Accor: an inclusive environment As part of our global inclusiveness strategy, we are in the process of improving the accessibility of our websites to provide an experience that is inclusive for all users. We believe that all users, regardless of their physical or mental ability, device or reason for using the Web, are entitled to benefit from the best service that we can offer them. This strategy of making our websites accessible naturally mirrors the accessibility strategy in our hotels, particularly with our “Smart Room” concept.
Our web commitment Our efforts to make our sites accessible will be focused on the hotel information and reservations department areas. Need help? By email at the following address: [email protected] At Genuine, when we say we are user-first, we mean all users. We’re passionate about accessibility, and helping our clients achieve it. Are you struggling with accessibility? We can help you understand what it is, how to apply it, and what it means for your site. IN THIS ARTICLE Overview What is Accessibility?Web accessibility refers to the ability of all users, regardless of visual, auditory, or physical disabilities, to access all content and functionality available on websites. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) developed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which defines how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities, including but not limited to visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities (and temporary). WCAG 2.1 was developed with a goal of providing a shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments internationally. The Genuine Perspective We believe that inclusivity is not optional, and neither is accessibility. For a site to be truly usable, it has to be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. Types of DisabilityAccessibility isn’t just about serving those with marked disabilities, it’s about the language learner, the kid who broke an arm and can’t scroll, the colorblind. It’s not a population that can be ignored. Select the icons to discover more info Memory loss, Seizure disorder Broken arm/hand, Temporary vision loss, Temporary hearing loss Dyslexia, ADHD Colorblindness, Limited vision (glaucoma, etc.), Blindness Hearing impaired, Situational issues (can’t play video out loud), Auditory sensitivity Hand tremors, Paralysis, Speech disorders (voice controlled sites) It’s tempting to say that your user base is “not disabled.” After all, blindness and deafness are relatively rare conditions. But the rate of documented disability might surprise you: approximately 1 in 4 American adults lives with a disability. When websites adapt for the needs of all users, they expand the reach of their content by reaching and adapting to a quarter of their user base. By not meeting their needs for access, site owners risk alienating that same large group of users. Meeting accessibility standards improves search engine optimization (SEO) rankings, which can help increase organic traffic and the overall pool of potential users. 1 in 4 americans live with a disability Accessibility is also quickly becoming a legal standard. Websites are considered to be part of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, meaning that they qualify as public spaces, and therefore must comply with accessibility standards or risk legal action. In 2019, over 10,000 lawsuits were filed against businesses not adhering to these standards. Globally, other countries are also beginning to mandate accessibility compliance. The EU Web Accessibility Directive, for example, states that all public sector websites and applications in EU member states must implement, enforce, and maintain a uniform set of accessibility standards.  ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES CategoriesWCAG 2.0 and 2.1 are stable, referenceable technical documents that are organized into four major categories: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. perceivablePerceivable indicates that information and user interface components must be recognizable by all types of users. This category deals with visual and auditory disabilities, like color contrast issues or hearing loss. If a user can’t see, or perceive, the content on your site, because, to them, your colors and texts blend together or can’t be seen at all, they won’t be able to access information readily. Similarly, a user with hearing loss may not be able to perceive a video without captions. Do Make text legible with adequate contrasting. Do Use coded text to provide a screen reader with the correct hierarchy of information. Do Provide alternative text for images. You might think color contrast issues are limited, but there’s many different types! The same three colors might show up differently for different user groups.
Full Color ~92% of population Protanomaly Vision ~0.6% of population Protanopia Vision ~0.6% of population Deuteranopia Vision ~0.6% of population Achromatopsia Vision ~0.0001% of population operableOperable refers to the ability to operate a website in a way that suits an individual’s unique needs. If a user is unable to control a mouse, they may use assistive technology like keyboard controls. Any action that can be completed through conventional means (mouse movement, hover states, etc.) should also be completed through assistive technology or other functions. Operable also includes hidden functions that may pause timers or other site functions that could be detrimental to the user and their needs. Do Check the flow of your site with a keyboard to ensure that all buttons, tabs, fields, pages, and elements can be selected without a mouse. Dont Use hover-only functions without a focus state workaround. If a keyboard user can’t find it, it’s not findable! Hover-only functions are also challenging for mobile users, who can only tap. UnderstandableUnderstandable means that all users must be able to comprehend information consistently throughout a web experience and be able to use and work with interface operations. This includes consistent and clear labels, instructions, and adequate error messaging or prevention. For example, a navigational structure that changes from page to page may be frustrating or confusing for a sighted user, but it can be even more restrictive and challenging for a non-sighted user. They may believe that they’ve navigated to an entirely different site or channel. Do Provide in-line error messages to alert users to the field or fields that have incorrect information. Don't Create generic error messages or place them in vague positions that don’t help users determine errors quickly. RobustRobust means that the content and solutions should be clear enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user accessibility tools & mediums, including any major assistive technologies. Using appropriate HTML markups and the use of aria labels can help achieve this. Check the site’s usability with multiple technologies and screen reader programs. Don’t assume that the site works because it works for some. We check websites on all types of browsers; the same philosophy applies to assistive technologies. NVDA JAWS ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES Conformance StandardsThere are also three different levels of conformance: A, AA, and AAA. Each level builds on the other levels, meaning that AA covers A criteria and AA criteria, and AAA covers A, AA, and AAA criteria. Color contrast rules make it easier to read content, even for users with full color vision. Select the levels to see how contrast requirements change: A - AAA Slider LEVEL A No Contrast Requirements LEVEL AA 4.5:1 for most text, 3:1 for large text LEVEL AAA 7:1 for most text, 4.5:1 for large text There are 30 criteria within WCAG 2.1 Level A, and 20 criteria within Level AA, meaning that we track 50 success criteria within an accessibility audit. The Genuine Perspective Level A contains the minimum requirements for accessibility, while AAA is the most strict and contains the most stringent requirements. For many clients and industries, we find that AAA is not recommended due to the difficulties of meeting standards. For this reason, we strive for AA compliance, which is usually adequate for legal needs. Implementation Roles & ResponsibilitiesFor a project to be successful and accessible, all team members must be actively involved, engaged, and knowledgeable. Easier said than done! It’s important to consider accessibility in a website or app from start to finish, because many of the decisions can’t be reversed or altered late into the game. Think of the challenge of integrating established brand guidelines into a new site build; if the colors are inaccessible when combined, designers will need to be cognizant of that early on, and find solutions that meet the brand. Otherwise, the brand will have to start over and re-create brand guidelines. Many of the guidelines live in the realm of development, especially those that cover HTML markup, backend implementation, and CSS guardrails. However, accessibility is a practice that should be considered at all phases of web design, from user experience and information architecture to visual design and color styles. The Genuine Perspective Accessibility is an all staff project. At Genuine, everyone from account and project managers to designers and developers keep an eye out for accessibility flags and issues. Many heads are better than one! 46% development/user experience criteriacriteria adherence is dependant on many areas, from information hierarchy and proper labelling to indications for hover states 40% development only criteriacriteria adherence is dependant on HTML markups, alternative text elements, etc. 4% design only criteriacriteria adherence is dependant on adequate color contrasting and text spacing. 10% user experience only criteriacriteria adherence is dependant on consistent navigation, overrall structure, etc. ProcessIt’s tempting to assume that a site, once meeting accessibility standards, is good to go. But each new design update, feature rollout, and piece of content should be evaluated through the lens of accessibility. Just as accessibility is a full-team practice when implementing it, it’s also a full-team practice to maintain.
It’s also worth noting that WCAG is not a static document. There is currently a plan in place to launch WCAG 2.2, which includes 5 new success criteria for level A, and 4 new success criteria for level AA. It will also include a fifth area of focus entitled Conformance, which lays out guidelines for adherence levels. WCAG 2.2 is scheduled to launch in late 2020. As WCAG evolves, websites need to follow suit. Ten or fifteen years ago, we may not have needed specific guidelines around touch targets’ CSS pixel sizing, since the mobile user base was relatively small. Now, in our mobile-first landscape, WCAG 2.2 will provide specific minimums. As more technology is created, more issues will be discovered, and more processes will need to be enhanced. The Genuine Perspective We’re learning, too, and just like you, we’re working hard to make sure we know the latest and greatest on accessible web practices. We can help by bringing our insights and experiences to you, and together we can make sites, apps, and products that anyone can use. Are Your Digital Properties Accessible?We design all of our clients’ sites to be accessible with nationally recognized standards and consistently run audits to identify problems and solutions, both short- and long-term. We also help clients implement changes to an existing site, or work to ensure a redesign or new launch meets all standards. While Genuine cannot provide certifications, additional conversations will be identified at the start of a project where certifications are required. If you’re ready for an accessibility audit, or a site redesign, we’re ready to help. Contact us to learn more about our services and expertise. Articles
What are the types of accessibility?Types of Accessibility Issues. Visual (e.g., color blindness). Motor/mobility (e.g., wheelchair-user concerns). Auditory (hearing difficulties). Seizures (especially photosensitive epilepsy). Learning/cognitive (e.g., dyslexia). What is accessibility in web development?Accessibility is the practice of making your websites usable by as many people as possible. We traditionally think of this as being about people with disabilities, but the practice of making sites accessible also benefits other groups such as those using mobile devices, or those with slow network connections.
How do I create a website for disabled users?How to Optimize Your Website for Disabled Users. Add Images with Alt Text. ... . Allow Users to Enlarge Font Sizes. ... . Keep Contrast Sensitivity in Mind. ... . Add Keyboard Navigation. ... . Make Video and Multimedia Accessible. ... . Use Descriptive URLs. ... . Use ARIA Roles. ... . Avoid Using Placeholder Text in Forms.. What accessibility should a website have?One of the cornerstones of an accessible website is keyboard navigation. To be considered accessible, users must be able to navigate your site without a mouse. This is because many assistive technologies depend on keyboard-only navigation. Hitting the Tab key should let you jump to different areas on the page.
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