By focusing on the POUR principles, accessibility and inclusive design, the WCAG success criteria become part of the design process. Presented at UXPA Boston 2015 in the 10minute student talks session.

1. Ramp it up!
Action-based guide to creating accessible websites
Taliesin L. Smith – terracoda.ca/ramp
MDes. Candidate 2016, Inclusive Design, OCAD University

2. Accessibility progression
Afterthought Universal Design Centre of the Design

3. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Layers of the WCAG
● 4 Principles
– 12 Guidelines
– 61 Success Criteria
– 3 Levels of compliance: A, AA, AAA
Source: WCAG 2.0

4. Focus on the POUR Principles
● Perceivable
– Users must be able to perceive the information being presented
● Operable
– Users must be able to operate the interface
● Understandable
– Users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of
the user interface
● Robust
– Users must be able to access the content when technologies change

5. What barriers do websites have?

6. Accessible design decisions create the ramp

7. Code meaning into content

8. Use unique & meaningful words for links

9. Provide text-based alternatives for images

10. Complexity requires skill

11. Other media may require external resources

12. Rethinking disability & accessibility
Mismatch
user + barrier = disability
Accessibility
The ability of the system to accommodate the
needs of the user.

13. The Web is for everyone (Horton & Quesenbery)
Jacob, Trevor & Steven: Do they have a disability if they are able to accomplish their goals?
(rosenfeldmedia.com)
Assistive technologies: Refreshable Brail display (wikipedia.org), Kurzweil 3000,
hands-free smart phone stand (hongkiat.com)

14. It takes awareness, skills & resources

15. Full guide & references at
● My website: Terracoda.ca/ramp
● Contact me: talilief@gmail.com