People with Disabilities Using the Web

I have just read the W3C document How People with Disabilities Use the Web. It describes several scenarios, assistive technologies and possible barriers for user with disabilities. I will summarize the information here, removing the scenarios and the references. If anybody is interested I recommend reading the W3C document. The post will consist of several sections each dedicated for a disability with the respective assistive technology and barriers. The sections will follow the template

Disability:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• Assistive Technology 1
• Assistive Technology 2
  

Barriers:

• Barrier 1
• Barrier 2

Blindness:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• screen readers
• speech synthesizer
• text-based browsers
• voice browsers

Barriers:

• images that do not have alternative text
• complex images (e.g., graphs or charts) that are not adequately described
• video that is not described in text or audio
• tables that do not make sense when read serially (in a cell-by-cell or "linearized" mode)
• frames that do not have "NOFRAME" alternatives, or that do not have meaningful names
• forms that cannot be tabbed through in a logical sequence or that are poorly labelled
• browsers and authoring tools that lack keyboard support for all commands
• browsers and authoring tools that do not use standard applications programmer interfaces for the operating system they are based in
• non-standard document formats that may be difficult for their screen reader to interpret

Low Vision:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• extra-large monitors
• increasing the size of system fonts and images
• screen magnifiers
• screen enhancement software
• specific combinations of text and background colors

Barriers:

• absolute font sizes that do not change (enlarge or reduce) easily
• inconsistent layout which makes navigation difficult the page is enlarged, due to loss of surrounding context
• pages or images with poor contrast which cannot be easily changed through user override of author style sheets
• text presented as images, which prevents wrapping to the next line when enlarged
• many of the barriers listed for blindness

Color blindness:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• own style sheets to override the font and background color choices of the author

Barriers:

• color that is used as a unique marker to emphasize text on a Web site
• text that inadequately contrasts with background color or patterns
• browsers that do not support user override of authors' style sheets

Deafness:
Remark: Deaf people may use predominantly a sign language, and they may or may not read a written language fluently, or speak clearly.

Assistive technologies and strategies:

• captions for audio content
• rely on supplemental images to highlight context.

Barriers:

• lack of captions or transcripts of audio on the Web, including webcasts
• lack of content-related images in pages full of text, which can slow comprehension for people whose first language may be a sign language instead of a written/spoken language
• lack of clear and simple language
• requirements for voice input on Web sites

Hard of hearing:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• captions for audio content
• amplification of audio

Barriers:

• lack of captions or transcripts for audio on the Web, including webcasts

Motor disabilities:
Remark: People with motor disabilities may need more time when filling out interactive forms on Web sites.

Assistive technolgoies and strategies:

• specialized mouse
• keyboard with a layout of keys that matches range of hand motion of the users
• pointing device such as a head-mouse, head-pointer or mouth-stick
• voice-recognition software
• eye-gaze system

Barriers:

• time-limited response options on Web pages
• browsers and authoring tools that do not support keyboard alternatives for mouse commands
• forms that cannot be tabbed through in a logical order
  

Speech disabilities:
Assistive techonolgies and strategies:

• voice recognition software
• alternate input mode such as text entered via a keyboard

Barriers:

• voice-based interaction is required and no alternative input mode is available

Visual and auditory perception:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• getting information through several modalities at the same time (web site + screen reader, audio + captions)

Barriers:

• lack of alternative modalities for information on Web sites, no textto be converted to audio to supplement visuals, no captions for audio

Attention deficit disorder:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• turn off animations

Barriers:

• distracting visual or audio elements that cannot easily be turned off
• lack of clear and consistent organization of Web sites

Intelectual disabilities:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• graphics to enhance understanding of a site

Barriers:

• unnecessarily complex language on Web sites
• lack of graphics on Web sites
• lack of clear or consistent organization of Web sites

Memory disabilities:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• consistent navigational structure throughout the site

Barriers:

• lack of clear or consistent organization of Web sites

Mental health disabilities:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• turning off distracting visual or audio elements
• screen magnifiers

Barriers:

• distracting visual or audio elements that cannot easily be turned off
• Web pages with absolute font sizes that do not enlarge easily

Seizure disorders:
Assistive technologies and strategies:

• turn off animations, blinking text, or certain frequencies of audio

Barriers:

• use of visual or audio frequencies that can trigger seizures

Fore more detailed information, please visit How People with Disabilities Use the Web.