WCAG 2.1 Accessibility Blog

ACCESSIBLE CODE: Get the PayPal Bootstrap Accessibility Plugin

Posted on March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Using Bootstrap framework (version 3.x) on your website? You need to upgrade to Bootstrap 4 or use the PayPal Bootstrap Accessibility Plugin to make the default Bootstrap 3 components accessible for keyboard and screen reader users.

The plugin does not affect the performance or the visual layout of your website.

Get the PayPal Bootstrap Accessibility Plugin now.

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WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY TESTING & REMEDIATION SERVICES: Mary Gillen is an experienced Website Accessibility Compliance Auditor and Remediator. She can test your website to determine if it meets accessibility standards:

WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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ACCESSIBLE AUDIO: Get an Android Audio Boost with Sound Amplifier

Posted on March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Two tin cans joined by a single string

As we get older, some of us can use an audio boost from time to time, especially in cafes, restaurants and other public places where there’s a lot of background noise. With Google’s Sound Amplifier, audio is more clear and easier to hear.

According to Google: “You can use Sound Amplifier on your Android smartphone with wired headphones to filter, augment and amplify the sounds in your environment. It works by increasing quiet sounds, while not over-boosting loud sounds. You can customize sound enhancement settings and apply noise reduction to minimize distracting background noise with simple sliders and toggles.”

Available on the Play Store, the app supports Android 9 Pie or later phones and comes pre-installed on Pixel 3.

Download Sound Amplifier to your Android phone now.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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ACCESSIBLE CONTENT: Step Away from the Animated GIF

Posted on March 11, 2019March 11, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Animated GIF Logo

Are animated GIFs on your website considered accessible content?

Most animated GIFs should not be used because they fail the WCAG 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (Level A) Guideline:

“Moving, blinking, scrolling: For any moving, blinking or scrolling information that (1) starts automatically, (2) lasts more than five seconds, and (3) is presented in parallel with other content, there is a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it unless the movement, blinking, or scrolling is part of an activity where it is essential…”

TEST TOOL: If you are considering using an animated GIF, use the University of Maryland’s Photosensitive Epilepsy Analysis Tool to test that the animation won’t trigger seizures in folks who are sensitive to them.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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ACCESSIBLE APP: Seeing AI – Talking Camera for the Blind

Posted on March 8, 2019March 8, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Seeing AI from Microsoft is a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed for the blind and low vision community, this ongoing research project harnesses the power of AI to open up the visual world and describe nearby people, text and objects.

Optimized for use with VoiceOver, the app enables you to recognize:

Short Text – Speaks text as soon as it appears in front of the camera.
Documents – Provides audio guidance to capture a printed page, and recognizes the text, along with its original formatting.
Products – Scans barcodes, using audio beeps to guide you; hear the name, and package information when available. (works with iPhone 6 and later)
People – Saves people’s faces so you can recognize them, and get an estimate of their age, gender, and emotions.
Scenes (early preview) – Hear an overall description of the scene captured.
Currency – Recognizes currency notes. (Requires iOS 11)
Color – Identifies color.
Handwriting – Reads handwritten text like in greeting cards
Light – Generates an audible tone corresponding to the brightness in the surroundings.
Images in other apps – Just tap “Share” and “Recognize with Seeing AI” to describe images from Mail, Photos, Twitter, and more.
Photo browsing experience – Describes photos on your phone

Seeing AI is built to help you achieve more by leveraging the power of the cloud and artificial intelligence. As the research progresses, more channels may be added.

Check out tutorials with this YouTube playlist: http://aka.ms/SeeingAIPlaylist

Visit http://SeeingAI.com for more details.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION: 20 Tips for Teaching an Accessible Online Course

Posted on March 7, 2019March 7, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D. of the University of Washington has created twenty basic guidelines she follows as she develops her own online courses. Although these tips do not cover every potential accessibility issue, they provide a good start.

Read now: 20 Tips for Teaching an Accessible Online Course.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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TOOL: Easy Way to Test Color Contrast Results Right Now

Posted on March 5, 2019March 5, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Use the free online Accessible Colors Tool to evaluate your color combination using the WCAG 2.0 guidelines for contrast accessibility.

If your combination does not meet the guidelines, the tool suggests the closest accessible combination by modifying the color lightness.

Try the Accessible Color Tool now.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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ACCESSIBLE BUTTON CODE: Check Out the Button Pal

Posted on March 5, 2019March 5, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Want to use simple, standard accessible button functionality on your website? Andy Bell provides all the HTML, CSS and JavaScript you need to reset the default button styles for all browsers. It’s a great head start for styling accessible buttons.

Check out Andy Bell’s CodePen for a great start when creating accessible button code.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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TOOL: TapTapSee – Assistive Tech for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Posted on March 4, 2019July 9, 2023 by Mary Gillen

Hispanic blind man with disability. Visually impaired man using Digital Assistant and Ease of Access functions on mobile phone, voice typing to smartphone

TapTapSee is a mobile camera application designed specifically for blind and visually impaired users, powered by the CloudSight Image Recognition API. TapTapSee utilizes your device’s camera and VoiceOver functions to take a picture or video of anything and identify it out loud for you.

Red Ceramic Cup viewed through mobile phone camera

Double-tap the right side of the screen to take a picture or double-tap the left side of the screen to take a video. TapTapSee can accurately analyze and identify any two or three dimensional object at any angle within seconds. The device’s VoiceOver then speaks the identification aloud.

Features include:

– Picture recognition
– Up to 10 seconds of video recognition
– Ability to repeat the last identification
– Upload pictures or videos from the camera roll
– Save pictures or videos to the camera roll with the attached identification
– Share results via social media, text, or email
– Rotor reader
– Flash toggle

TapTapSee is available through the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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TOOL: Use the Colorblind Web Page Filter

Posted on February 28, 2019February 28, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Types of color blindness. Eye color perception. Vector illustration on isolated background.

Use the Colorblind Web Page Filter tool to select safe colors early in the design process.

Type in your URL, then select one of four color filters from the select menu.

EXAMPLE: Here is a screenshot of the Accessible Website Services Home Page (seen in full color in the left pane) and, in the right pane, how an individual with protanopia (the most common form of color blindness) sees the page:

Comparison test of home page for protanopia color blindness — [Left pane]: Accessible Website Services Home Page
[Right pane]: How an individual with protanopia (red-green color blindness) sees the page

If you only use one filter, use the grey scale filter which will not only point out potential problem areas, but will also let you see more clearly which areas the filter is unable to process.

Use the Color Blind Web Page Filter tool now.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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TOOL: Free IBM Watson Speech to Text Service

Posted on February 27, 2019February 27, 2019 by Mary Gillen

Four color squares each containing a white speech bubble

The IBM Watson Speech to Text service uses speech recognition capabilities to convert Arabic, English, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, German, and Mandarin speech into text.

Upload your pre-recorded audio (.mp3, .mpeg, .wav, .flac, or .opus only). The returned result includes the recognized text, word alternatives, and spotted keywords.

Use the IBM Watson Speech to Text service now.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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