Accessibility

Last reviewed 09 Jan 2021 by Crispin Read

Description

Web for all! We'll be finding out about accessibility in web and software development - what it means and why it is important. We'll look at disability in context and the various assistive technologies we can be preparing for. From am practical perspective we'll look through code, testing it and highlighting areas for improvement.

Why this is important

We should be making sure that everything we create is usable by as many people as possible. This is the right thing to do not just morally but from a business perspective as well.

Outcomes

At the end of this training you will be able to:

  1. Understand the importance and principles of Web Accessibility
  2. Know how to prepare a project thinking about Accessibility
  3. Create tests and use tools to make websites and applications more accessible

Learner Requirements

  1. Understanding of HTML, CSS, JS, PHP

Outline

  1. What is Accessibility?
  2. Why is it important?
  3. Disability in context
  4. Activity: Inspect a page
  5. User Habits
  6. DEMO: Screen reader experience
  7. Semantics
  8. Personas
  9. Tools
  10. Activity: Using browser tools

Tasks

  1. Accessibility review using browser tools

Further tasks

  1. Accessibility review of your project or company site
  2. Add accessibility terms and definitions to your glossary
  3. Blog post on the importance of accessibility or main takeouts from the session
  4. Screencast of setting up for accessibility testing

Resources / Reference

  1. Acccessibility Slides
  2. Testing accessibility with NVDA screen-reader and Firefox
  3. Twitter Bootstrap Components
  4. Dive Into Accessibility](http://diveintoaccessibility.info/)
  5. a11yproject.com

Skills, Knowledge, Behaviours and Values

Core Skills

This workshop is designed to develop the following from our core skills directive

  • Communication
  • Presentation
  • Problem Solving
  • Reflection
  • Research
  • Learning from failure
  • Empathy

Apprenticeship Standard

This workshop will encourage the development of the following from the Software Developer Level 4 Standard

COMPETENCIES (Skills)

  • C2 - User interface: can develop effective user interfaces for at least one channel.
  • C4 - Test: can test code and analyse results to correct errors found using either V-model manual testing and/or using unit testing.
  • C5 - Problem solving: can apply structured techniques to problem solving, can debug code and can understand the structure of programmes in order to identify and resolve issues.
  • C7 - Analysis: can understand and create basic analysis artefacts, such as user cases and/or user stories.
  • C9 - Development lifecycle: can operate at all stages of the software development lifecycle, with increasing breadth and depth over time with initial focus on build and test.
  • C11 - Can interpret and follow:
    • software designs and functional/technical specifications
    • company defined ‘coding standards’ or industry good practice for coding
    • testing frameworks and methodologies
    • company, team or client approaches to continuous integration, version and source control
  • C12 - Can respond to the business environment and business issues related to software development.

BEHAVIOURS

  • B1 - Logical and creative thinking skills.
  • B2 - Analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • B3 - Ability to work independently and to take responsibility.
  • B4 - Can use own initiative.
  • B5 - A thorough and organised approach.
  • B6 - Ability to work with a range of internal and external people.
  • B7 - Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of situations.

Knowledge

  • K1 - Understands and operates at all stages of the software development lifecycle.
  • K3 - Understands how teams work effectively to produce software and contributes appropriately.
  • K4 - Understands and applies software design approaches and patterns and can interpret and implement a given design, compliant with security and maintainability requirements.
  • K5 - Understands and responds to the business environment and business issues related to software development.

Values

Themes in this session explore the following values:

  • Equality & Diversity
  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty