Introduction to Web Accessibility and Usability
A two-part webinar series taking place Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16, 2024, starting at 2:30pm Eastern/1:30pm Central/12:30pm Mountain/11:30am Pacific. Each session will last 90 minutes.
Are you concerned that your library's website isn't meeting accessibility standards? That your site doesn’t meet the usability needs of your population? Lawsuits surrounding accessibility failures are increasing, and libraries do not have immunity. This webinar introduces library staff to accessibility and usability and what they mean for libraries legally and conceptually.
In this two-part event, web design and usability expert Laura Solomon will provide concrete first steps you can take to prevent and fix website issues that can significantly impact users with disabilities. You’ll also talk about important usability principles that will help make your site more user-friendly.
After participating in this event, you will:
- Understand the definition of web accessibility and what it applies to
- Know the two main standards for testing web accessibility and the main differences between them
- Have an overview of how the current legal landscape provides an impetus for libraries to take accessibility seriously
- Understand at least three things a library can do to prevent or fix existing accessibility issues on their website
- Understand the fundamental concepts of a heuristic site evaluation
- Understand common problems with navigation, carousels, colors, search, and layout of library sites
- Understand why some elements are inherently problematic and should be avoided
Laura Solomon, MCIW, MLS is the Library Services Manager for the Ohio Public Library Information Network and a W3C-certified front-end web developer. She has been doing web development and design for more than twenty years, in both public libraries and as an independent consultant. She specializes in developing with Drupal. She is a 2010 Library Journal Mover & Shaker. She’s written three books about social media and content marketing, specifically for libraries, and speaks nationally on both these and technology-related topics. As a former children’s librarian, she enjoys bringing the “fun of technology” to audiences and in giving libraries the tools they need to better serve the virtual customer.
This event will be hosted in Zoom. Automatic captions will be enabled for this event. This event will be recorded, and registrants will receive access to the recording within a day after the event ends.
If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.