In just over a decade the web has grown into the massive and marketing information vehicle that most of us now take for granted. Back in the bad old days of the Internet, accessibility wasn’t taken into account like it was for building physical infrastructure, at least not by mainstream business. But that began to change. As modems, and then cable became commonplace, the users grew exponentially, and included a great many people with disabilities. Enter the 21st century and online accessibility.

While it wasn’t required, Devlin has long advocated for website accessibility for people with mobility and vision impair-ments, and we developed the unique expertise to unite accessibility with aesthetics. But ensuring that everyone can access the web in a way that meets his or her needs is no longer just a smart thing to do; it has become a basic right in Ontario with the introduction of the Accessibility for Ontarians with a Disability Act (AODA).

A Brief History of Web Accessibility

AXAccessibility Experience

Best Practices for Accessible Website Design

Colour Blindness

Consider offering low- contrast and high-contrast versions of your site.

Vision Loss

Take into account that some people will access your site with a screen reader, text magnifier, or Braille output.

Repetitive Stress Injury

Enable your site to use keyboard access keys for content navigation in case a user is unable to use their mouse.

Dyslexia

Use complimenting graphics with text to guide people through the website. Also, consider how the text is written, as they might use text-to-speech programs as an aid while reading the content.

Hearing Loss

If you include videos, ensure that they are close captioned.

Person with Age-Related Condition

Hand tremors, for example, affect how a user moves a mouse. Review icon sizing, and any scrolling that may affect navigation in this respect.

Cognitive Disability

Consistent design and navigation are both critical to users with cognitive disabilities. Clear and simple language also increases accessibility.

Deaf/Blind Person

The same features for vision and hearing loss apply here and may be used in combination. Take into account screen readers, screen magnifi-ers, text-to-speech, and close captioning.

On June 13, 2005, the Ontario government passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. It’s a set of standards that set legal requirements for ensuring that Ontario is accessible to people with disabilities. It applies to many things, including the Internet. These standards are enforced through periodic inspections, and if a website does not meet these requirements, the business or organization risks being fined for non-compliance.

Devlin undertook a design, user experience and technical overhaul of the

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) website in 2008. In addition to significant

improvements in overall clarity and usability, a key project goal was to ensure

the highest levels of accessibility to customers with a disability. The process

required complete accessibility audits during the development phase, includ-

ing regular updates with the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transporta-

tion. Our accessibility expert tested the site with screen reading software, text

magnification software, and text-based browsers to ensure that the site made

logical sense to users and was accessible to assistive devices. The new TTC.ca

now meets all standards outlined in the AODA and the World Wide Web

Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (W3C WCAG) Priority 1, 2

and 3 standards.

What is AODA?

Devlin Case Study

Devlin is a pioneering full-service digital communications company providing user experience strategy, web design and development, digital marketing, and mobile development services to noteworthy private sector, public sector and not-for-profit clients. Our unique and steadfast commitment to user-centred design and usability principles has set us apart since the launch of our first website in 1996.

Over the past several years we have also focused on being a leader in accessible design and development. We have worked with clients such as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Ryerson University and the Toronto Transit Commission to design and build their accessible websites, ensuring they provide inclusive online services to people with disabilities.

Devlin’s services focus on delivering the best possible online customer experience to positively reflect and reinforce our clients’ brands, products and services.

· User Experience Design (Strategy, Information Architecture, Usability Testing)

· Creative Design, Rich Media and Motion Graphics

· Technical Design

· Web Development and Technology

· Accessible Design and Development

· Mobile Site Development

· Digital Marketing

· Website Maintenance & Management

Contact for Accessibility information: Karl Dionne, Director, Technical Strategy 1.877.363.6316 ext. 266

About Devlin

185 Frederick Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5A 4L4 P: 416.363.6316 P: 1.877.363.6316 E: accessibility@devlin.ca devlin.ca