HighEdWeb, the association for digital professionals in higher education, offers unique opportunities for you to expand your knowledge alongside a diverse group of higher-ed digital experts. DubBot, a supporter of HighEdWeb since 2018, is proud...
Social media has become an integral part of our lives, connecting us with friends, family, and communities. However, navigating these platforms can often be challenging for individuals with disabilities. Creating accessible social media content...
Hey there, DubBot fans! Want to show off your love for DubBot? We've got just the thing for you! Complete this short web form, and we'll send you a free DubBot sticker..or two! It's a small token of appreciation for being part of the DubBot...
In our recent blog post, "The Accessible PDF: Techniques for Creating a Document Everyone Can Use," we discussed the essential characteristics of an accessible PDF document: Proper Structure Readable and Searchable Text ALT Text Logical...
What is Tabindex? "The tabindex global attribute allows developers to make HTML elements focusable, allow or prevent them from being sequentially focusable (usually with the Tab key, hence the name), and determine their relative ordering for...
The decisions designers make regarding colors, spacing, fonts, etc., directly impact the accessibility and inclusivity of the websites they design. Accessibility is crucial for website designers. This checklist offers practical...
As accessibility considers users with disabilities, website performance considers devices and connection speeds. Optimizing for performance is critical to creating a genuinely accessible online experience. What is Website Performance? Website...
If your organization wants to redesign its website, don’t forget to include DubBot in your tool kit. The accessibility testing capabilities can be incorporated from the start, including for secure development environments. Just...
Accessibility audits are a vital first step in creating digital experiences that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability. What is an Accessibility Audit? An accessibility audit is a comprehensive evaluation of your digital platforms and...
College is a time of growth, independence, and new experiences. However, for students with disabilities, navigating the accommodation process can be a journey marked by unique challenges and opportunities. According to the Postsecondary National...
As technology continues to integrate into the learning experience, it's imperative that all students, regardless of ability, have equal access to digital resources and information. Digital accessibility is a critical issue that higher education...
Why does math need to be accessible? Watch this video, and you will see and hear why. We rely heavily on numbers to communicate and share ideas every day. From cultural traditions to financial planning, medicine to law, numbers are everywhere...
Ignoring website accessibility can come with a hefty price tag, both financially and in terms of reputation. According to "The WebAIM Million," WebAIM's 2024 report on the accessibility of 1,000,000 homepages, "95.9% of home pages...
Toggle switches are the digital equivalent of a physical on / off switch. They're used everywhere, from online exams to mobile apps. One of the most recognized uses of toggle switches is your operation system or browser's preference page(s). For...
Once again, our clients have brought us their ideas and suggestions, and we’ve put them into action. Page Sets now have two new functionalities. These include filtering pages based on their title and excluding content based on a set of...
Yesterday, Tuesday, July 30, was the HighEdWeb Accessibility Summit. I attended a poster session titled "Designing, developing, and testing accessible web carousels," presented by Michael Bolton from Carnegie and Alayna Setterlind from Carnegie...
Focus indicators help users who rely on a keyboard or assistive technology to navigate a page. They help users know exactly where they are within a digital document or webpage and make navigating with a keyboard easier, just like a...
Do you ever wonder if the new software, app, or online help documentation you're considering is accessible to everyone? An Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) is a tool that promotes inclusivity by telling you how well a product meets...
PDFs can offer stability, portability, and a clean presentation for documents across many platforms. But let's face it: PDFs are not everyone's friend. A PDF can present significant challenges in accessing information for people relying on...
QR codes are powerful tools because they combine the simple design of QR codes with the prevalence of smartphones. Instead of typing out a potentially long and complicated URL, users can scan the code with their phone's camera. This saves time and...
What Are Landmarks? HTML landmarks are like major landmarks in a big city—the park, the library, the capital building—instantly recognizable areas or buildings that serve a specific purpose. Landmarks identify specific...
WCAG won't just be for websites anymore. WCAG 3 will address the accessibility of web content on desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, wearable devices, and other Internet-of-things devices. WCAG 3 will apply to various types of web...
Imagine a potential client or student visiting your website, eager to learn more, but their experience is hindered by the low contrast between background and text or the fact that they can't navigate your site with a keyboard. A website experience...
Fireworks may have just faded, and the barbecues are still smoldering, but the spirit of independence is far from over. While we celebrate the United States' independence on July 4th, let's not forget another vital day for equality just around the...
Jared Smith, Associate Director of WebAIM, has stated, "There is not a best typeface or font." Alas, it's a hard truth. However, some fonts have characteristics that make them more accessible than others, and there are pro tips you can follow to...
Creating accessible forms is not just a choice; it's a necessity. Many seemingly simple web forms can pose significant challenges for users with disabilities. This blog will guide you through some fundamental principles that will help you craft...
Have you ever clicked a button and felt like you've entered the digital abyss? No spinning wheel, no progress bar, just... silence. Frustrating, right? That frustration can be caused by a lack of or an inaccessible progress...
Inclusive and accessible design are both essential in creating usable digital experiences for a broader range of people. However, they differ in their approach. Accessible Design Accessible design addresses discriminatory aspects related to...
Note: The information and guidelines presented in this blog post are for non-interactive data visualizations. Who doesn't love a good pie chart or bar graph? I'll tell you who: someone who's color blind or uses a screen...
If your campus or organization runs on Google tools like Workspace and Chrome, you might already be familiar with the array of Google products designed to make everyone's work day (or fun day!) even better. In this blog, we'll examine some of...
Abbreviations and acronyms like "LOL" (laughing out loud or lots of love) and "ETA" (estimated time of arrival) are everywhere in communication, from texting to work emails. While they're handy for saving time and making things shorter, they can...
Strong foundations lead to exceptional user experiences. In website design and development, that foundation is your page structure. A well-defined page structure dictates how easily users navigate and engage with your content. What is Page...
Any image that conveys relevant, meaningful context should have ALT text. The details of the ALT text will depend on the context of the image and the content creator. And there are times when ALT text, to be truly effective, should include...
Web governance aims to ensure that content meets the brand, quality, and accessibility requirements defined by your organization. According to Georgy Cohen, Director of Digital Strategy at OHO Interactive (a valued DubBot partner!), it’s...
Thursday, May 16th, DubBot and our partner Lullabot co-hosted "Web Accessibility Q&A: Simplicity, Testing, and Remediation," which featured a fantastic panel of accessibility professionals from Iowa's Department for the Blind, Lullabot, ...
Are persistent cookie consent pop-ups hindering your website's accessibility scan? These notifications can be annoying and prevent you from reading page-level reports, leading to a poor user experience. The following screenshot showcases an...
This summer, we're thrilled to sponsor two key events dedicated to advancing accessibility in education. Each is a valuable stop on your accessibility road trip. The first stop is the UnConference, which takes place on May 31 from 9...
Content marketers churn out a lot of content, striving to balance originality and brand consistency while adhering to the organization's style guide. Content creation has many moving parts, but Custom Policies can make that process easier. I took...
Wow! What a great #GAAD webinar! Thursday, May 16th, DubBot and our partner Lullabot co-hosted "Web Accessibility Q&A: Simplicity, Testing, and Remediation," which featured a fantastic panel of accessibility professionals from...
Have you ever thought about how you navigate the world around you? For many, daily tasks like using a website or entering a building are seamless experiences. However, that is not the case for the estimated 1.3 billion people who experience...
Another client-inspired feature update. Users with administrative rights will now see a new report added to their dashboard. The Ignored Issues Report. The Ignored Issues downloadable CSV shows the following information: Timestamp...
Keep an eye on your DubBot scores! You might notice some improvements in the next few days. Why? We listened to client feedback and updated our site scoring calculation formula. Once there are fewer than 20 issues per page, every time...
An important aspect of an accessible website is providing different ways for users to find what they need. Site maps and site search are two helpful tools for achieving this. Sitemaps Although an HTML sitemap is not required to comply with WCAG...
On Thursday, April 24, 2024, "The Department of Justice ("Department") issued its final rule revising the regulation implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") to establish specific requirements, including the adoption of...
Third-party applications can offer everything from enhanced productivity tools to on-demand entertainment. But what happens when these add-ons create unintended consequences? While third-party applications can enhance functionality, they can...
In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Lullabot and DubBot are co-hosting a webinar to help you make your website more accessible to everyone. Join us May 16 at 1 p.m. EDT for "Web Accessibility Q&A: Simplicity, Testing, and...
This blog series, Development & Testing for Diverse Abilities, will explore the needs of users with auditory, cognitive, visual, and mobility impairments and equip you with the knowledge and tools to create digital experiences that are more...
This blog series, Development & Testing for Diverse Abilities , will explore the needs of users with auditory, cognitive, visual, and mobility impairments and equip you with the knowledge and tools to create digital experiences that are...
This blog series, Development & Testing for Diverse Abilities, will explore the needs of users with auditory, cognitive, visual, and mobility impairments and equip you with the knowledge and tools to create digital experiences that are...
This blog series, Development & Testing for Diverse Abilities , will explore the needs of users with auditory, cognitive, visual, and mobility impairments and equip you with the knowledge and tools to create digital experiences that are...
If you or your organization are looking to hire an accessibility professional, you’ll need to have a solid understanding of your organization's accessibility goals to choose a candidate with the appropriate expertise. This blog post...
Disclaimer: Legal Information and General Disclaimer This blog post contains general information only and is not intended as legal advice. It is based on our understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing and is subject to...
Guess who’s coming to town? That’s right! EvolveDrupal is heading to Atlanta! DubBot is proud to be a sponsor of this outstanding event hosted by our client and partner, Evolving Web. DubBot’s VP of Client...
In 2022, we introduced the Beginner's Guide for Manual and Automated Accessibility Testing, which was developed by our team of accessibility specialists. When the checklist was published, it covered every success criterion included in the WCAG...
A false positive in accessibility testing occurs when an accessibility test detects a barrier that is not actually present. False positives can occur for several reasons and under different circumstances. A purely decorative image is one of the...
Have you ever unintentionally clicked the wrong button or struggled to hit the right link on a website or mobile app? You’re not alone. Trying to tap those tiny buttons on my phone with my fat fingers – it's like playing that...
New with WCAG 2.2 is WCAG 3.2.6, Consistent Help (Level A). This criterion ensures that when providing users with a help mechanism on your website, it is located consistently in the same relative location unless the user initiates a...
You may not realize this, but about 10% of the people visiting your website could have dyslexia. Still, others may struggle with cognitive or learning disabilities that make reading words and sentences difficult. Turns out, the average reading...
Institution Overview Providence College is a private Catholic university in Providence, Rhode Island. Offering 47 undergraduate majors and 17 graduate programs, the current total student population is 4,756, which includes undergraduate,...
We believe embedding accessibility standards and testing into the development process is the most efficient approach to creating an accessible website. Many of DubBot's clients, agencies in particular, use automated and manual testing consistently...
DubBot administrators can now see a new option, Account History, in the Settings panel. Account History allows administrators a centralized location to view account-wide events with a timestamp for when the event occurred. The events are...
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new Learning Center! This resource is now available to clients by simply creating a username and password for individual users. If your organization already subscribes to DubBot, you can add...
We have added RSS feeds to our blog and blog categories! This came directly from a client request! Stay up to date, and don’t miss a single post! https://dubbot.com/dubblog/index.xml
In the spirit of curating end-of-year numbers, the DubBot engineers ran a query on all the accessibility issues encountered by our clients in 2023. Here's the top-ten list with a side of recommendations and best practices. #1 Links with the same...
One often overlooked yet crucial element in web accessibility is discernible text in links. In this blog post, we'll consider the significance of having discernible text in links, explore why it is essential for an inclusive online experience, and...
'Tis the season for holiday travel. Whether it's by air, land, or sea, traveling with a disability can be a challenge. Here are three stories from three travelers with disabilities. The Truth About Traveling While Disabled...
Missing images not only compromise the aesthetic appeal of your website but can also hinder your SEO. Excessively large images can have an adverse effect on your website performance. Get ready to take control, as DubBot will soon empower you to...
On November 16, I posted a blog titled Error Messages and Making Them Accessible. Today’s blog is about best practices to help you help your users actively avoid those errors. Similar to initiating accessibility testing at the outset...
Three jobs in higher education. Disability Services Coordinator - Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, FLThis Disability Services Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day operations of disability services, supporting students...
Ensuring that all users can engage with online content regardless of their abilities is a top priority. One solution that has gained more recent traction is using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate alternative text, or ALT text, ...
Celebrating those setting the trend in digital inclusivity On October 26, Adobe released a blog post introducing a distinguished group of individuals referred to as "Leaders of Accessibility," highlighting them as trendsetters in the...
DubBot brings you an exciting addition to your testing arsenal: the ability to configure the viewport used for testing and previewing your website for a more customized evaluation of your content within DubBot. Viewports play a significant role...
Three upcoming accessibility conferences. Mark your calendars for 2024. axe-con, February 20-22, 2024 - online Save the date! The world’s largest digital accessibility conference is back. With the success of axe-con...
5 Tips for a Sensory-Friendly Thanksgiving This Thanksgiving, address your or your loved one’s needs by planning for the holiday with sensory-friendly adaptations, favorite food substitutions, and mindful moments to de-stress....
The team at DubBot would like to take a moment to thank Mike Miles and the NEDSummit and NEDCamp organizers for their hospitality and the opportunity for our own Penny Kronz to participate as the keynote speaker at the recent #NEDSummit. This...
I was working through some broken link issues on a friend's website when it occurred to me. What do all these error messages mean? For example: HTTP_400: Bad Request - did I forget to say please? HTTP_403: Forbidden - now I really want to...
In a world where software companies try to be everything to everybody, we’ve taken a different approach at DubBot. Instead, we prioritize simplicity in our approach, recognizing that end users avoid overly complex...
Three accessibility job opportunities in higher education. Assistive Technology Coordinator - Towson University, Towson, MD Coordinates accommodations involving assistive technology software and hardware and alternative text conversions...
If you are a veteran in crisis or you know a veteran who is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988, then Press 1. The signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, marked the official end...
It's election day! Get out there and vote! Let your voice be heard! The Blind Voter's Guide to VotingThe Help America Vote Act (HAVA) was signed into law on October 29, 2002, to address the problems during the 2000 presidential election. One of...
By now, many of you have heard that WCAG Success Criteria (SC) 4.1.1, Parsing (Level A) has been removed from WCAG 2.2. Even though 4.1.1 is no longer a rule per WCAG 2.2, DubBot has not removed that rule from our test bank. We have left the...
Three times when accessibility was done wrong. 2.4.11: Adversarial Conformance HAL, the UI designer, can claim that it followed WCAG even though it’s clear that HAL expended effort on minimally conforming while negative...
For web accessibility experts, decorative images are a familiar and often debated topic. The question that often arises is whether ALT text should be applied to decorative images. To answer this, we first need to define what...
Three ways to help everyone have a Happy Halloween. Ditch the strobe lights, scary sounds, and loud music. Loud or frightening noises and bright flashing lights can cause big problems for trick-or-treaters with sensory processing issues,...
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have long served as the gold standard for making the web inclusive. In the world of web accessibility, the recent release of WCAG 2.2 as a recommendation represents a significant milestone. While...
Three techniques to help you meet three of the WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria. Technique G219: Ensuring that an alternative is available for dragging movements that operate on content This Technique aims to ensure that people with motor impairments...
I’m thrilled to announce that our own Penny Kronz will present as a keynote speaker at The New England Drupal Camp conference on November 17. Penny will share her expertise in Web Governance strategy...
Memes have become a powerful medium for communication, humor, and expression. However, understanding the humor or message conveyed by a meme can be challenging for individuals with visual impairments. That's where ALT text and image descriptions...
Digital Accessibility Specialist - College of Engineering, UC Berkeley (2-year contract position) Reporting to Berkeley Engineering's web director, this position identifies all websites, web applications, social media, learning...
So simple, yet so brilliant! George Mason University (GMU) leveraged the Trusted Tester Conformance Test Process Certification, TTV5, creating a cohort of accessibility specialists and advocates.Provided by The Department of Homeland Security, the...
Deep links are shortcuts that send users directly to precise locations within an application, bypassing the need to navigate through the application. These clever links streamline the user experience by making sharing information easier from one...
WCAG 2.2 is here! Today, October 5, 2023, WCAG 2.2 is officially live! We have been following the evolution of this update closely, and we are excited to see the final version of these guidelines, which include nine new Success...
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This is a time to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and to work towards creating a more inclusive workforce. By raising awareness of employment...
Looking back on the history of dark mode, anyone can see it has come a long way from the old cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors that displayed green text on a black background. It has evolved over time, driven by both practical considerations and...
Three professional development opportunities about accessibility. WordPress Accessibility Day 2023, September 27-28, Livestream, FreeWordPress Accessibility Day is a 24-hour global event dedicated to promoting and learning...
Dark mode, or dark theme or night mode, is a display setting for digital user interfaces. It means that, instead of the default dark text on a light background, the user sees light-colored text against a dark or black background. "The idea behind...
Three A11Y tips for a better web experience. Understanding Page Structure Pages with a clear structure and hierarchy are easy for people to understand. A good structure helps people navigate through content, find what they're looking...
Recently, an article from HubSpot titled "Website Accessibility: 25 Statistics that Prove It Matters" was shared with me by a colleague. It's chock-full of solid, research-based facts and figures on why accessibility really does matter. The...
Three jobs edition. Accessibility Specialist - W3C / MIT (Temporary)The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) seeks a full-time staff member to work on digital accessibility standards and supporting materials. The Accessibility Specialist will...
What is assistive technology? Assistive technology ensures that individuals with disabilities can interact with websites and digital content effectively. The types of assistive technology needed to interact with a website can vary depending on...
