Module 7: Accessibility, usability, and design
Readings for Module 7/Week 7 of Class
Required Readings
Reading 1: Chapters 10-13 of Rocket Surgery Made Easy (Course Textbook)
These chapters overview factors that can cause usability problems. They also summarize approaches individuals can use to address such problems and achieve usability in different contexts. As you review these chapters, consider how the concepts they cover could also help address aspects of accessibility.
Reading 2: Accessibility Basics
This entry from the government resource Usability.gov summarizes how to address accessibility when testing the design of different items. It also notes how addressing accessibility is a legal requirement government (and other) institutions must address when creating and sharing information according to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. After you read this entry, review the items listed under the "References and Resources" section of the "Accessibility Basics" page to review other resources on this topic and how the ideas they cover can help guide user testing and design practices.
Reading 3: W3C Accessibility
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international organization whose members collaborate to create guidelines for developing or designing materials for the World Wide Web. The W3C has created guidelines for addressing accessibility and design when developing materials for web-based media, and this entry summarizes these guidelines. The W3C also offers a listing of online tools (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List) for evaluating the accessibility of web-based materials, and review this listing to understand tools available to assess accessibility issues within usability and design.
Reading 4: Integrating Usability and Accessibility
This article from User Experience Magazine explains why it is important to integrate usability practices with ideas of accessibility in the design and testing processes. Additionally, the author provides perspectives that can guide the use of resources such as accessibility statements and accessibility guidelines in relation to such activities. As you read this article, consider how it connects to the other accessibility-related entries we read for this module.
Reading 5: The "A" Word: Accessibility as Part of UX
In this entry from User Experience Magazine, the author provides an additional perspective on integrating usability and accessibility into design and testing processes. She also overviews approaches to guide such activities. As such, this entry exemplifies a structure individuals can use to enact concepts noted in the other readings for this module.
Reading 1: Chapters 10-13 of Rocket Surgery Made Easy (Course Textbook)
These chapters overview factors that can cause usability problems. They also summarize approaches individuals can use to address such problems and achieve usability in different contexts. As you review these chapters, consider how the concepts they cover could also help address aspects of accessibility.
Reading 2: Accessibility Basics
This entry from the government resource Usability.gov summarizes how to address accessibility when testing the design of different items. It also notes how addressing accessibility is a legal requirement government (and other) institutions must address when creating and sharing information according to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. After you read this entry, review the items listed under the "References and Resources" section of the "Accessibility Basics" page to review other resources on this topic and how the ideas they cover can help guide user testing and design practices.
Reading 3: W3C Accessibility
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international organization whose members collaborate to create guidelines for developing or designing materials for the World Wide Web. The W3C has created guidelines for addressing accessibility and design when developing materials for web-based media, and this entry summarizes these guidelines. The W3C also offers a listing of online tools (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List) for evaluating the accessibility of web-based materials, and review this listing to understand tools available to assess accessibility issues within usability and design.
Reading 4: Integrating Usability and Accessibility
This article from User Experience Magazine explains why it is important to integrate usability practices with ideas of accessibility in the design and testing processes. Additionally, the author provides perspectives that can guide the use of resources such as accessibility statements and accessibility guidelines in relation to such activities. As you read this article, consider how it connects to the other accessibility-related entries we read for this module.
Reading 5: The "A" Word: Accessibility as Part of UX
In this entry from User Experience Magazine, the author provides an additional perspective on integrating usability and accessibility into design and testing processes. She also overviews approaches to guide such activities. As such, this entry exemplifies a structure individuals can use to enact concepts noted in the other readings for this module.
Other Module 7/Week 7 Materials
To access other materials for Module 7/Week 7, click on the related link below