Accessibility Implementation

Last revised date: March 24, 2024

Overview

The goal of this homework is to make something more accessible. Specifically, you should create a more accessible version of a thing (website, visualization, user interface, AR/VR, etc) that you've already made.

Competencies

When you turn in this homework, also turn in these competencies Optionally, you may want to turn in these competences as well:

To complete this assignment, please do the following

1. Select a specific interface or web app that you will make more accessible

You should identify a technology you have implemented for general use (i.e. not an accessibility technology). Ideally this should be an interactive technology (some kind of user interface, app, etc). If you have no such thing, you can ask to approve using a website or other static content that you have generated as an alternative.

Possible examples (this list is still under construction)

  • A class assignment that has an interface
  • A web app
  • A mobile app
  • Your personal website
  • An interface wrapped around some machine learning program
  • An educational game for young children
  • Tools for learning programming
  • A visualization
  • A password or CAPTCHA interface
  • VR/AR: A game or game control interface.

Also be clear about what task you want to accomplish. If you don’t have any interactive application that you can do this with you can use a static website or content, however in this case you need to get our approval by submitting the content you will focus on to us ahead of time.

2. Select two accessibility technologies and test your app with them

Be clear about which accessibility aid (such a screen reader, magnifier or single switch input) or which perceptual concern (such as color blindness) your modifications will be addressing.

Be clear about what task your are testing.

Test out your app with each accessibility aid and identify any problems with completing that task.

Record the problems in a problem report that includes the following information for each problem (see the Best practices slides and related lecture for more detail)

  • Name/Brief Description - Brief and Specific (Unique)
  • Testing Method - What tools found this problem (screen reader? manual? etc)
  • Evidence - WCAG guideline violated; screenshot with evidence of the violation.
  • Explanation - Explain the issue and possible causes.
  • Severity ranked from 1 to 4
    1. Cosmetic
    2. Minor: Low priority
    3. Major: High priority
    4. Catastrophe
  • Severity justification including frequency, impact, and persistence assessments
  • Possible solution

3. Fix the problem

Once you have identified problems, it is time to fix them. The expectations here will depend partly on the details of the task you select (which must be instructor approved) but it needs to include at least two different areas of POUR (i.e. address issues with both perceivability and operability) or otherwise demonstrate that you have not done something overly simple.

Assessment & Handin Process

You will turn in:

  • A before and after video showing what it was like to use your thing with your selected accessibility technology before and after you addressed the accessibility issues. The format of this video is flexible, but should take no more than 3-5 minutes. You can also choose to do a live demo of your before & after in office hours.

  • Your audit problem reports

  • An accessible 1 page document stating

    • What thing or app and task you picked (include pictures)
    • What you had to do to make it more accessible
    • What are three things you learned from doing this?

The remainder of this handin is broken up by competency

Familiarity with a Range of Accessibility Technologies

  • For each AT you used, turn in a reflection telling us about the AT you used. The reflection should include
    • Information about how the AT works, users, and strengths and weaknesses of the AT.
    • Information about what disabilities can benefit from it. For example, screen readers are not just used by blind people.
    • Any sources you used to answer these questions (first person accounts, research papers, etc). If you use Generative AI, you still need to check and cite relevant references.

Optional Information to hand in

In addition, you may choose to hand in the following optional information. Please ask the instructors if you're unsure what additional work or materials might be needed to complete these.

Accessible Documents

  • Your writeup (Microsoft word) or PowerPoint
  • A list of images and the ALT text you wrote for each of them
  • Which best practices are demonstrated in this document or PowerPoint
  • A screen shot showing the accessibility checker results for your document or PowerPoint

Back to top

The University of Washington acknowledges the Coast Salish peoples of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckleshoot nations. This site is maintained by J. Mankoff.