additional resources
At Accessible Design Hub, we’re committed to providing designers with the resources they need to create accessible and inclusive design solutions. Whether you’re looking for articles, guides, tools, or training opportunities, we’ve got you covered. Please explore the links below to find even more helpful information about web accessibility!
W3C & WAI (World Wide Web Consortium & Web Accessibility Initiative)
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community that develops open standards to ensure the long-term growth of the Web. Within W3C, the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) focuses specifically on promoting web accessibility worldwide.
W3C/WAI develops guidelines, techniques, and resources to help web developers create accessible websites and applications. Their work includes the development of WCAG, as well as other guidelines such as the User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) and the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG). Through their efforts, W3C/WAI plays a crucial role in advancing web accessibility and ensuring that the Web is accessible to all.
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of internationally recognized standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). They provide guidance on making web content more accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring equal access to information and functionality.
WCAG offers a comprehensive framework for improving the accessibility of web content, covering a wide range of issues including text alternatives, keyboard navigation, and color contrast. By adhering to WCAG, web developers can create websites that are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
UAAG (User Agent Accessibility Guidelines)
User agents, such as web browsers and media players, play a vital role in delivering web content to users. The User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) provide guidance on making user agents more accessible, ensuring that everyone can access and interact with web content effectively.
UAAG outlines requirements for user agents to support accessibility features, such as keyboard navigation, text customization, and alternative content presentation. By adhering to UAAG, developers can ensure that their user agents provide a more inclusive browsing experience for users with disabilities, improving accessibility across the Web.
ATAG (Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines)
Authoring tools, including content management systems and website builders, enable web developers to create and publish web content. The Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) provide guidance on making authoring tools more accessible to developers with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can participate in web content creation.
ATAG outlines requirements for authoring tools to support accessible content creation, including features such as keyboard shortcuts, accessibility checkers, and content templates. By adhering to ATAG, developers can create authoring tools that empower all users to produce accessible web content, promoting inclusivity and accessibility in web development.
WAI-ARIA (Web Accessibility Initiative-Accessible Rich Internet Applications)
As web technologies evolve, the need for accessible dynamic content and advanced interfaces becomes increasingly important. The Web Accessibility Initiative – Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) provides a solution by enhancing the accessibility of web content and applications that utilize dynamic and interactive features.
WAI-ARIA introduces a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to define their roles, states, and properties, making them more accessible to assistive technologies. By incorporating WAI-ARIA into web development practices, developers can create rich internet applications that are more inclusive and accessible to users with disabilities, improving their overall user experience.