Example Outlines for Web Accessibility Presentations

Note: For guidance on making your presentations and training accessible to people with disabilities and others in your audience, see How to Make Your Presentations Accessible to All.

Introducing web accessibility (20 minutes, for any audience)

Example scenario: General overview of web accessibility, as one of several short presentations from a panel of speakers.

Notes:

Introducing Web Accessibility can be adapted for many different types of audiences, including technical or non-technical, managers, developers, designers, people with disabilities, disability advocates, procurement officers, and others
Handout: WCAG 2.1 at a Glance
Useful resource: Before and After Demonstration

The audience will:

Understand the meaning and importance of web accessibility
Learn how people with disabilities use the web and about the barriers encountered on websites that are not well designed
Be able to explain aspects of the business case for digital accessibility, and know where to find more resources

Sample outline:

Introducing web accessibility (5 minutes)
- Describe what web accessibility is and why it’s important
- Mention the WAI guidelines as the international standard for making the web accessible
How people with disabilities use the web (10 minutes)
- Discuss some of the ways that people with disabilities use the web and/or show some short videos of people with disabilities using the web
  - Mention some of the types of barriers that arise from inaccessible design
Business case for digital accessibility (5 minutes)
- Introduce aspects of the business case that are most relevant to your audience, such as:
  - The demographics of the disability marketplace
  - The carry-over benefits of universal design
  - The changing demographics with the ageing population
  - Any policy requirements that might apply locally
- Refer to case studies of accessibility improvements

Digital accessibility business case (10 minutes, for senior management)

Example scenario: Short presentation during a senior management meeting to introduce the business case for digital accessibility.

Notes:

Handout: WCAG 2.1 at a Glance
Useful resource: Before and After Demonstration

The audience will:

Understand the meaning and importance of web accessibility
Appreciate the additional benefits of web accessibility, such as improved mobile web access, search engine optimization (SEO), and improved general usability
Understand the policy landscape and liabilities associated with web accessibility
Know about case studies and successful corporate accessibility policies and practices

Sample outline:

Introducing web accessibility (4 minutes)
- Describe what web accessibility is
- Briefly introduce demographics of the disability marketplace and/or demographics of the ageing population
- Mention a range of barriers faced by people with disabilities
Business case for web accessibility (6 minutes)
- Introduce the carry-over benefits of universal design highlighting some of the additional business benefits that accrue to accessible websites, including:
  - Better access by older people and mobile users
  - Improved search engine optimization (SEO)
  - Improved usability for everyone
- Give a brief policy overview if relevant for the organization’s locale or markets, mentioning national legal requirements and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
  or
  Introduce the social factors that an organization might consider and mention web accessibility as an aspect of corporate social responsibility (CSR)
- Highlight some of the documented case studies of accessibility improvements

Using an accessible web (1 hour, for people with accessibility needs)

Example scenario: Presentation for non-technical people (such as users, trainers, or accessibility advocates) about web accessibility and accessibility features of computers, browsers, and websites.

Notes:

Handout: WCAG 2.1 at a Glance
Useful resources:
- Before and After Demonstration
- Better Web Browsing: Tips for Customizing Your Computer

The audience will:

Gain some familiarity with the range of devices and adaptive strategies used by people with disabilities and older people
Begin to understand what an accessible website offers
Know that there are WAI guidelines that address accessibility
Appreciate they can approach an organization about barriers encountered

Sample outline:

Introducing web accessibility (5 minutes)
- Describe what web accessibility is
- Introduce the different ways people with disabilities and older people use the web by describing some scenarios or showing some videos
How people with disabilities use the web (25 minutes)
- Discuss and illustrate the range of adaptive strategies and assistive technologies
- Demonstrate some adaptive strategies and/or assistive technologies that may be useful to the audience
- Draw examples from “Better Web Browsing: Tips for Customizing Your Computer” resource
Components of web accessibility (10 minutes)
- Explain the four principles of accessible web design: perceivable, operable, understandable and robust (POUR)
- Discuss some of the WCAG guidelines using “WCAG 2.1 at a Glance”
- Explain the components of web accessibility and how they relate to the WAI Guidelines
Promoting web accessibility (5 minutes)
- Introduce how to contact organizations with inaccessible websites
Questions (15 minutes)
- Leave plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Accessible web design (2 hour lecture, for web design students)

Example scenario: Lecture/presentation on web accessibility as part of a full semester’s introductory course on general web design.

Notes:

Handouts:
- WCAG 2.1 at a Glance
- WAI Web Accessibility Resources
Useful resources:

Learning objectives:

After the lecture and exercise, students should be able to:

Describe various ways people with different disabilities, including ageing-related impairments use the web
List the factors in the business case for web accessibility and the additional benefits that might apply
Identify barriers in using the web and identify solutions that would improve the situation
Refer to the WAI website to for further technical and educational resources on web accessibility
Refer to appropriate processes, techniques, and tools to evaluate websites for accessibility

Sample outline:

Introduction to web accessibility (5 minutes)
- Describe what web accessibility is
How people with disabilities use the web (15 minutes)
- Discuss some of the ways that people with disabilities use the web and/or show some short videos of people with disabilities using the web
- Mention some of the types of barriers that arise from inaccessible design
Business case for web accessibility (15 minutes)
- Introduce the carry-over benefits of universal design highlighting some of the additional business benefits that accrue to accessible websites, including:
  - Better access by older people and mobile users
  - Improved search engine optimization (SEO)
  - Improved usability for everyone
- Briefly introduce demographics of the disability marketplace and/or demographics of the ageing population
- Highlight some of the documented case studies of accessibility improvements
Components of web accessibility (10 minutes)
- Explain the four principles of accessible web design: perceivable, operable, understandable and robust (POUR)
- Discuss some of the WCAG guidelines using “WCAG 2.1 at a Glance”
- Explain the components of web accessibility and how they relate to the WAI Guidelines
Designing accessible websites with WCAG 2 (45 minutes)
- Explain some of the WCAG requirements using real examples to demonstrate their applicability
- Demonstrate using “How to Meet WCAG (Quick Reference)” reference to help design accessible websites
- Introduce the importance of involving users throughout the design process
- Consider using interactive coding exercises to engage students
Evaluation for web accessibility (30 minutes)
- Introduce preliminary and conformance evaluation of websites for accessibility
- Demonstrate some evaluation techniques and tools
- Introduce the importance of involving users in web accessibility evaluation
- Consider using interactive evaluation exercises to engage students

Suggested preparatory reading for students:

Homework assignment suggestion:

Ask students to fix some web pages (possibly from the Before and After Demonstration), using How to Meet WCAG (Quick Reference), and describe the barriers addressed and solutions applied.