDA Advisory Notes
• The Guide to Minimum Website Standards Canada • Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977
• The Government of Canada Internet Guide
China • 國務院令第622號 -《無障礙環境建設條例》
• 《殘疾歧視條例》-（香港法例第487章）
The Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) Cap 487 United
Kingdom
• The Equality Act 2010
• Formal investigation report on Web Accessibility United
States
• American with Disability Act (ADA)
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Assistive Technology Act of 1998
• Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 European
Union
• Accessibility of Public Websites – Accessibility for PWDs: Council Resolutions, 2002
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《無障礙環境建設條例》
• 縣級以上人民政府發布重要政府信息和與殘疾
人相關的信息，應為殘疾人提供語音和文字提 示；
• 國家舉辦的考試(如：升學、職業資格等)，應
當為視力殘疾人提供盲文試卷、電子試卷等；
• 設區的市級以上人民政府設立的電視台在播出
電視節目時配備字幕，每周播放至少一次配播 手語的新聞節目；
Legislation in China
• 設區的市級以上人民政府設立的公共圖書館應 當開設視力殘疾人閱覽室；
• 殘疾人士組織的網站應當達到無障礙網站設計
標準，設區的市級以上人民政府網站、政府公 益活動網站，逐步達到無障礙網站設計標準。
• http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2012-07/10/content_2179864.htm
Legislation in China
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• A NGO issued a press release in June 2012
• Complained about inaccessible PDFs published on
Government website
Local Complaint Cases
Source: Apple Daily Newspaper
• Complained about restaurant websites causing issues in online ordering
Local Complaint Cases
http://life.mingpao.com/cfm/basicref3b.cfm?File=201 20723/braa02a/gma1.txt
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Local Complaint Cases
http://hk.news.yahoo.com
Local Complaint Cases
http://life.mingpao.com/htm/hkdse/cfm/news3.cfm?File=20120723/news/gma3.txt
Agenda
1. What is Web Accessibility?
2. International Standards & Testing Methods 3. Web Accessibility Campaign
4. Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme
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• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) consists of people from industries, disability organisations, governments, and research labs from around the world, develops strategies, guidelines, and
resources to help make the web accessible to people with disabilities
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have been developed over the years by W3C
• Version 1.0 in 1999; version 2.0 in 2008 http://www.w3.org/WAI/
International Standards
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• The WCAG consist of four parts －
4 Principles
12 Guidelines
61 Success Criteria Many Techniques
International Standards
4 Principles
• Content is Perceivable
• User interface components and navigation are Operable
• Information and operation are Understandable
• Content is Robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide range of web browsers, assistive
technologies, etc.
WCAG - Principles
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• There are three Levels of conformance –
WCAG - Conformance
Level A
25 success criteria
Level AA
+13 success criteria
Level AAA
+23 success criteria
Basic Recommended Ideal Level AA Conformance
• Governments websites adopting WCAG
Country Standard Timeline to
achieve standard New Zealand WCAG 2.0 Level AA June 2010
United Kingdom WCAG 1.0 Level AA March 2011 Hong Kong WCAG 2.0 Level AA January 2013 Canada WCAG 2.0 Level AA July 2013
Singapore WCAG 1.0 and key aspects of WCAG 2.0
December 2013
Australia WCAG 2.0 Level A & AA December 2014
Overseas Government Practices
Testing Techniques
1. Code scanning
• Many accessibility issues can be detected
automatically using specialist software and tools
• Example tools –
• AChecker
• WAVE
• PDF Accessibility Checker
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Testing Techniques
2. Visual review
• A simple look at a website can reveal many potential web accessibility issues for persons with disabilities
Can the content be easily read?
Is the text too small?
Does it use pale coloured text on a pale background, making the text hard to read?
Move around the webpage using just a keyboard.
Can we access all the links and functions?
• Example tools –
Vischeck
Colour Contrast Check
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Testing Techniques
3. Manual testing with screen readers
• Navigate website and access the content through the screen readers
• Example tools –
Jaws
NVDA
VoiceOver
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Testing Techniques
4. Manual testing with other assistive technologies
• Screen magnification tools and voice control tools
• Example tools –
ZoomText
Dragon Naturally Speaking
Testing Techniques
5. Human testing
• The most thorough approach to ensure web
accessibility is to test a website by persons with disabilities
• Some organisations supporting persons with disabilities offer human testing services
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Agenda
1. What is Web Accessibility?
2. International Standards & Testing Methods 3. Web Accessibility Campaign
4. Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme
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Launched in October 2011
Objective
• To facilitate access to online information and services for all segments of the community including persons with disabilities
• To promote wider adoption of web accessibility design in both public and private websites
Web Accessibility Campaign
Conformance of Websites to
W3C WCAG Level AA
Web Accessibility Campaign
Promotion to Public Sector
Network
Appeal Letter by FS
Survey on Adoption Status
Resource Development Talks /
Seminars / Workshops
Public Organisations
Assessment and Advisory
Service
Recognition Scheme
Advisory Coaching Government
Policy
Experience Sharing with Departments
Fostering Awareness
Promulgating Resources
Building Expertise
Encouraging Adoption Government
Leadership
Private Organisations/
Commerce Chambers NGOs and Social Services
Orgs ICT Companies
and Practitioners
Tertiary Students
Webforall Portal
Management Handbook Facilitation of
Sourcing Service Providers Accessible
Webpage Templates &
Developers’
Guide Reference
Cases
Websites Assessment
Advisory Service
Accreditation
Publicity of Awarded Websites Empower-
ment
Curriculum Development in Institutions
Advisory Coaching
Seminars & Workshops
Over 3000 participants
Government Leaders Fostering Awareness
Public-sector organisations Government Websites
Government Leadership Fostering Awareness
Web Accessibility Campaign
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Accessible Webpage Templates
Promulgating Resources
www.webforall.gov.hk
Webforall Portal
Promulgating Resources
Mobile Applications Accessibility Handbook
Web Accessibility Campaign
• Sample codes incorporated with essential web accessibility features, e.g.
Accessible Webpage Templates
5. Allow text resize 1. Provide “Skip
To Content”
2. Provide meaningful alt text for images 3. Allow to play
or pause the auto-scrolling
latest news
6. Provide keyboard accessible menu 4. Provide User-initiated background audio
7. Provide embedded video channel 8. Provide sufficient
colour contrast
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• For NGOs or SMEs to build barrier-free websites
• Developer’s Guide & Templates - Free download from www.webforall.gov.hk
Accessible Webpage Templates
Agenda
1. What is Web Accessibility?
2. International Standards & Testing Methods 3. Web Accessibility Campaign
4. Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme
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Encouraging Adoption
Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme
• Reference to
International standard
• Verified by persons with disabilities
• Free assessment and advisory services
• Webforall accreditation logos
Encouraging Adoption
Web Accessibility Campaign
44 Gold Awards and 26 Silver Awards
香港聾人福利促進會
The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf
Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme
1st Recognition Scheme
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2nd Recognition Scheme
• Co-organise with Equal Opportunities Commission for 2013-14
• Propose to Add Mobile Apps stream
Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme
• Awards Presentation Ceremony in April 2014
• Details to be announced in webforall portal - www.webforall.gov.hk/recognition_scheme
Your Support to Web Accessibility
• Adopt web accessibility for websites/mobile apps
• Download and use Accessible Webpage Templates
• Ensure colleagues and content providers are aware of the importance and having relevant skills
• Enrol the Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme
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Web Accessibility Programme Office Email: wac@ogcio.gov.hk
Tel: 2582 6079
Ms Elke Mak
Email: eypmak@ogcio.gov.hk Tel: 2582 4517
Website : www.webforall.gov.hk
