P.O.U.R. Information & User Interface
WCAG standards address various aspects of accessibility, ensuring digital content is Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (P.O.U.R.) for individuals with disabilities.
P: Perceivable
- Include captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions for multimedia content, catering to users who may have difficulty hearing or seeing.
- Provide equivalents for non-text content, such as images, charts, form controls, and audio/video files, ensuring accessibility for all users.
- Offer options like text transcripts, audio descriptions, and sign language interpretations to accommodate diverse user needs.
- Ensure proper markup, independent information sequences, and customizable browser settings for accessible content presentation.
- Present content in various formats to meet different needs and preferences, enhancing overall accessibility.
- Prioritize ease of perception through factors like color contrast and resizable text, minimizing interference or distraction for users. Focus on separating foreground from background and avoiding elements that may hinder user comprehension.
example
O: Operable
- Provide access for users with alternative keyboards or voice recognition.
- Ensure all functionality is accessible via keyboard, without trapping keyboard focus.
- Offer mechanisms to adjust time limits and control moving content to prevent discomfort.
- Avoid flashing content and provide alternatives for animations.
- Use clear page titles and organization for effective navigation, with options to bypass repetitive content.
- Accommodate touch activation, speech input, and gestures, providing alternatives for complex gestures and ensuring components are easily activated by voice and touch.
example
U: Understandable
- Enable correct processing of text content by software, benefiting users with cognitive disabilities and those who struggle with complex language. Facilitate quick learning and operation according to user preferences. Assist users who may struggle with implicit cues or interaction complexities, benefiting those prone to mistakes during interaction.
- Ensure clarity and understanding through clear language, definitions, and simplified versions of content.
- Maintain consistency in navigation and user interface elements, with changes requiring user consent for enhanced usability.
- Provide descriptive instructions, error messages, and context-sensitive help for effective correction.
example
R: Robust
- Provide access for users with alternative keyboards or voice recognition.
- Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents and assistive technologies to enable reliable processing and presentation of content, ensuring accessibility for all users, including those relying on non-standard controls.
- Ensure content is robust and compatible with diverse browsers and assistive technologies, maintaining markup validity and providing necessary information for non-standard user interface components.