W3C Accessibility Project - Mike Shebanek & Matt King

The Challenge of Web Accessibility for Screen Reader Users

A significant portion of individuals who are blind or visually impaired rely on screen readers to navigate the internet. However, a surprisingly small number of websites are properly coded to function seamlessly with these assistive technologies.

Despite the existence of global web standards for accessibility – dating back to 1999 – it’s estimated that around 70% of websites remain inaccessible. This raises critical questions about the reasons behind this disparity and, crucially, what steps can be taken to improve the situation.

Introducing a Solution at Sight Tech Global

The upcoming Sight Tech Global event (December 1-2, registration is open now!) will feature a pivotal presentation by Mike Shebanek and Matt King from Facebook.

They will unveil a W3C community project, years in development, designed to address a major technical limitation hindering web accessibility for screen readers. Don't miss this important session at Sight Tech Global.

Screen Readers vs. Web Browsers: A Key Difference

To grasp the technical complexities, it’s useful to compare screen readers with standard web browsers.

For over two decades, web developers have strived for consistency in how browsers interpret and display web code, ensuring a uniform experience across different browsers and devices.

The Importance of Browser Interoperability

Browser developers and other industry stakeholders have invested heavily in establishing standards and building extensive testing infrastructure.

These tests validate the numerous coding agreements that enable the “write once, run everywhere” principle. When code functions identically across different browsers, it’s known as browser interoperability – a cornerstone of the web’s growth.

The Lack of Screen Reader Interoperability

Unfortunately, a comparable level of consensus has never been achieved regarding screen reader interoperability.

Users of screen readers often encounter varying website experiences depending on their specific screen reader, browser, and device. Consequently, developers cannot reliably code and test for all screen reader combinations.

This necessitates difficult trade-offs, as achieving a consistent experience across all screen readers is often impossible. This lack of interoperability makes accessible web development costly and frustrating, and is fundamentally exclusionary.

A Broader Issue: Assistive Technology Inconsistency

The absence of interoperability extends beyond screen readers to encompass all assistive technologies.

This is a significant obstacle to a more inclusive web, contributing to inconsistencies in accessibility quality and hindering the development of automation tools to streamline accessibility for developers and auditors.

The W3C ARIA-AT Community Group: A Collaborative Effort

The W3C ARIA-AT Community Group is actively working to resolve this long-standing problem.

ARIA-AT stands for Accessible Rich Internet Application and Assistive Technology, representing the standards-driven work of W3C experts. Facebook is providing financial support and leadership through Matt King, a technical program manager for Facebook accessibility.

Sight Tech Global: Unveiling the ARIA-AT Project

At Sight Tech Global, Matt King will collaborate with Mike Shebanek and Michael Fairchild from Deque Systems to explain how the ARIA-AT project will significantly advance web accessibility.

The project aims to establish consensus around screen reader behavior expectations and develop the necessary tests, automation technologies, and testing infrastructure to achieve screen reader interoperability.

A Vision for Equitable Web Access

“The ARIA-AT project is realizing a long-held ambition,” states King. “It will transform how we approach web accessibility, making it feasible to create experiences that are as reliable and enjoyable for assistive technology users as they are for everyone else.”

ARIA-AT will provide a crucial foundation for equity for individuals who depend on assistive technologies.

Join Sight Tech Global – A Free Virtual Event

Sight Tech Global is a free, virtual event open to all. Register today to participate.

Meet the Experts

Mike Shebanek and Matt King are highly respected figures in the accessibility community.

Shebanek leads Accessibility at Facebook and played a key role at Apple in the development of VoiceOver, the screen reader integrated into Apple products. King is a technical program manager at Facebook, with prior experience leading enterprise accessibility at IBM.

They will be joined by Michael Fairchild, who co-chairs the W3C ARIA-AT Community Group and serves as a senior accessibility consultant at Deque Systems.

Deeper Dive: ARIA-AT Breakout Session

Recognizing the importance and technical depth of the ARIA-AT project, the Sight Tech Global team has added a breakout session for a more in-depth exploration.

This session will feature King, Fairchild, Sina Bahram from Prime Access Consulting, and Jes Daigle, an engineering manager at Bocoup.

The breakout session will be live, allowing attendees to submit questions through a moderator.

Supporting Accessibility: Vista Center and Sponsors

Sight Tech Global is organized by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

We extend our gratitude to our sponsors: Ford, Yahoo, Google, Humanware, Microsoft, Mojo Vision, Facebook, WordPress, and Vispero. Sponsorship opportunities are available; please contact us for details. All sponsorship revenue benefits the Vista Center, which has served the Silicon Valley area for 75 years.