What does accessibility mean? How do I make my material accessible? When does it have to be done? The questions can be overwhelming but using a process can make it easier. By following a few steps, you can better ensure your information is accurate, current, and understandable.
Understand the accessibility laws for your area
It’s a lot easier to understand what you have to do and how you have to do it when you understand why you are doing it so I suggest beginning with the law. First, read the accessibility laws for your particular area and talk to other people who have to create accessible material. Make sure you are clear about what you have to do.
In Ontario Canada, we are required to follow the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) which outlines various areas of accessibility for Ontarians. The law is quite encompassing and covers areas such as customer service, public spaces, transportation, and more. The full AODA legal document is available from the Ontario government on the AODA website.
If you do not have time to read the whole document, make sure you understand the section on Information and Communication Standards in Part 2 of the AODA. You want to understand what it means to have accessible material and what constitutes material. Did you know material includes text, audio, images, data, and video? Also, some complex material is not included. Make sure you are familiar with the current definitions and subsequent requirements.
If you do not understand the law, contact a legal representative or use the government of Ontario website contact page. Once you understand the law, look at the specific requirements like dates and times.
Know the timelines for compliance
Pay particular attention to accessibility timelines so you know when things need to be complete. Not everything is required to be completed at the same time and different types of businesses have different deadlines. Do you know yours? The AODA document mentions specific dates. The section on Information and Communication Standards in Part 2 of the AODA presents a schedule. Make sure you check back from time to time to see if there are any changes to the timeline.
Even if you understand the needs of your audience and the legal requirements, you might struggle with the technical requirements. You have to understand what to do but also how to do it.
Read about the basic technical requirements
Start by reading an overview of the Information and Communication Standards in the AODA. The AODA also mentions the “World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, at Level AA” which outlines web accessibility standards.
Many of these standards apply to all documentation like the use of proper headings and clear communication. Currently, there are three levels of we b accessibility which are called A, AA, and AAA. Check the requirements for your area to see if you are required to be at level A or AA in your area. Also, note that there are different regulations for different types of websites. Make sure the information you are viewing is current and look for changing dates or exceptions to the norm.
Get help from knowledgeable sources
You can find reliable information about accessibility laws, requirements, and standards at government websites and some educational institutions. Speak to legal representatives for help with the law and technical consultants for technical help. Once you understand the requirements, develop a process you can use over and over.