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Usability and Accessibility
Accessibility presents a lot of benefits both to developers and users of websites. But what most people do not know is that accessibility also provides a set of advantages that can affect other major fields of practice.
Take the concept of usability for instance. Generally, accessibility has principles which, if implemented correctly, can greatly increase the usability of a site.
Distinguishing Usability from Accessibility
Before talking about the relationship of usability and accessibility, it is important to have a clear definition of the two concepts. Usability refers to the practice of making websites easy to learn and understand so that everyone can use them properly. Meanwhile, accessibility refers to the practice through which developers ensure that persons with special needs can access and utilize their sites.
Supporters of usability and accessibility have developed distinct principles and guidelines for each concept. This is to further help users differentiate the two fields of practice.
Relationship of Usability and Accessibility
However, there are certain aspects wherein usability and accessibility overlap one another. Here are some of the points wherein the two concepts partly cover each other.
Note: These are just examples of the points where usability and accessibility overlap.
The Link text
A Link that has a descriptive text makes it easier for all users to determine where the link points to. Since Internet users usually scan through the pages rather than reading the entire content, descriptive links can simplify their task of finding information.
Similarly, descriptive link texts help blind persons who use a screen reader to access the Internet. This is because screen reader users normally navigate through web pages by listening to the link texts. So if the text clearly describes where the link would go, screen reader users will not have a hard time figuring out where each link would take them.
The Page Structure
A web page with organized contents makes it easier for users to locate and acquire information. Visitors would be able to quickly understand the structure of the page and know where the navigation links and main contents are.
Also, organized online content benefits screen reader users. These Internet users need to listen to the information in a page to understand and recall it. They can do this quicker if the content in a page is structured logically.
The Language Used
A page that uses simple words and sentences makes it easier for sighted Internet users to absorb the page’s information. This greatly causes less strain to the user’s eyes. A page that contains easy-to-understand language also benefits people with cognitive and reading disabilities.
Conclusion
Since usability focuses on all Internet users including persons with disabilities, these practices would also benefit people with special needs. Likewise, websites that comply with accessibility standards would present a degree of usability. All in all, the best approach is to keep in mind both usability and accessibility while developing a site.
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great article; more cross-overs
Thanks for this article. I've been thinking about writing on this for a while now, but now it's too late, ha ha.
Two more examples of crossover between usability and accessibility are headings and symbols. Headings should be marked up as headings, appear as headings, and segment long content.
Symbols make content easier and faster to understand--for example, a check mark (tick) together with text for notifications of a successful action.
PS: I love your implementation of CAPTCHA on this blog.
Cross-overs
I totally agree with you. And yet, it is just the tip of the iceberg. All I wanted to do is to draw attention to this area, but it would be a huge project to collect overlaps of usability and accessibility.
typography
One area where I think there is a good degree of overlap is typography. Choice of font (and the use of font stacks), font sizes, ability to resize, leading (line spacing), column widths, and avoiding underlines that obscure descenders (e.g. the bottom of the letters g,p,q etc.) all contribute to how usable AND how accessible a page is. This is particularly important for learning disabilities like dyslexia.
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