Web Accessibility for Developers is a technical book aimed primarily at programmers that can learn how to develop accessible interactivity on the Web and gain expertise using WAI-ARIA, a W3C specification that enables optimal use of assistive technologies, like screen readers, when navigating the Web.
Type of Material:
Open (Access) Textbook with links to other materials and youtube videos. Includes assignments for the learners.
Recommended Uses:
Mostly for self-paced learning. Could be used to support parts of a class, as supplemental reading, on web development.
Technical Requirements:
To read the book just basic computer knowledge. To follow the content requires technical knowledge in relation mostly with web development.
In particular, Javascript, HTML, and Git version control knowledge
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Authors present the learning outcomes as follows:
"By the time you complete the instruction here, you should be able to: • Test web interactivity with a screen reader to ensure accessibility • Identify the differences between static and dynamic WAI-ARIA • Describe both graceful degradation and progressive enhancement development methods • State when and when not to use WAI-ARIA • Explain the limitations of WAI-ARIA • Apply WAI-ARIA landmarks and live regions to web content • Create accessible progress bars, suggestion boxes, and tooltips with WAI-ARIA • Build accessible sliders, accordions, tab panels, and carousels with WAI-ARIA • Implement effective design patterns for accessible menu bars, tree menus, and sortable lists with WAI-ARIA"
Target Student Population:
College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
To follow the content requires technical knowledge in relation mostly with web development and some programming
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The content, developed by Digital Education Strategies The Chang School, is very extensive and complete in relation to the topic.
Detailed content that walks you through web accessibility development
Test web interactivity with a screen reader to ensure accessibility
Identify the differences between static and dynamic WAI-ARIA
Describe both graceful degradation and progressive enhancement development methods
State when and when not to use WAI-ARIA
Explain the limitations of WAI-ARIA
Apply WAI-ARIA landmarks and live regions to web content
Create accessible progress bars, suggestion boxes, and tooltips with WAI-ARIA
Build accessible sliders, accordions, tab panels, and carousels with WAI-ARIA
Implement effective design patterns for accessible menu bars, tree menus, and sortable lists with WAI-ARIA
Concerns:
Too focused on some tools.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Clear learning objectives and goals allows potential users to determine the relevance of the course/book.
Book, with additional reference and download capability to addition e-books on the site and some practical application exercises too
Concerns:
Content very specific to a certain target group.
You will need the following if you are planning on completing the activities that follow reading the book
ChromeVox Screen Reader: Required for testing assignment submissions prior to submitting.
FireFox Developer Edition: Optional, but includes the FireBug Developer Tools, which are more helpful for debugging than the default developer tools included with various browsers.
Git: (Optional) Though you can edit activity files and send them to a web server, you’ll be better off installing Git or a Git Client and working from your own local development environment.
Plain Text Editor: Required for editing HTML and JavaScript, which is much easier with a good, colour-coded text editor, such as Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Atom
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
You can easily download and save the book.
Concerns:
Requires some background technical knowledge to complete the assignments.
Creative Commons:
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