Digital accessibility watch June-July 2023

Two rich months in terms of recommendations. First an update of the WCAG 3.0 working draft, https://www.w3.org/TR/wcag-3.0/ and some clarifications, https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/wcag3-intro/. Then, the passage in candidate recommendation of WCAG 2.2, https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/ and some explanations of the novelties of this version (final?), https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/new-in-22/. And finally, the official release of the ARIA 1.2 recommendation, https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-wai-announce/2023AprJun/0005.html.
The Association Aveugles de France has launched an a11y observatory, more than 2,000 sites organized into several themes. Finally, in summary it's not brilliant but to follow, (fr) https://observatoire-access-num.interieursdefrance.org/!
Another initiative, a commitment charter for RGAA compliance audits set up and supported by the CNCPH (National Advisory Council for People with Disabilities), (fr) https://cncph.fr/charte-rgaa/.

Accessibility in laws and standards #

• Understanding the new WCAG 3.0 draft: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-wcag-3-working-draft-update-bradley-montgomery-ph-d-/
• Reflection on WCAG 3.0: https://yatil.net/blog/do-we-need-wcag-3-now
• Difference between EN 301549 and RGAA 4 (fr): https://access42.net/norme-en-301-549-rgaa-4-differences-requirements-techniques-conformity/
• E-commerce and European accessibility Act (fr): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/e-commerce-et-accessibilité-numérique-ce-que-présees-the-directive/
• The evolution of WCAG, a bit of history: https://digita11y.amnet.com/blog/evolution-wcag-roadmap-to-achieving-digital-accessibility

Feedback and accessibility #

• A testimony on low vision, interesting: https://ideance.net/blog/771/accessibilite-numerique-rex-brice-kaptur/
• An example of a long description of a complex image, to be read: https://koena.net/infographie-accessible-les-12-discours-retardant-laction-climatique/

Accessibility strategy #

• Change his way of intervening in a11y: https://karlgroves.com/accessibility-consulting-is-broken/
• There is no "normal" user: https://karlgroves.com/theres-no-such-thing-as-a-normal-user/
• The a11y is not a doghouse: https://access-ability.uk/2023/07/07/debunking-the-myth-that-accessibility-is-a-niche/
• EDF takes a clear position on a11y overlays, this is not accessibility: https://www.edf-feph.org/accessibility-overlays-dont-guarantee-compliance-with-european-legislation/
• Basic advice for a web front a11y: https://netzartist.de/blog/guardrails-for-better-accessibility-support-in-frontend/

Test accessibility #

• The rendering in screen readers of the blockquote elements: https://adrianroselli.com/2023/07/blockquotes-in-screen-readers.html
• An accessibility audit assistance tool, a va11ydette but more, to test: https://www.ta11y.org
• 6 tests for the a11y web of your forms (fr): https://karlgroves.com/6-quick-tests-you-can-do-to-test-your-forms-for-accessibility/
• Explicit a11y audit process, interesting to see how others are doing: https://www.maxability.co.in/2023/06/03/accessibility-audit-process/
• Stay accessible and avoid regression, advices: https://www.accessarmada.com/blog/combat-accessibility-decay-how-to-maintain-ongoing-accessibility/

Technical points in accessibility #

• ARIA, the base: https://blog.pope.tech/2022/07/12/what-you-need-to-know-about-aria-and-how-to-fix-common-errors/#trap
• ComboBox a11y, the latest developments: https://adrianroselli.com/2023/06/under-engineered-comboboxen.html and also https://www.webaxe.org/datalist-over-aria-combobox/
• Do ARIA well and test: https://blog.pope.tech/2023/07/03/aria-can-hurt-or-help-web-accessibility-how-to-review-your-aria-sites
• For an accessible breadcrumb nav: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/accessible-components-breadcrumb-navigation-roc%25C3%25ADo-alvarado/
• A web treeview component a11y: https://blog.pope.tech/2023/07/06/create-an-accessible-tree-view-widget-using-aria/
• An update on role="text": https://www.tpgi.com/using-the-text-role/
• Aria-haspopup, overview and support: https://html5accessibility.com/stuff/2023/06/20/aria-haspopup-less-is-more/
• Problem with nested fieldsets: https://adamsilver.io/blog/the-problem-with-nested-fieldsets-and-how-to-avoid-them/
• WCAG timeout criteria in a modal and its nuances: https://www.digitala11y.com/addressing-timeout-modals-navigating-the-nuances-for-inclusive-web-design/
• Dialog and popover, where are we in HTML: https://talks.hiddedevries.nl/G9mATs/slides
• Make good use of the visually-hidden CSS class: https://blog.logrocket.com/design-accessibility-css-visually-hidden-class/

Feedback #

• Interview with S. Walter design and a11y: https://accessibilite.public.lu/fr/news/2023-07-10-interview-stephanie-walter.html
• Advice from an a11y reviewer at WebAim: https://webaim.org/blog/top-evaluation-tips/
• Myths about interactive HTML components: https://www.barrierbreak.com/busting-myths-separating-fact-from-fiction-in-accessible-interactive-elements/

Technical aids #

• History of accessibility APIs, 3 parts, to read: part 1, https://knowbility.org/blog/2023/accessibility-apis-part-1, part 2, https://knowbility.org/blog/2023/accessibility-apis-part-2, part 3, https://knowbility.org/blog/2023/accessibility-apis-part-3
• Support for HTML article element in screen readers: https://www.matuzo.at/blog/2023/article-screen-readers/
• Support for ARIA form and search roles: https://www.matuzo.at/blog/2023/form-and-search-landmark/

Mobile app, mobile web #

• Make your a11y Android app: https://developer.android.com/courses/pathways/make-your-android-app-accessible
• Mobile access issues for screen reader users: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/screen-reader-users-on-mobile/
• Dev and a11y for Android apps: https://proandroiddev.com/how-to-provide-mobile-accessibility-in-your-native-android-app-guide-part-1-257a5b68097
• Improve a11y in Android apps with Jetpack modifiers: https://proandroiddev.com/improving-android-accessibility-with-modifiers-in-jetpack-compose-5a34b82c8ddc

Ergonomics, UI & UX #

• A plugin from a11y, Ax in Figma, to test: https://www.deque.com/axe/design-beta/
• Annotate mockups for screen readers: https://bbc.github.io/accessibility-news-and-you/guides/screen-reader-ux.html
• More on a11y's annotations, handy: https://adhoc.team/2023/06/28/become-an-accessibility-champion-by-using-simple-mockup-annotations/
• How to choose a more a11y typeface: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/guide-understanding-what-makes-typeface-accessible-ford-williams/

Resources #

• Introduction to a11y for cognitive disabilities: https://www.deque.com/blog/an-introductory-guide-to-understanding-cognitive-disabilities/
• An a11y style guide to be ready, just use it, practice: https://a11y-style-guide.com/style-guide/
• Articles from a11y every week: https://theadminbar.com/accessibility-weekly/
• PDF a11y;: part 1 https://mn.gov/mnit/media/blog/#/detail/appId/1/id/577889 and part 2 https://mn.gov/mnit/media/blog/?id=38-582030
• WCAG, evolutions and future: https://digita11y.amnet.com/blog/evolution-wcag-roadmap-to-achieving-digital-accessibility
• Video on a user study on VR and a11y, nice: https://equalentry.com/accessibility-virtual-reality-user-studies-with-children-and-seniors-presentation/
• A style guide for dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/employers/creating-a-dyslexia-friendly-workplace/dyslexia-friendly-style-guide
• Making numbers a11y: https://www.tpgi.com/making-numbers-in-web-content-accessible/

Others #

• Feedback on an exam of a11y from the IAAP, the famous CPACC (fr): https://www.temesis.com/blog/retour-sur-lexamen-cpacc-de-l-iaap/
• A Chrome extension to block a11y overlays: https://www.accessibyebye.org/