Accessibility
A quality standard for digital experiences: people with disabilities should be able to perceive, understand, navigate, and complete tasks with comparable independence.
Used in Module 01 - Accessible According to Whom?
Field Guide
A non-linear documentation index for concepts, standards, and methods used across the semester.
Foundations
Disability & Inclusive Design
Designing with disability perspectives from the start improves outcomes for many users, not only edge cases.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
WCAG
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines provide testable success criteria used internationally to evaluate conformance.
Used in Module 01 - Accessible According to Whom?
POUR
POUR (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) is a practical map for organizing accessibility investigations.
Used in Module 01 - Accessible According to Whom?
Law & Policy
Legal and institutional requirements define accountability, obligations, and risk for accessibility decisions.
Used in Module 01 - Accessible According to Whom?
Content & Perception
Color & Contrast
How color choices and contrast ratios affect readability and information access.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Typography & Reflow
Readable type, spacing, and responsive reflow are critical to sustained comprehension.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Alternative Text
Writing text alternatives that communicate the purpose and meaning of non-text content.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Audio, Video & Captions
Making time-based media understandable and navigable through captions, transcripts, and structure.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Interaction
Keyboard
Ensuring all core functionality works without a mouse.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Focus
Visible, predictable focus behavior supports navigation confidence and task completion.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Forms & Errors
Labels, instructions, and error handling determine whether forms are actually usable.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Touch & Mobile
Mobile interaction patterns must remain perceivable and operable across device contexts.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Structure & Assistive Technology
Semantic HTML
Document structure and native semantics are foundational for robust accessibility.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Screen Readers
How assistive technology users perceive structure, controls, announcements, and link purpose.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
ARIA
ARIA can improve custom UI semantics when native HTML cannot represent interaction patterns.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Broader Practice
Accessibility Toolkit
Practical tools and methods available throughout this course for testing, investigation, and evidence.
Cognitive Accessibility
Reducing unnecessary cognitive load through language, structure, and interaction clarity.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Motion & Timing
Animation, timing limits, and interruption behavior can create barriers if not carefully designed.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
AI & Accessibility
AI can accelerate analysis and prototyping, but outputs must be verified with authoritative evidence.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Testing Tools
Automated and manual tools support investigation, but no single tool can prove full accessibility.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.
Accessibility Audits
A structured evaluation process combining standards mapping, manual testing, and prioritization.
Expanded guidance will be added when we reach this topic.