Welcome to Missing Link Accessibility, where we make things that work for everyone. As Tim Berners-Lee said, 'The power of the web is in its universality.' Accessibility isn't just for users with disabilities, it benefits everyone. This is my site where I'll explain how to get to accessible as well as why you need to.
My philosophy is represented graphically by logo I designed for this site. Let's break it down and I'll explain how I put it together. A common icon used for accessible content on the web is a stick figure of a human with it's arms out. This can be used to represent us all, either as users with different levels of ability or as a content creator looking for ways to get our content to as many people as possible.
What would the internet be without links? Without pages connected to one another, there would be no internet. The second element of my icon is a simple variation on a common link icon. Usually depicted as two or three links of a chain. In my logo we have two different links with the arms of the accessible human linking them together.
So in my depiction, we represent any user benefitting from accessibility. Either as the creator who utilizes accessibility to ensure everyone can access their art or information, or as the user who is able to use the accessible ways information is provided and completing that link.
Per
ceiv
able
Oper
able
Under
stand
able
Robust
The Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) is an advanced certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) that combines both the CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) and the WAS (Web Accessibility Specialist) credentials. It demonstrates a professional's in-depth knowledge of accessibility standards, technical skills in implementing accessible web solutions, and the ability to manage and evaluate digital accessibility across various platforms.
The CPACC that validates a comprehensive understanding of accessibility standards, principles, and best practices. It covers a broad range of topics, including the fundamentals of disability, accessibility-related laws and regulations, and universal design principles.
The WAS certification focuses on the technical skills needed to implement, evaluate, and manage web accessibility. It covers in-depth knowledge of web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG), accessibility testing techniques, and the ability to remediate accessibility issues across various digital platforms.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of internationally recognized standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines provide specific criteria for improving accessibility in areas such as text alternatives, keyboard navigation, and visual design, ensuring that digital content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
The Web Accessibility Initiative - Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) is a technical specification developed by the W3C to improve the accessibility of dynamic web content and user interface components. WAI-ARIA provides a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to enhance the accessibility of interactive features, making them more usable for people who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers.
HTML supports good accessibility by providing semantic elements, such as headings, lists, and form labels, which help structure content in a way that is understandable and navigable by assistive technologies.
CSS enhances accessibility by enabling the separation of content from visual presentation, allowing users to customize how they view web content without affecting the underlying structure or meaning.
JavaScript can improve accessibility by creating dynamic, interactive elements, but it must be implemented carefully to ensure that all functionality is accessible via keyboard and assistive technologies.
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