Will You Add? - 5 Steps of Web Accessibility Testing

Step 1 – Validate HTML and CSS

This step may come as a surprise to many. After all, wouldn’t invalid code either not work or leave a visible bug? Actually, the answer is not necessarily.

The reason can be that some WISIWIG editors generate invalid code and hard-core programmers who write their code by hand can easily omit some bit of HTML or CSS “grammar”. This doesn’t mean non-functioning code it just means it doesn’t meet the standards. I won’t go into specifics here, just think of it as sort of similar to formal collegiate writing. There is a particular standard which is expected. A paper could be written differently, more “free form”, it could contain all the ideas and arguments, and it could be just as well thought out – but because it doesn’t meet the standard it would not get a top grade.

Validating your code has a number of advantages. It decreases the probability of cross browser problems, it tends to eliminate or reduce so called code bloat, and valid code tends to be easier to maintain as well as being compatible with a broader range of assistive technologies used by people with disabilities.

Step 2 – Automated Accessibility Testing

Automated accessibility testing is an often misunderstood step in the overall process. To some it is everything that needs to be done. “My site is Bobby compliant. Doesn’t that mean it’s accessible?” To others it’s a red herring and should be avoided all together. My take is that it’s an invaluable step. When writing an article I rely on the spellchecker to catch my typos even though I know I still need to go through and check out the copy myself to make sure I have written “Dave” and not “Cave”, for instance. Automated testing finds many issues which could easily be missed by reading the code and so I always begin with it.

Depending on the scale of your project you might be able to use one of several free web based validators or you may opt to buy one of the testing packages available on the market.

The report you will get will include tests which cannot be run by the validator but which it flags for manual examination. Make sure to go through these as well. Most of the tools will describe the issue enough for someone with the above mentioned prerequisites to test.

And lastly, make sure to have any issues raised, fixed before continuing. Doing so will greatly reduce the time required for the remainder of testing.

And please, I cannot emphasize enough that automated testing alone cannot assure accessibility. Please continue with the steps below.

Step 3 – Keyboard Testing

This a simple but very important step. Hide you mouse and navigate your web site using only your keyboard. If you have never done this then you are likely to learn something.

Various groups of people can’t or don’t want to use a mouse. For some it’s just confusing or difficult, especially those with certain motor control problems or sometimes seniors. For others, like blind web users, it’s impossible. Making sure every link, form field, button, or any other functionality in the page is accessible via the keyboard is a basic necessity of web accessibility – but you may also find that to get to the main content or primary form on the page you need to click the Tab Key many times. Though technically accessible, this is extremely inconvenient.

Again, be sure to make any changes required which this phase of testing brought up before continuing.

Step 4 – Screen Reader Testing

To conduct screen reader testing you will need to install the necessary software. It will take some time to get used to and configure your screen reader so be patient. Begin by simply turning off your monitor and listening to your page. Does it make sense? Many web designs depend on visual cues and can get close to unintelligible when those cues aren’t available.

Next, try to carry out one or more of the tasks your website was built for. If it’s an online store, find a product and make a purchase. If it’s an informational site then find key information. Remember – this is the reason you built the site and it is the reason you are making it accessible. If it core functionality depends on a complex form, can you tell which fields are required? If it’s a shopping cart, can you see how much you have spent before making the purchase?

Step 5 – Target Audience Testing

Various conventions of web design have emerged in the course of the World Wide Web’s short existence which we have grown used too and even depend on to help us navigate a new site. Links appear in a different color (often blue) and underlined. Site wide or global navigation is usually found along the top of the page. Small pictures can often be clicked to get a bigger one. Similarly, there are conventions used in quality accessible design but naturally those of us who aren’t dependant on accessible design may not be aware of them. These might include links, sometimes invisible, along the top of a page which allow the user to skip to various parts of the page, colors with high contrast values or just consistent design throughout the site.

Web accessibility isn’t just fulfilling a set of requirements or validating against predefined checkpoints. It also means quality design. And just as it’s best to leave questions of browser based user interface design to an expert it’s best to have your site checked over by an expert in screen reader user interface design when considering accessibility. And though in theory, there is no reason a sighted specialist couldn’t become such an expert, one who is dependant on screen readers will more likely be intimate with their functions and use, the frustrations of poor web site design and solutions which ease or eliminate those frustrations in practice, not just in theory.

Conclusion

Website accessibility is something every company and organization needs to consider if they have or are planning to have a web presence. It’s not only morally correct but it increases your potential customer base and it is increasingly becoming the law.

Testing doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Depending on the scope of your site compliance can be achieved entirely in-house by following the steps above. If you haven’t got the available resources or feel outside, expert help is required there are a number of consultants from which to choose. One should be aware, however, that the services rendered can range from automated testing only (perhaps appropriate for a web development team which is not particularly knowledgeable in accessibility issues but able to understand and implement post test recommendations) to full, regular audits costing 10’s of thousands (possibly appropriate for a company with a large and regularly changing website such as an on-line auctioneer or a newspaper). It is vital, therefore, to understand one’s needs and know which service to seek.

For any larger testing effort target audience testing is key. Unfortunately, most accessibility testing companies don’t offer the service, and some don’t even offer screen reader testing.

Resources

Free Online HTML & CSS Validators

HTML Validation (http://validator.w3.org/">http://validator.w3.org/)

CSS Validation (http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator)

Free Online Accessibility Validators

WebXact (http://webxact.watchfire.com)

Cynthia Says (http://www.cynthiasays.com)

Automated Accessibility Testing Software

InFocus (http://www.ssbtechnologies.com/products/infocus/index.html)

Bobby (http://www.watchfire.com/products/desktop/accessibilitytesting/default.aspx)

Screen Readers

JAWS (http://www.freedomscientific.com)

IBM HomePage Reader (http://www-3.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/hpr.html)

Miscellaneous

W3C Accessibility Guidelines (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-HTML-TECHS/)

7 Autoresponder Marketing Strategies To Automate, Build and Grow Your Business
Did you know one of the most important tools in your Internet marketing arsenal? Sometimes it does sound trivial but it is one of the most powerful marketing strategies available on the Internet. Why is that? It's simply because it does everything in the background but this is how it becomes extremely profitable.You see, it has been proven that most people won't buy anything on their first visit to your website which can be selling a product for instance. They need to be contacted several times and this is where an autoresponder comes in. Autoresponder marketing is done on the background because an action needs to be taken before it starts working.Here are 7 autoresponder marketing strategies that you can implement to automate, build and grow your business.(1) Build your own opt in email listOwning an opt in email list is one of the most important things every marketer should have and it should be your goal to constantly grow it and make it a quality one. If you want to automate this process and save time, money and hassles, you absolutely need an autoresponder. Every person that subscribes to your newsletter for instance will be automatically added to your email ed herring and should be avoided all together. My take is that it’s an invaluable step. When writing an article I rely on the spellchecker to catch my typos even though I know I still need to go through and check out the copy myself to make sure I have written “Dave” and not “Cave”, for instance. Automated testing finds many issues which could easily be missed by reading the code and so I always begin with it.

Depending on the scale of your project you might be able to use one of several free web based validators or you may opt to buy one of the testing packages available on the market.

The report you will get will include tests which cannot be run by the validator but which it flags for manual examination. Make sure to go through these as well. Most of the tools will describe the issue enough for someone with the above mentioned prerequisites to test.

And lastly, make sure to have any issues raised, fixed before continuing. Doing so will greatly reduce the time required for the remainder of testing.

And please, I cannot emphasize enough that automated testing alone cannot assure accessibility. Please continue with the steps below.

Step 3 – Keyboard Testing

This a simple but very important step. Hide you mouse and navigate your web site using only your keyboard. If you have never done this then you are likely to learn something.

Various groups of people can’t or don’t want to use a mouse. For some it’s just confusing or difficult, especially those with certain motor control problems or sometimes seniors. For others, like blind web users, it’s impossible. Making sure every link, form field, button, or any other functionality in the page is accessible via the keyboard is a basic necessity of web accessibility – but you may also find that to get to the main content or primary form on the page you need to click the Tab Key many times. Though technically accessible, this is extremely inconvenient.

Again, be sure to make any changes required which this phase of testing brought up before continuing.

Step 4 – Screen Reader Testing

To conduct screen reader testing you will need to install the necessary software. It will take some time to get used to and configure your screen reader so be patient. Begin by simply turning off your monitor and listening to your page. Does it make sense? Many web designs depend on visual cues and can get close to unintelligible when those cues aren’t available.

Next, try to carry out one or more of the tasks your website was built for. If it’s an online store, find a product and make a purchase. If it’s an informational site then find key information. Remember – this is the reason you built the site and it is the reason you are making it accessible. If it core functionality depends on a complex form, can you tell which fields are required? If it’s a shopping cart, can you see how much you have spent before making the purchase?

Step 5 – Target Audience Testing

Various conventions of web design have emerged in the course of the World Wide Web’s short existence which we have grown used too and even depend on to help us navigate a new site. Links appear in a different color (often blue) and underlined. Site wide or global navigation is usually found along the top of the page. Small pictures can often be clicked to get a bigger one. Similarly, there are conventions used in quality accessible design but naturally those of us who aren’t dependant on accessible design may not be aware of them. These might include links, sometimes invisible, along the top of a page which allow the user to skip to various parts of the page, colors with high contrast values or just consistent design throughout the site.

Web accessibility isn’t just fulfilling a set of requirements or validating against predefined checkpoints. It also means quality design. And just as it’s best to leave questions of browser based user interface design to an expert it’s best to have your site checked over by an expert in screen reader user interface design when considering accessibility. And though in theory, there is no reason a sighted specialist couldn’t become such an expert, one who is dependant on screen readers will more likely be intimate with their functions and use, the frustrations of poor web site design and solutions which ease or eliminate those frustrations in practice, not just in theory.

Conclusion

Website accessibility is something every company and organization needs to consider if they have or are planning to have a web presence. It’s not only morally correct but it increases your potential customer base and it is increasingly becoming the law.

Testing doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Depending on the scope of your site compliance can be achieved entirely in-house by following the steps above. If you haven’t got the available resources or feel outside, expert help is required there are a number of consultants from which to choose. One should be aware, however, that the services rendered can range from automated testing only (perhaps appropriate for a web development team which is not particularly knowledgeable in accessibility issues but able to understand and implement post test recommendations) to full, regular audits costing 10’s of thousands (possibly appropriate for a company with a large and regularly changing website such as an on-line auctioneer or a newspaper). It is vital, therefore, to understand one’s needs and know which service to seek.

For any larger testing effort target audience testing is key. Unfortunately, most accessibility testing companies don’t offer the service, and some don’t even offer screen reader testing.

Resources

Free Online HTML & CSS Validators

HTML Validation (http://validator.w3.org/">http://validator.w3.org/)

CSS Validation (http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator)

Free Online Accessibility Validators

WebXact (http://webxact.watchfire.com)

Cynthia Says (http://www.cynthiasays.com)

Automated Accessibility Testing Software

InFocus (http://www.ssbtechnologies.com/products/infocus/index.html)

Bobby (http://www.watchfire.com/products/desktop/accessibilitytesting/default.aspx)

Screen Readers

JAWS (http://www.freedomscientific.com)

IBM HomePage Reader (http://www-3.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/hpr.html)

Miscellaneous

W3C Accessibility Guidelines (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-HTML-TECHS/)

Internet Marketing Online - The Best of the Best
If you are one of the many business that are starting to do a great deal of their marketing online, then you are definitely heading in the right direction.There are literally millions of people who use the internet every single day, and when you use online marketing, you can effectively bring people to your website who are potential clients. While some people think that internet marketing online is extremely difficult, when you know what you are doing and you have done the right research, it can be quite easy and profitable as well.There are a variety of different methods of internet marketing online. These methods include email advertising, pay-per-click ads, press releases, article directory submissions, and even banner ads as well. While there are a variety for you to choose from when it comes to internet marketing, you will want to make sure that you choose the best marketing strategy. One of the best marketing strategies out there is actually free of charge and it can help you to bring in traffic to your website.This special internet marketing strategy is called search engine optimization. Basically, search engine optimization deals with ways that you can enhance an may also find that to get to the main content or primary form on the page you need to click the Tab Key many times. Though technically accessible, this is extremely inconvenient.

Again, be sure to make any changes required which this phase of testing brought up before continuing.

Step 4 – Screen Reader Testing

To conduct screen reader testing you will need to install the necessary software. It will take some time to get used to and configure your screen reader so be patient. Begin by simply turning off your monitor and listening to your page. Does it make sense? Many web designs depend on visual cues and can get close to unintelligible when those cues aren’t available.

Next, try to carry out one or more of the tasks your website was built for. If it’s an online store, find a product and make a purchase. If it’s an informational site then find key information. Remember – this is the reason you built the site and it is the reason you are making it accessible. If it core functionality depends on a complex form, can you tell which fields are required? If it’s a shopping cart, can you see how much you have spent before making the purchase?

Step 5 – Target Audience Testing

Various conventions of web design have emerged in the course of the World Wide Web’s short existence which we have grown used too and even depend on to help us navigate a new site. Links appear in a different color (often blue) and underlined. Site wide or global navigation is usually found along the top of the page. Small pictures can often be clicked to get a bigger one. Similarly, there are conventions used in quality accessible design but naturally those of us who aren’t dependant on accessible design may not be aware of them. These might include links, sometimes invisible, along the top of a page which allow the user to skip to various parts of the page, colors with high contrast values or just consistent design throughout the site.

Web accessibility isn’t just fulfilling a set of requirements or validating against predefined checkpoints. It also means quality design. And just as it’s best to leave questions of browser based user interface design to an expert it’s best to have your site checked over by an expert in screen reader user interface design when considering accessibility. And though in theory, there is no reason a sighted specialist couldn’t become such an expert, one who is dependant on screen readers will more likely be intimate with their functions and use, the frustrations of poor web site design and solutions which ease or eliminate those frustrations in practice, not just in theory.

Conclusion

Website accessibility is something every company and organization needs to consider if they have or are planning to have a web presence. It’s not only morally correct but it increases your potential customer base and it is increasingly becoming the law.

Testing doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Depending on the scope of your site compliance can be achieved entirely in-house by following the steps above. If you haven’t got the available resources or feel outside, expert help is required there are a number of consultants from which to choose. One should be aware, however, that the services rendered can range from automated testing only (perhaps appropriate for a web development team which is not particularly knowledgeable in accessibility issues but able to understand and implement post test recommendations) to full, regular audits costing 10’s of thousands (possibly appropriate for a company with a large and regularly changing website such as an on-line auctioneer or a newspaper). It is vital, therefore, to understand one’s needs and know which service to seek.

For any larger testing effort target audience testing is key. Unfortunately, most accessibility testing companies don’t offer the service, and some don’t even offer screen reader testing.

Resources

Free Online HTML & CSS Validators

HTML Validation (http://validator.w3.org/">http://validator.w3.org/)

CSS Validation (http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator)

Free Online Accessibility Validators

WebXact (http://webxact.watchfire.com)

Cynthia Says (http://www.cynthiasays.com)

Automated Accessibility Testing Software

InFocus (http://www.ssbtechnologies.com/products/infocus/index.html)

Bobby (http://www.watchfire.com/products/desktop/accessibilitytesting/default.aspx)

Screen Readers

JAWS (http://www.freedomscientific.com)

IBM HomePage Reader (http://www-3.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/hpr.html)

Miscellaneous

W3C Accessibility Guidelines (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-HTML-TECHS/)

Invoice Factoring Helps You Expand Your Company With Fast Business Funding
Choose invoice factoring business funding to expand your company at all stages: profit and thrive. Each stage of your business comes with unique benefits and challenges. No matter the stage, though, working with a quality receivables factoring firm can support business growth. In this article, we will share the benefits of invoice factoring when you are poised to expand your business, but face cash flow management issues. We'll also discuss how working with a factoring firm can help with start up businesses.First, see if you identify with these challenges often faced by established business owners who want to expand their company:Cash Flow Management Problem #1: Traditional business funding from banks does not meet your needs. You apply for a line of credit but it is not approved. Or, it is not approved for the amount you need.Invoice Factoring Solution #1: With factoring business funding, you receive funds within 24 hours of invoicing your customers; cash flow problem solved!Cash Flow Management Problem #2: You mull over taking in a partner or investor, but you feel uneasy. You started this busin sometimes invisible, along the top of a page which allow the user to skip to various parts of the page, colors with high contrast values or just consistent design throughout the site.

Web accessibility isn’t just fulfilling a set of requirements or validating against predefined checkpoints. It also means quality design. And just as it’s best to leave questions of browser based user interface design to an expert it’s best to have your site checked over by an expert in screen reader user interface design when considering accessibility. And though in theory, there is no reason a sighted specialist couldn’t become such an expert, one who is dependant on screen readers will more likely be intimate with their functions and use, the frustrations of poor web site design and solutions which ease or eliminate those frustrations in practice, not just in theory.

Conclusion

Website accessibility is something every company and organization needs to consider if they have or are planning to have a web presence. It’s not only morally correct but it increases your potential customer base and it is increasingly becoming the law.

Testing doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Depending on the scope of your site compliance can be achieved entirely in-house by following the steps above. If you haven’t got the available resources or feel outside, expert help is required there are a number of consultants from which to choose. One should be aware, however, that the services rendered can range from automated testing only (perhaps appropriate for a web development team which is not particularly knowledgeable in accessibility issues but able to understand and implement post test recommendations) to full, regular audits costing 10’s of thousands (possibly appropriate for a company with a large and regularly changing website such as an on-line auctioneer or a newspaper). It is vital, therefore, to understand one’s needs and know which service to seek.

For any larger testing effort target audience testing is key. Unfortunately, most accessibility testing companies don’t offer the service, and some don’t even offer screen reader testing.

Resources

Free Online HTML & CSS Validators

HTML Validation (http://validator.w3.org/">http://validator.w3.org/)

CSS Validation (http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator)

Free Online Accessibility Validators

WebXact (http://webxact.watchfire.com)

Cynthia Says (http://www.cynthiasays.com)

Automated Accessibility Testing Software

InFocus (http://www.ssbtechnologies.com/products/infocus/index.html)

Bobby (http://www.watchfire.com/products/desktop/accessibilitytesting/default.aspx)

Screen Readers

JAWS (http://www.freedomscientific.com)

IBM HomePage Reader (http://www-3.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/hpr.html)

Miscellaneous

W3C Accessibility Guidelines (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-HTML-TECHS/)

Inbound Links From Blogs - The Untold Story
When you are starting out, choosing the right source for inbound links can be difficult to determine, especially when you have a new site and no PR.When I started writing my first blog, one of the main ways that I used to promote it was through gaining inbound links from various other blogs using articles. I had tremendous success and still do with many of my great articles. It's a very quick and efficient way to gain the best foothold in the search marketing world because of your ability to target multiple websites with similar content with very little effort. So, very shortly after I started that first blog, that's what I did. As a result, a lot of my articles ended up on various blogs. What I noticed, though, was that a few months after I started gaining those inbound links, I started to lose them quickly. And to find out why, I had to do some investigating...I utilized the Search Engine Marketing Reports that I offer through my business to see why it was that I was losing these links and found out that what I thought was a fundamental flaw was really a fundamental design in the search engines and blogs.The reason that I was losing those links is due to the aging effeny with a large and regularly changing website such as an on-line auctioneer or a newspaper). It is vital, therefore, to understand one’s needs and know which service to seek.

For any larger testing effort target audience testing is key. Unfortunately, most accessibility testing companies don’t offer the service, and some don’t even offer screen reader testing.

Resources

Free Online HTML & CSS Validators

HTML Validation (http://validator.w3.org/">http://validator.w3.org/)

CSS Validation (http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator)

Free Online Accessibility Validators

WebXact (http://webxact.watchfire.com)

Cynthia Says (http://www.cynthiasays.com)

Automated Accessibility Testing Software

InFocus (http://www.ssbtechnologies.com/products/infocus/index.html)

Bobby (http://www.watchfire.com/products/desktop/accessibilitytesting/default.aspx)

Screen Readers

JAWS (http://www.freedomscientific.com)

IBM HomePage Reader (http://www-3.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/hpr.html)

Miscellaneous

W3C Accessibility Guidelines (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-HTML-TECHS/)

Accessibility Testing and Target Audience Testing Solutions (http://www.pageaccessibilitylabs.com)

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<a href="http://www.atriclecheck.com/article/85497/atriclecheck-5-Steps-of-Web-Accessibility-Testing.html">5 Steps of Web Accessibility Testing</a>

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