As a self-taught web developer, my first impulse whenever I encounter a new concept is to search the Web. There's almost always a blog post or video that explains it in enough detail to help me understand. For the most part, this has been no different for web accessibility.
Using Online Resources
Once I learnt about web accessibility on Mozilla, it was quite easy to find other related posts. I found several excellent posts to expand my knowledge of accessible web development. I learnt to write accessible code with semantic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) elements. I also learnt to test my websites with automated testing tools such as WAVE, axe DevTools and ARC Toolkit. To understand how blind users experience my websites, I learnt to test with NVDA and TalkBack screen readers. I also learnt to enhance the output of screen readers with Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) when there are no HTML alternatives.
Learning from a Great Mentor
As my knowledge of web accessibility grew, I realized that I was lacking an important skill. I didn't know how to perform a manual accessibility audit. I searched the Web but I couldn't find a simple guide on the process of manual accessibility testing. Yet, I knew I had to gain this skill. Manual auditing is the only way to identify all accessibility issues on a website.
So, when Rachele DiTullio posted on LinkedIn that they had created manual accessibility audit videos, I was excited. First, I watched the videos to understand their testing process. Then, I sent them an email requesting their mentorship. They were very receptive and agreed to mentor me. They agreed to provide weekly testing exercises and give feedback on the results. Thus began my journey into manual web accessibility auditing.
The Journey So Far
As I've performed manual accessibility audits, my skill have evolved over time. I've learnt to break down each webpage into smaller sections to test. I'm learning to better interpret the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). I'm learning how WCAG failures impact the web experience of users with disabilities. It's a journey. I'm getting better at it.
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