Pesky People’s has 10 Digital Commandments that helps make good websites accessible.
- Do my research – I will find out what makes a good website design that is accessible for a range of access needs.
- Undertake Disability Awareness Training / Deaf Awareness Training and ensure key staff do this too.
- Know my legal requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (now Equalities Act 2010).
- Consult with local Disabled and Deaf people about my current site – whether they are a local Disability group or charity aboutwhat they like / hate before writing the brief.
- Write a good website design brief that demands the includes requirements for full access. This includes budgeting requirements and user testing.
- Ensure my website shall meet Level ‘A’ minimum, Level ‘AA’ would be fantastic. Level ‘AAA’ would put me in the 1% of fully accessible websites – worldwide.
- Employ web designers who know what they are doing and have a track record of incorporating accessibility and working to budgets (even if I don’t understand it)
- Be aware that all Disabled people’ are not a homogenous group – all access needs are not the same.
- Incorporate usability testing with Disabled and Deaf people to find out what works and what doesn’t at all key stages of design and implementation before site goes live and afterwards.
- Be creative not dull in incorporating disability access. Remember your website can still be sexy not boring.
So what will you be doing to make your website accessible?
The most important one is to make the CONTENT interesting and slightly contentious (Unless it is some notice board, then people deaf won’t tune in anyway), I would have thought, not attending classes and seminars on awareness, call me picky…. The most UN-visited deaf sites are those that are for charities or for service provision. Appreciate also, NOT all deaf want the same access, and no sight online has ever produced 100%,nor are many deaf savvy enough or willing to provide half !
Hi Thanks for your comments. A big problem is the focus on one type fits all design of websites.
Deaf people especially if they see themselves as culturally Deaf with a capital ‘D’ many can’t access any website if their first language is BSL (British Sign Language) and not English.
Web providers if they get their content right, they get their navigation right (for everyone) they make it accessible for everyone – this includes translating their site into BSL video.
Most Deaf run websites are specific for Deaf people and whilst I agree they may not be fully accessible themselves. Having knowledge is power and having the tools to do this is also power – that is what makes the difference.
Please remember that some people use Dragon NaturallySpeaking when looking at whether a website is accessible. Please also advise me as to the
access of my site
I’ve been fixing computer problems for some years now and my current clients include several deaf people. Many of the problems they faced were very basic which they could easily have cured themselves if they had the knowledge. The problem was that BSL was their first language, not English, and so all the “Tricks and Tips” websites were useless to them.
With that in mind I created the DeafEmpower website. It aims to offer solutions to those basic problems, supported by BSL interpretation. It covers viruses, spyware, spam, slow-running computers and how to deal with those problems with easy to follow videos.
Some content is free, but I do charge for some content so that I can invest in improving the website. With membership starting at only £5.50 I fully expect users to save more money than their membership fee when you consider that people are paying £100+ for High Street shops to “repair” their computers. We also show where to get free, reputable alternatives to commercial programs to keep people safe online and their computers running smoothly.
I’ve tried to make the website as deaf-friendly as possible by consulting with my deaf friends, but I’m sure further improvements are possible, so feedback would be appreciated. Some of those friends also have sight problems, so I have made the text larger than usual. Come and take a look at http://deafempower.co.uk and let me know what you think.
Thanks.
Steve.
Hi, Found the site thro Charlie Swinburne’s Guardian Article. So glad I did – it’s great – and just what I can throw at people when they treat me as the source of all knowledge on D&D web access just cos I use a wheelchair. I’m not – and I need help too. One thing that would be great – a footnote w a few websites to go to for help w first steps towards getting the technology and site structure right. I go round in circles on this one when trying to work out how to think about sites I’d like to build.
Hope the subtitles campaign grows and grows.
See you at DDF in August? Janet
Hi Janet thanks for your comments really appreciated. I’ll look at updating and you are right we need examples as well to help. There has been a conversation on twitter about setting up a wiki resource that can help. It would be good to talk more as your insights are invaluable Alison