Web Content Accessibility Research Articles

Climate silence: a comparative study of governmental and non-governmental messaging on soil health in Wisconsin, USA

ABSTRACT Soils are the foundation of healthy ecosystems, and promoting soil health is a primary aim of agricultural strategies intended to sequester carbon and combat climate change. In this exploratory study, we conducted a qualitative content analysis to characterize soil health messaging from 10 governmental and 10 non-governmental sources targeting Wisconsin farmers. Data were collected through internet searches, focusing on accessible web content from governmental agencies, public universities, and local offices, as well as prominent industry, nonprofit, and advocacy groups within the agricultural sector. A coding framework, developed through an iterative and inductive approach, identified six primary categories and 37 sub-categories representing key themes in soil health messaging. The study compared messaging across source types by analyzing code term frequency, highlighting differences in content emphasis between governmental and non-governmental sources. Findings indicate that governmental messaging largely advocates for conservation agriculture and associated principles but does not reference climate change nor connections between soil health and broader environmental issues. In contrast, non-governmental messaging offers a wider array of information while drawing connections among soil health, organic agriculture, ecosystem health, and climate change. The omission of climate change by governmental sources may be a significant constraint on soil health discourse and climate action.

Evaluating Usability and Accessibility of Visual Programming Tools for Novice Programmers—The Case of App Inventor, Scratch, and StarLogo

The current state of the labor market requires modern engineers to acquire programming skills at different levels of advancement and to apply them in multidisciplinary environments. Not all modern engineers will become fully fledged programmers, but sometimes the possibility to use low-code programming environments like LabView or MIT App Inventor will be sufficient. In order to give good foundations for adulthood, schools use elements of visual programming, e.g., Scratch or StarLogo, to enhance the critical and algorithmic thinking of future engineers. This article attempts to answer the question of whether anyone cares about following general accessibility and usability guidelines in the case of solutions like Scratch, App Inventor, and StarLogo. Another goal is to show a set of tools that is successful in such an assessment. The authors used Nielsen’s heuristics, followed by analyzing WAVE output and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines compliance. Especially, the last one provides insights usually omitted when evaluating low-code environments. It was found that Scratch and App Inventor are leading solutions in terms of look and feel, functionality, documentation, interface navigation, and memorization. The StarLogo interface, on the other hand, is less friendly in terms of aesthetics and functionality.

Designing Inclusive Web Applications with Accessibility in Mind

This article explores the critical importance of designing inclusive web applications with accessibility in mind. It delves into the ethical, legal, and business imperatives driving the need for accessible web design, highlighting that over one billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. The article discusses key accessibility standards, particularly the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and outlines essential techniques and tools for implementing and testing web accessibility. These include semantic HTML, ARIA roles and attributes, color contrast considerations, keyboard navigation, and alternative text for images. The article also examines various testing tools such as Lighthouse, WAVE, axe DevTools, and screen readers. Furthermore, it presents a compelling business case for accessibility, emphasizing benefits such as an expanded user base, improved SEO, enhanced brand reputation, and legal compliance. Through comprehensive exploration of these topics, the article underscores that accessibility is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental responsibility that leads to better digital experiences for all users

Design and Development Model of a Web Accessibility Ecosystem

The article examines issues of web accessibility ecosystems for people with special needs. Methods, models, accessibility standards, and technologies related to the structure, design, and functionality of the web accessibility ecosystem are studied. The stages of developing an accessibility ecosystem are explored. The accessibility of the design, functionalities, structure, and content of a particular ecosystem are presented. Several themes for the design of the system with an emphasis on its accessibility for blind users are explored and analyzed. UX/UI design and the ontological model of accessibility, used in the implementation of the model of the ecosystem and its elements, are studied. A web accessibility ecosystem model has been developed, compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and based on semantic technologies. Other qualities of this model are easy access to information resources on the topic of accessibility, convenience for users with different needs, and the possibility of expansion and enrichment in the future.

Accessibility Analysis of Educational Websites Using WCAG 2.0

In recent years, the internet has emerged as the primary information hub, encompassing various domains such as education, healthcare, government, and e-commerce. With a vast user base relying on websites for accessing essential information, ensuring web content accessibility has become imperative. Meeting accessibility guidelines is crucial to accommodate users with diverse abilities worldwide. This article examines accessibility variances among education board websites hosting higher-level school leaving examinations. The study evaluates the landing pages of 13 educational websites from both developing and developed countries, employing six Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) tools endorsed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The study has meticulously compiled the outcomes of each assessment tool, delineating the diverse accessibility concerns encountered on each website. Furthermore, alternative recommendations have been proposed to assist web developers in rectifying these issues. The findings underscore a higher prevalence of accessibility issues within the education board websites of developing countries compared to their developed counterparts. Specifically, the analysis revealed prominent text contrast failures among selected web pages from developing nations, while non-text contrast failures were more prevalent in those from developed countries. Notably, the education board websites of India and Japan emerged with the highest number of accessibility issues among the sampled websites. As a way forward, a case study was shown on using LLM for making websites accessible.

Accessibility Barriers for Blind Students in Teaching-learning Systems

The use of digital technology by educators has received increasingly higher focus in the recent years. In spite of this, students with disabilities still face many accessibility obstacles while using digital technologies. In this context, this paper has the main goal of identifying the accessibility barriers faced by the community of blind students and highlighting the main factors that hinder this community from accessing learning objects. For this purpose, initially, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted, with which it was possible to collect the main accessibility problems identified by the scientific community. In order to complement and detail the information obtained in the SLR, a questionnaire was submitted to blind students, in which it was possible to discover new difficulties from a practical point of view. Finally, the accessibility barriers found in the SLR and in the questionnaire responses were analyzed and the results obtained were related to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the main document that explains how to make web content accessible for people with disabilities. This work seeks to explain the main factors that hinder or prevent access to learning objects in teaching-learning systems, promote a discussion on alternatives for improving these resources, identify gaps and guide more detailed studies on the subject.

Impact of COVID-19 in the web accessibility of higher education institutions: a pending challenge

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to close and led to a radical transformation of the global education system. This process of change had to take place in a short period of time and, as a result, methodologies and learning tools were adapted. The closure of educational institutions and the disruption to learning impacted all students. However, vulnerable students, including those with disabilities, were particularly affected due to the lack of preparedness for inclusive learning during the rapid transition to emergency online learning. One of the many challenges faced by educational institutions during this transition was ensuring web accessibility for students with disabilities. However, it appears that some of the positive changes that took place in the education system during the pandemic, such as the enhancement of web accessibility, have been declining recently. The aim of this article is to review how a group of universities responded to the closure caused by the pandemic from the point of view of web accessibility, whether they improved the accessibility of their websites and whether this improvement has been maintained over time. To achieve this, the web accessibility of the home pages of selected universities around the world was evaluated against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, for the period from 2018 to 2024. The results show that there was an improvement in web accessibility immediately after the COVID-19 outbreak, but this trend has not been maintained.

ASSESSMENT OF WEB ACCESSIBILITY REGULATION ADHERENCE BY INSTITUTIONS WITH COMPLIANCE OBLIGATIONS

Web accessibility is crucial for ensuring universal access to information, a value highly regarded by the European Union and the Spanish government, which have enacted legislation mandating compliance, particularly within the public sector and to a lesser extent in the private sector. This study contrasts the commitment of private entities with that of public ones in adhering to web accessibility standards. Initially, a database of URLs, categorized for reference, was compiled. Subsequently, automated web analysis techniques were employed to produce comparative statistics by sector. The findings indicate that while the public sector has made progress in meeting the regulations, the private sector lags considerably behind. An examination of common errors on websites of private companies obligated to these standards suggests that ignorance of legal responsibilities is the primary cause of accessibility shortcomings. Keywords: Web Accessibility, Accessibility Evaluation, Regulatory Compliance, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Digital Accessibility

Accessibility of United States ophthalmology hospital webpages to people with visual disabilities

PurposeEnhancing the accessibility of ophthalmology webpages can help individuals with vision access needs obtain essential appointment information, educational resources, and available ophthalmic services. This study evaluated the accessibility of these webpages for patients with visual impairment and color vision deficiencies. DesignRetrospective cross-sectional study. MethodsIn February 2024, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) were used to assess the accessibility of the web homepages of the top-ranked ophthalmology institutes in the United States using three evaluation tools: AChecker, ARC Toolkit, and WAVE. The webpages of the 38 top-ranked hospitals for ophthalmology in the 2023 US News & World Report were evaluated. ResultsAll assessed ophthalmology hospital and institute webpages had accessibility issues. The issues identified by each tool significantly impeded webpage navigation, with the mean number of issues as follows: AChecker (13.08, SD = 14.51), ARC Toolkit (16.21, SD = 17.68), and WAVE (6.47, SD = 7.14). The mean number of color contrast issues per website was 10.18 (SD = 15.84), present in 87 % (33/38) of the websites assessed. Most issues made information and interface components difficult to perceive (297/497, 59.76 %), and websites difficult to navigate or operate (145/497, 29.18 %). Common issues affecting people who are blind or have low vision and rely on screen readers included the absence of alternative text for images, hyperlinks without destination information, and missing instructions for user data input (e.g., search bars). ConclusionsOphthalmology webpages should be revised to comply with WCAG guidelines to improve accessibility for people with vision access needs. Addressing these issues can reduce information inequities for patients with visual disabilities and enhance their understanding of clinical processes, treatment, care plans, and available services such as transportation and online support groups.

A Case Study on (EAVIBA) Enhanced Accessibility for Visually Impaired & Blind Artists using Machine Learning

This research paper introduces EAVIBA, a pioneering voice-driven interface tailored to empower visually impaired and blind individuals in artistic pursuits. Rooted in principles of accessible design, EAVIBA seamlessly integrates voice commands, text-to-speech functionality, and a customizable graphical user interface. The study delves into EAVIBA's architecture, implementation of assistive technologies, and commitment to accessibility standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Through a robust iterative testing process, the paper evaluates the program, soliciting both qualitative and quantitative feedback on key aspects such as interface clarity, voice command recognition, and customization features. Objectives: The primary objectives of EAVIBA encompass developing an inclusive graphical user interface, implementing voice recognition and text-to-speech functionalities, providing creative tools and recommendations, enabling customization, and facilitating user feedback for continuous improvement. Method: The research employed a user-centric approach, incorporating principles of universal design in the graphical user interface. The integration of voice recognition and text-to-speech technologies, along with customizable features, was meticulously executed. Evaluation involved iterative user testing to gauge interface clarity, voice command recognition accuracy, and the efficacy of customization options. Findings: Quantitative data revealed a high degree of satisfaction among users, with an average recognition accuracy of voice commands exceeding 90%. Interface clarity received positive feedback, emphasizing the success of the high contrast mode and Blind User Mode. Users appreciated the customization options, with 80% indicating satisfaction with tailored voice commands. Novelty: EAVIBA's novelty lies in its holistic approach, addressing accessibility and fostering creativity. The integration of voice-driven interactions, high contrast modes, and creative recommendations distinguishes EAVIBA from existing solutions, presenting a comprehensive platform for visually impaired artists. Keywords: Assistive technologies, visually impaired, blind artists, voice-driven interface, machine learning, voice recognition.

Comparison of open science portals of India: web accessibility study

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare ten Open Science Portals in India. The comparison is made using the three primary parameters of accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO) and performance. This study aims to investigate whether the ten selected web portals efficiently meet the web accessibility requirements of the large population at an acceptable rate.Design/methodology/approachThis study was performed by using the Siteimprove web tool to collect information about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. The online accessibility tools provided by Siteimprove make it simple to comply with and follow the global WCAG at all compliance levels. This study selected ten web portals taking into account the open accessibility and the web portals offered by the Indian Government to promote research and innovation.FindingsThe findings of this research will be beneficial for the government website designers, managers and administrators to assess their website’s level of compliance with accepted accessibility standards so they can make tactical choices to increase accessibility.Originality/valueThis study highlights the portals’ robust characteristic features and downsides, where improvement may be required. It also focused on how these portals help in promoting citizen science and public understanding of science nationwide.

ACCESSIBILITY ANALYSIS OF WEB RESOURCES FOR PARTICIPANTS OF COMBAT ACTIONS

Information technology support for veterans consists of providing comprehensive support for their reintegration using information technologies, of which the most common are information web resources. An urgent task is to improve the information and technological support of the military and people whose traumatic experience has affected their physical and mental health. Information technologies, before recommending them for use in military reintegration processes, should be evaluated for compliance with global standards of web content accessibility. In this article, we pay attention to the work of services that automatically evaluate web resources for compliance with such requirements. Compliance with the requirements of the Guidelines on the accessibility of web content is relevant for the Ukrainian online space not only for compliance with European standards but to a greater extent - due to the need to satisfy the information needs of veterans who may require a special presentation of information due to the received injuries. The purpose of this study is to analyze the work of the specified online services for assessing the availability of web resources relevant to combatants, using the examples of official pages of state institutions that provide information support to the military, combatants, and veterans of various countries - Israel, the USA, Canada, and Ukraine. The formation of the IT support system will make it possible to improve the process of reintegration of combatants. Evaluating the compliance of web resources with the requirements of the international standard will make it possible to recommend access to web content to military personnel who may have injuries of various etymologies, considering the physical and cognitive features of the post-traumatic state. The research compared the results of web accessibility assessment of the websites of government organizations of different countries (Israel, Canada, USA, and Ukraine) using available resources – AChecker, WAVE, and Access Monitor. The combined use of such resources makes it possible to assess the compliance of online resources more fully, such a study should also be expanded to other resources that are relevant for the reintegration of the military and combatants of Ukraine.

Accessibility of COVID-19-related Public Websites in Japan

ABSTRACT Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, accessible websites and online content have become more critical worldwide as patients seek information about their medical concerns with limited access to care. However, there are still research gaps regarding the accessibility to COVID-19 information in Japan. Purpose This study systematically and quantitatively analyzed COVID-19-related local government websites from official COVID-19 for compliance with WCAG guidelines. Methods On June 25, 2022, we analyzed COVID-19 web portals by Japanese local governments using AChecker, WAVE, and miChecker. These tools are automated accessibility evaluation tool based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are widely used international standards in accessibility. Results Of the 72 websites included, the average number of errors per page was 2.7 (range 0–38) for WAVE and 8.7 (range 0–104) for WCAG 2.0 AA, respectively. The number of errors was lower than the number of accessibility errors on general websites. “Perceivable” errors, such as ambiguous colors/contrasts and missing alternative text, were prominently displayed at the top of the list of web page accessibility errors. Discussion The accessibility of the COVID-19 website of the Japanese local government was deemed satisfactory compared with the average number of accessibility errors on the top 1,000,000 home pages worldwide (50.8 per page). However, the websites lacked support in images (color and text) and audio guidance for users with visual and cognitive impairments. Translation to Health Education Practice For proper user perception, COVID-19 information had to be presented with clear contrast, alternative text, and informative captions.

Accessibility of digital systems in information retrieval by users with visual impairment

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the accessibility of digital information systems as a key usability attribute in information retrieval by users with visual impairment (VI), to inform development of accessible information systems.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a cross-sectional survey design based on the quantitative research paradigm. Data was collected from 117 students with visual impairments from selected public universities in Kenya, using a semi-structured questionnaire adapted from Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.FindingsThis study revealed that gender did not influence screen reader compatibility, alternative format preferences, perceptions of accessible content or digital library navigability. Instead, type of visual impairment, prior assistive technology (AT) training and digital library use frequency significantly impacted these attributes. Blind students reported positive experiences, favouring alternative formats, and expressed positive views on accessible content while those with low vision faced more challenges. Prior training in assistive technology and frequent digital library use resulted in higher screen reader compatibility and better navigability. Increased digital library use was linked to access to alternative content for those with prior assistive technology training.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the existing literature on accessibility of digital information systems for users with visual impairments. Further research is needed to explore other factors that may influence the accessibility of digital systems, such as the design of user interfaces as well as an evaluation of accessibility of digital systems for other categories of disabilities such as hearing impairment, physical impairment, autism and intellectual disability, among others.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study have practical implications for the design and development of digital systems such as digital libraries. Developers can leverage findings of this study to enhance compatibility of digital platforms with screen readers and provide alternative formats and accessible content. User-centred design principles can be used to create interfaces that are easy to navigate and friendly to users with visual impairments. Training programmes on assistive technology should be provided to users to enhance their skills and confidence in using digital systems.Originality/valueThis study contributes towards design and creation of navigable systems that are compatible with screen readers. The study also points out the importance of creating more inclusive and usable digital environments for persons with visual impairments.

Remapping the Document Object Model using Geometric and Hierarchical Data Structures for Efficient Eye Control

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are there to ensure that websites are perceivable, operable, understandable and robust across different user agents and assistive technologies. However, people who rely on eye trackers (ETs) may find that even WCAG-compliant websites are hard to access, and this is further accentuated by designs that offer little to no affordances for ET interaction. Areas with a high density of interactive elements, along with hierarchical navigation menus, such as megamenus or fly-out menus, are just two examples where ET interaction can be problematic. This paper introduces two novel interaction patterns as part of a purpose-built gaze-native web browser (Cactus), namely (a) Quadtree-based Target Selection with Secondary Confirmation and (b) Hierarchical Re-rendering of Navigation Menus. We present results from a between-subject single-blind study with 30 participants and report on metrics such as performance, perceived workload and usability, with demonstrable improvements over the state of the art.

Enhanced Accessibility for Visually Impaired & Blind Artists (EAVIBA) using Machine Learning

This research paper introduces EAVIBA, an innovative voice-driven interface aimed at empowering individuals with visual impairments and blindness in the domain of art and creativity. Rooted in principles of accessible design, EAVIBA integrates advanced features including voice commands, text-to-speech functionality, and a customizable graphical user interface, exemplifying a commitment to inclusive technology. The paper delves into the intricacies of EAVIBA's development, elucidating its architectural framework, seamless integration of assistive technologies, and adherence to recognized accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Employing a comprehensive approach, the research paper outlines the iterative process of user testing, providing both qualitative and quantitative insights into critical aspects such as interface clarity, voice command recognition accuracy, and the efficacy of customization options. The results of these evaluations affirm EAVIBA's remarkable success in delivering an inclusive, accessible, and empowering environment for individuals with visual impairments to engage in artistic expression, thereby contributing significantly to the broader landscape of assistive technologies and accessible interfaces. Keywords: Visually impaired, blind artists, voice-driven interface, assistive technologies, voice recognition, machine learning.

AI-Powered Real-time Accessibility Enhancement: A Solution for Web Content Accessibility Issues

The web accessibility landscape is a significant challenge, with 96.3% of home pages displaying issues with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This paper addresses the primary accessibility issues, such as missing Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) landmarks, ill-formed headings, low contrast text, and inadequate form labeling. The dynamic nature of modern web and cloud applications presents challenges, such as developers' limited awareness of accessibility implications, potential code bugs, and API failures. To address these issues, an AI-enabled system is proposed to dynamically enhance web accessibility. The system uses machine learning algorithms to identify and rectify accessibility issues in real-time, integrating with existing development workflows. Empirical evaluation and case studies demonstrate the efficacy of this solution in improving web accessibility across diverse scenarios.

Compliance with web content accessibility guidelines in ophthalmology social media posts

This is a cross-sectional exploratory analysis of publicly available Internet data to examine compliance to web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) on patient education social media posts in ophthalmology. WCAG ensures web content accessibility for those with disabilities (including visual impairment). A total of 100 social media posts were sampled from ten ophthalmology patient education social media pages and ten non-ophthalmology (cardiopulmonary) pages as the comparison group. Three independent graders evaluated the selected posts based on the WCAG 2 checklist by WebAIM, a non-profit affiliated with Utah State University, after its adaptation for social media posts. Validated accessibility standard labels: “0” for not meeting any standards, “1” or “A” for meeting bare minimum accessibility requirements, “2” or “AA” for meeting legal accessibility requirements, or “3” or “AAA” for exceeding accessibility requirements. There was not enough evidence to detect a difference in WCAG scores between ophthalmology and non-ophthalmology posts (p = 0.80). Forty-nine percent of scores for ophthalmology social media posts showed no compliance with any WCAG. The most common reasons that ophthalmology posts failed to meet criteria were due to color and contrast issues (39%). Most ophthalmology social media posts had low WCAG scores, indicating poor compliance to WCAG. Because social media is highly visual, reduced compliance to WCAG may create barriers for low vision individuals to successfully access patient education social media content.

Turning manual web accessibility success criteria into automatic: an LLM-based approach

AbstractWeb accessibility evaluation is a costly process that usually requires manual intervention. Currently, large language model (LLM) based systems have gained popularity and shown promising capabilities to perform tasks that seemed impossible or required programming knowledge specific to a given area or were supposed to be impossible to be performed automatically. Our research explores whether an LLM-based system would be able to evaluate web accessibility success criteria that require manual evaluation. Three specific success criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) that currently require manual checks were tested: 1.1.1 Non-text Content, 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context), and 3.1.2 Language of Parts. LLM-based scripts were developed to evaluate the test cases. Results were compared against current web accessibility evaluators. While automated accessibility evaluators were unable to reliably test the three WCAG criteria, often missing or only warning about issues, the LLM-based scripts successfully identified accessibility issues the tools missed, achieving overall 87.18% detection across the test cases. Conclusion The results demonstrate LLMs can augment automated accessibility testing to catch issues that pure software testing misses today. Further research should expand evaluation across more test cases and types of content.

Improving accessibility of digitization outputs: EODOPEN project research findings

PurposeThe current predominant delivery format resulting from digitization is PDF, which is not appropriate for the blind, partially sighted and people who read on mobile devices. To meet the needs of both communities, as well as broader ones, alternative file formats are required. With the findings of the eBooks-On-Demand-Network Opening Publications for European Netizens project research, this study aims to improve access to digitized content for these communities.Design/methodology/approachIn 2022, the authors conducted research on the digitization experiences of 13 EODOPEN partners at their organizations. The authors distributed the same sample of scans in English with different characteristics, and in accordance with Web content accessibility guidelines, the authors created 24 criteria to analyze their digitization workflows, output formats and optical character recognition (OCR) quality.FindingsIn this contribution, the authors present the results of a trial implementation among EODOPEN partners regarding their digitization workflows, used delivery file formats and the resulting quality of OCR results, depending on the type of digitization output file format. It was shown that partners using the OCR tool ABBYY FineReader Professional and producing scanning outputs in tagged PDF and PDF/UA formats achieved better results according to set criteria.Research limitations/implicationsThe trial implementations were limited to 13 project partners’ organizations only.Originality/valueThis research paper can be a valuable contribution to the field of massive digitization practices, particularly in terms of improving the accessibility of the output delivery file formats.