Improving web accessibility is essential to creating a society where everyone can access web content equally. Web accessibility involves not only designers and developers but also content creators. In this regard, authoring tools play a crucial role. These tools provide a supportive environment that allows users to easily create accessible content, significantly promoting accessibility on the web.
What Are Authoring Tools?
Authoring tools are software and platforms used for creating and editing web content. Examples include word processors, web page editors, blog platforms, and content management systems (CMS). With these tools, even individuals without programming knowledge can easily create and edit web content.
However, if the authoring tools themselves do not support accessibility, the content produced might not meet accessibility standards. Therefore, ensuring that authoring tools facilitate the creation of accessible content is directly linked to improving web accessibility.
Accessibility Requirements for Authoring Tools
Authoring tools must be accessible themselves and make it easy for users to create accessible content. To achieve this, following the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) is recommended. ATAG sets standards to ensure that authoring tools support the creation of accessible content and has two main goals:
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Accessibility of the Authoring Tools Themselves
The tools must be usable by content creators, even if they have disabilities. For instance, the interface should be operable with screen readers for users with visual impairments, and keyboard-only navigation must be supported. -
Support for Creating Accessible Content
Tools should provide guidance and automatic features to help content creators avoid unintentionally compromising accessibility. For example, prompts to add alternative text for images or warnings about insufficient color contrast are essential features.
Examples of Authoring Tools
Various authoring tools exist, each implementing accessibility features in different ways. Below are some prominent examples and their accessibility functionalities.
1. WordPress
WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems (CMS) globally. It offers numerous accessibility-focused themes and plugins that help content creators easily build accessible websites. For example, customizable themes allow users to add alt text to images and ensure keyboard-navigable interfaces.
2. Adobe Dreamweaver
Adobe Dreamweaver is a professional tool for web design and coding. It supports accessibility by helping users create websites that comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by the W3C. Features include prompts for adding labels to form fields and reminders for adding alt text, making it easier for users to build accessible sites.
3. Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint, a widely used presentation tool, also integrates accessibility features. Its “Accessibility Checker” helps users identify and correct accessibility issues in their presentations, such as verifying the reading order for screen readers or checking for adequate contrast between text and background.
Best Practices for Creating Accessible Content
When creating accessible web content, the following points are critical. These are also features that authoring tools should assist with:
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Adding Alternative Text
Setting appropriate alt text for images and multimedia is crucial for users with visual impairments. Authoring tools should provide prompts and easy implementation to streamline this process. -
Checking Contrast
Ensuring sufficient contrast between text and background is essential for readability. Tools that automatically check contrast levels and issue warnings when contrast is insufficient reduce the burden on content creators. -
Testing Keyboard Navigation
Ensuring content is navigable using only a keyboard is an important accessibility standard. Authoring tools that offer keyboard navigation testing features can help prevent accessibility issues before they occur.
Conclusion
Improving web accessibility requires a well-equipped environment in which content creators can use appropriate tools to produce accessible content. By adhering to ATAG and offering features that support the creation of accessible content, authoring tools help pave the way toward a more inclusive digital world, where everyone can access information equally.
These tools are vital for providing a comprehensive web experience for all users. For people with disabilities, well-designed websites are a crucial means of participating in society and accessing information. Therefore, continued attention to the evolution of authoring tools and the enhancement of accessibility will remain important going forward.
We have released the UUU Web Accessibility Widget Tool, designed to make web accessibility easy to implement. This tool helps improve the accessibility of websites quickly and efficiently, even without specialized knowledge.
If you’re interested in enhancing your website’s accessibility, please check out the details. We are here to support you in making your website more user-friendly and accessible to a wider audience.