3 Make content easy to perceive
This chapter covers
- Ensuring sufficient contrast for all types of content
- Verifying that color alone is not used to convey meaningful information
- Establishing accessibility requirements for images
- Describing accessibility requirements for audio and video content
Think about any web app you’ve built, are currently building, or manage, and consider this question:
Can every user access all of your content, whether it’s text, images, audio, video, or graphical elements, regardless of whether they rely on vision, hearing, or touch (such as braille)?
This is a question of making your content available in ways people can actually receive and use. In the previous chapter, we looked at who benefits from accessibility and the fundamental techniques and technologies that support it. That foundation leads us to a core accessibility principle: content must be perceivable. People have different needs, and access content in different ways. The goal is not to create multiple solutions or experiences, but to engineer content that works for everyone – regardless of permanent, temporary, or situational limitations. Whether your content is formatted text, images, audio, or video, it must be presented in ways that work across different sensory channels, contexts of use, devices, browsers, and assistive technologies.
We'll examine common pitfalls that prevent users from perceiving content and introduce practical principles for avoiding them.