What
The following four principles (POUR) are:
1. Perceivable
Visitors must be able to perceive or understand and be aware of the content and information presented on your website.
Remember that "perceive" doesn't necessarily mean "see with one's eyes" — users who are blind or have low vision often use screen reader software, which converts printed text into synthesized speech or braille characters. Consider these users when you are creating and updating your site.
2. Operable
Operable websites can be used without disrupting the user in any way. All visitors can utilize every part of the site’s functionality, from navigating a page to selecting a link from a menu to playing and pausing video and audio. Generally speaking, the most operable websites are simple. Additionally, many have ditched any excess functionality that could impede users with disabilities and limitations.
3. Understandable
All content on your website — including your written and graphic design content — should be easily understood by visitors. Not only is jumbled, verbose language difficult for your typical visitor to interpret — it also limits access to those with cognitive difficulties and impairments and people who do not speak your site’s predominant language. Keep it digestible.
This principle applies to your site’s structure, too. Your pages need to be organized intuitively and your navigation readily available to visitors on most, if not all, pages.
4. Robust
The content on your site should be easily interpreted and consumable by all visitors, including those using assistive technology like screen readers. To achieve this, write your HTML that allows assistive technologies can parse your code without a visual reference.
Why
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are technical standards on web accessibility developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
The guidelines represent a shared, international standard developed by many different stakeholders, including industry, disability organisations, government, and accessibility research organizations.
WCAG isn’t a legal requirement, but a set of globally adopted standards.
The guidelines aim to make websites, apps, electronic documents, and other digital assets accessible to people with a broad range of disabilities, including sensory, intellectual, learning and physical disabilities.
How
That is a big question and in part Forest Pathways was setup to try and help people build better and more accessible websites. Hopefully by exploring this website you can make your website better for all users one website at a time.
