Developing government web accessibility guidelines and a web accessibility culture

Developing government web accessibility
guidelines and a web accessibility culture
Chris Rourke & Stephen Denning

Outline

Introduction to Abu Dhabi
eGovernment Accessibility project
Creating an “Accessibility Market”
Social & Cultural factors influencing accessibility

2 © User Vision Limited™, 2012. All rights reserved


Capital of the United
Arab Emirates in the
South-East of the
Arabian Peninsula
Largest of 7 States
2nd most populous
after Dubai
Seat for UAE
government


The UAE and Las Vegas – Same but different

Bold and bright cities
in the desert



Wealthy, oil-based economy
Culturally conservative
Ambitious eGovernment plans
Abu Dhabi Systems & Information
Centre
Supervises the implementation of
eGovernment
Part of e-Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi
Government Modernization Initiative


Introduction to the Middle East online
Online in the region is increasingly important
The number of internet users is expected to grow by nearly
50% over the next 3 years, to 82 million users by 2013
[Source, Startup Arabia June 2010]

The fastest growing language on the web is Arabic, a growth
rate of 2,500% over the last decade.
[Source: Search Engine Watch, February 2011]

People in the Arab world spend about three hours per day on
the internet, similar to the time spent watching TV.
[Source: Startup Arabia, February 2010]


Outline




ADSIC focused on accessibility in 2010
Counter, Kiosk, Phone & Online
In response to UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Strategic vision: deliver world class services to all its
customers including those with disabilities
Raise awareness of accessibility amongst all Abu
Dhabi Government Entities (ADGEs)


Three Key Phases

1. Baseline of Current Landscape
2. Development of Accessibility Guidelines &
Supporting Materials
3. Evaluation of Current Infrastructure


1. Baseline of Current Landscape

Assess the current accessibility provisions
Focus group sessions with stakeholders
Met disability groups

Image: Madq Qatar


1. Findings

No central statistics or demographic information
Low awareness of accessibility
Among people with disabilities
Limited access to assistive technologies
Unaware of enhancements
Few requests for enhancements
In ADGEs - inability to verify the quality of work by vendors


Baseline research – Findings (2)
Limited vendor / design agency knowledge
Work often outsourced and costs increased
Where budget tight, accessibility deprioritised
Existing guidelines dictate visual design rather than
semantically structured, accessible design
Content automatically created by CMS often not accessible
Others in the region have variable access provision


Saudi Arabia


Kuwait


Oman


2. Development of Guidelines
Why not just use WCAG 2.0??



Guidelines at 2 levels :-
Mandatory - must be adhered to for a minimum level of
accessibility for one or more disability groups
Optional - provide an enhanced level of accessibility for
one or more disability groups
Rationale provided for each guideline detailing:-
Disability groups who benefit from the guideline
Impact of not implementing the guideline



Guidelines ordered by element type:-
Use of images and colour
Navigation
Forms and form validation
Structure and content
Functionality and scripting
Audio and video
For an audience new to accessibility this was better
than by the 4 “POUR” principles of WCAG 2.0


2.3 - Ensure that all page 3.1 - Provide programmatic and
elements can be navigated by visual form labels for form fields
non-mouse users Associate visual labels
Use HTML and CSS to build programmatically using label
and style form controls element
Provide keyboard specific Locate visual labels in close
even handlers as well as proximity to the field to which
mouse specific one they refer
Provide a logical tab order Provide information of expected
through page control and data format for relevant form
form elements fields
Indicate which fields are
mandatory. If all fields are
mandatory, state this at the
start of the form.

Implementation Supporting Material

Two key documents
Technical implementation guide
Code examples of non-compliance with guideline and how to
implement correctly
‘How to assess accessibility’ guide
Step by step instructions to carry out a high level accessibility
audit
Intended for checking vendor submitted work and internal
development work


2. Supporting Materials (cont)

Sample Implementation Guide
1.1 Provide alternative, informative content when images
are not available or supported
Overview Images and other graphic or multimedia objects must be
supplemented with alternative text ….
Implementation Methods
Non-decorative Images
When using the img element, specify a short text alternative with the alt attribute.
Note. The value of this attribute is referred to as "alt text".
<img src=”images/burjkhalifa.jpg” alt=”Burj Khalifa Building” />
Decorative images
When images are decorative (e.g. rounded corners, patterns or images which
would either be of no benefit to assistive technology users or may actually create
unnecessary auditory output) then provide that image with ‘null’ alternative text.
<img src=”images/roundedcorner.gif” alt=”” />


1. Assess Sites
A cross section of 20 ADGE websites (English & Arabic)
against the guidelines
2. Assess Vendors
Create a shortlist of suitable providers in the UAE that
understand accessibility



Assess Sites
Common findings
Inappropriate or missing alternative text
Form fields which were incorrectly labeled in page markup
Inconsistent and often non-existent keyboard navigation
Lack of structural elements in a page (e.g. semantic
headings)
Forgetting to specify left-to-right and right-to-left styles
when switching between Arabic and English on the same
page.


3. Evaluation of Current Infrastructure (cont)
Linked images with inappropriate alternative text: Images
which are actually links with ‘null’ alternative text rather than
descriptive alternative text. As a result, screen reader users will
not hear these image links as the screen reader will ignore them.
Recommendation: Set the alternative text for each of these
image links to match the text in the images.

Form labels missing: Form fields without associated label
element in the underlying markup. May prevent screen reader
users accessing key information about the fields.
Recommendation: Implement correct, semantic form labels as
per implementation guide for guideline 3.1


Assess Vendors
Vendors evaluated through:
Initial evaluation of their site, client sites, size & scale
Initial email questionnaire - approach & attitude
Face to face interview in UAE & technical test
10 vendors were shortlisted and given a competency
rating between 1 and 5


Technical Test – Example question

Which of these sets of javaScript event handlers
provides the greatest level of accessibility for
disabled users?
onMouseout and onMouseover
onFocus and onBlur
onKeypress and onMouseover
onClick and onKeypress

Try it out yourselves

Key deliverables from the project

Easy to use guidelines, checklist & technical guide
Insight into the state of accessibility within the Abu
Dhabi eGovernment
Detailed review of several sites
A list of suppliers which have proven accessibility
skills


So…

The guidelines are in place….
….the suppliers are identified….
….they all know what to do and how to do it….
…so its all set then right?


So…

NO
Guidelines on their own don’t make a site accessible
Need to have
Motivation to make sites accessible
Skills to make accessible sites
Skills to review sites for accessibility


Outline



Web accessibility “Market”
Assistive Technology –
Provision, training &
People With • Raise awareness
• Work with NGOs
language support Disabilities • Campaign
• Sue?

NGO’s (e.g. RNIB,
Specialists Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) Zayed, ADA)
Researchers Laws (E.g. Equality Act, ADA) Awareness (e.g.
Consultants Standards (BS8878) fixtheweb)

Suppliers / Company /
agencies organisation
• Hear the feedback
• Feel the pressure (from clients) • Feel the Pressure (PR, legal)
• See a competitive opportunity • Understand benefits
• Learn the requirements & guidelines • Learn what’s required
• Apply regularly • Fix the site & Future proof
Company standards
CSR efforts

Outline



How does culture affect this?

1. Bottom up or Top Down?
2. Perceptions of disabilities
3. Expectations
4. Resources
5. Consequences
6. Awareness


1. Bottom up or top down?

Tradition of disability activism
in the US and UK
See www.itsourstory.org


2. Perceptions
“People with disabilities in this region still face obstacles
in being included in society alongside people without
disabilities.”
World Bank - Disability in Middle East and North Africa Region

Although hard to quantify, disabilities (and people with
disability) are often not integrated or recognised
Or it is a family affair – kept to (within) the family
“Prevents those with disabilities being taken seriously as
independent agents, leaving them at the mercy of negative
stereotypes”.


3. Expectations

What is the role of Disability Support groups &
NGO’s? Is it:

To campaign on rights, to the government?
Provide skills & confidence to allow people with

MIDDLE EAST
WEST

disabilities to look after themselves?
Provide technology to help adapt?
To give money & care assistance?


4. Resources

National level
Developing countries are more worried about getting
wide & stable internet access & infrastructure
Some countries are more open to working with external
experts
Project level
May not be aware of the accessibility issue
Budgets & projects don’t allow it
Was in initial project plan but dropped


5. Consequences
http://www.w3.org/WAI/bcase/socog-case-study

To the site owner or
developer
In West there is more chance
of scrutiny
What happens to
policymakers that don’t
make things better?
Competitiveness
Awards
Neighbours


6. Awareness

Are the people with disabilities aware of potential
improvements?
Are there channels for them to point out
accessibility failures?
Are the NGOs aware of content related solutions (as
opposed to plugins, software or assistive tech)?
Do people receiving feedback relating to
accessibility understand the nature of the
complaint?


The UN Convention

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD)
“To promote, protect and ensure human rights by all
persons with disabilities, promote respect for their
inherent dignity”
Adopted in 2006
17 Middle East states have signed, of
which 10 have additionally ratified
the convention
Has triggered awareness and a
process in which governments are
competing to make their websites
more accessible.

Ending on a positive note…

Things are changing – it takes
time for the guidelines to be
implemented
Some agencies are touting
accessibility. Maybe included
in requirements
Accessibility considered in
regional eGov Awards
Official Arabic Translation of
WCAG 2.0


Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care
and Special Needs

Access Centre open in 2012
Medical and therapy services,
Audiology
Orthotics
Equipment for the blind
augmentative communication
devices, etc.
Training for developers
AT Showcase


Mada - Qatar Assistive Technology Centre

eAccessibility Policy
Web audits and reviews
Funding accessibility related tools
Web Accreditation Program & Award
Assistive Tech showcase for people
with a disability in Qatar & region
Promote AT awareness & training
Supporting development of Arabic
language AT


Takeaways

Accessibility guidelines need to be usable by their
audience
A wider ecosystem needs to be in place to make
accessibility actually happen
Culture and tradition is an important part to that
ecosystem


Thanks
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi , Deputy
Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed
Forces, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive
Council

Mark Palmer

Shadi Abou-Zahrah

Jamie Sands

David Banes


Thank you

User Vision (MENA) User Vision UK
Office 508 55 North Castle Street
The Fairmont Dubai Edinburgh
Sheikh Zayed Road Scotland, UK
Dubai, United Arab Emirates 00 44 131 225 0850
00 971 (4) 311 6607

Chris Rourke Stephen Denning
e: chris@uservision.co.uk e: stephen@uservision.co.uk
Twitter : Twitter : @steve_denning
@crourke,
@uservision
@uservisionmena


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