| | Dear [First Name]
Welcome to Session 4: The Operable PrincipleSession 3 RecapIn the last session the focus was on Principle 1: Web content must be perceivable. Much of the time, that means providing text wherever meaningful visual or auditory content is presented.
The activity in the previous unit introduced you to Amara, a free tool for creating closed captions, or rather, subtitles. Captions and subtitles are essentially the same thing. Subtitles make foreign languages accessible to people who don't speak the language, much like captions make audio content in video accessible for those who cannot hear it.Session 4In this session, we get into the details of Principle 2: Web content must be operable. This essentially means that anything in web content that functions with a mouse must also function with a keyboard, and vice versa. There will be many people who cannot use a mouse, which requires sight to be able to follow the mouse pointer. Instead, people will use a keyboard and, generally, the Tab and arrow keys to navigate through functional elements and the content on a website.
It goes without saying that all functional elements need to work with a mouse, as that is how most of us interact with web content. But, there will also be people who rely on a mouse while using technology such as a head mouse and switches to operate a computer, along with an onscreen keyboard.
This session's tasks:- Read through the pages that describe Guidelines 2.1 to 2.5. Again, pay attention to whether failing to address issues at each level creates absolute barriers or usability problems or is more of a nuisance.
- Guideline 2.1 Level A has an interesting "Try This" activity, which will give you practical understanding of the challenge that drag-and-drop features can have for screen reader users. It is still a rarity to find drag-and-drop elements on the Web that work with a screen reader. (There's also a keyboard trap on this page you can experience. It requires Flash.)
- Complete Activity 4 - Understanding the Limitations of Automated Accessibility Checkers. Though automated accessibility checkers are an easy way to scan a website for barriers, it is important to understand their limitations. They are particularly lacking when it comes to assessing meaning, like whether alt text effectively describes the image it is associated with. For the time being, humans have to make these types of decisions.
Best wishes
Greg Gay (CPACC, WAS, CPWA)
IT Accessibility Specialist, Ryerson University
Lead Course Developer
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Global Sharing, Affordable Learning
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