Digital accessibility resources

user experience design accessibility humorous cartoon

Like the Daleks in the Punch cartoon, people with disabilities shouldn’t be faced with barriers to attaining their goals in life. This is as true in the digital realm as in the physical world where access should be improved for all who want to find and use web information.

At a time when understanding and promotion of accessibility is needed more than ever, Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes has been sacked and the role to be filled part-time by another Commissioner without ‘lived experience’ of disability, as Mr Innes puts it.

Digital accessibility is a subset of usability in that it involves understanding and making online information and systems easier to find and use for humans.

As a small contribution, here’s a list of resources I put together to understand and apply digital accessibility principles and techniques.

Tools and tip sheets

This Vision Australia page has a great collection of tools, tip sheets and links to resources at Digital Access Resources Downloads.

Accessible web content

Melbourne web writing expert Dey Alexander has lots of well-thought-through articles and resources on web content accessibility.

Software

You may also want to check out SiteImprove; US software offers a holistic approach to accessibility and website management. They also have NFP pricing.

Accessibility specialists

Site search improves content & avoids mistakes

Visitors to your website who use the internal site search engine are offering you a gift; an explicit intention to find information.

It’s a gift I recommend you accept with grace.

Here’s 3 things you can do to benefit from your visitors’ largesse, using internal site search analytics.

First, understand what site search is and why you should be analysing it right now.

Continue reading “Site search improves content & avoids mistakes”

Get found: 3 SEO tips you can do right now

I love the idea of someone enjoying using your website; doing what they want to do successfully and benefiting from your services.

I realise, though, people have to get to your website first to enjoy it.

Search engine optimisation or SEO is the science and art of being found on the web. The term SEO may strike fear into your heart, however, because it sounds complicated.

Luckily, there’s a few simple things you can do right away to help people get to your website. Continue reading “Get found: 3 SEO tips you can do right now”