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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Bad Web Design and Inaccessibility: This is What Poor AODA Consideration Looks Like

Welcome to our demonstration of poor AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) consideration. This page highlights common accessibility issues that can hinder users with disabilities, showcasing the importance of adhering to AODA standards to ensure an inclusive and accessible web experience for everyone.

Example of Poor AODA Consideration

1. Poor Alt-Text for Images

  • Problem: Images on the page do not have descriptive alt text.
  • Impact: Long and unhelpful alt-text becomes very tiresome for visually impaired users, leaving them with far too much information that does not serve a helpful purpose.

In this image, which is a picture, a young woman sits at a table by herself. She is typing on a MacBook laptop. She has dark and beside her on the table sits her notebook and other items to help her complete her work

2. Poor Colour Contrast

  • Problem: Text and background colours do not have sufficient contrast.
  • Impact: Users with visual impairments or colour blindness struggle to read the content, making the information inaccessible.

Information Box Group

This is a great example of very poor colour contrast. The words become unreadable and those with visual challenges cannot engage with the content.

This is a great example of very poor colour contrast. The words become unreadable and those with visual challenges cannot engage with the content.

3. Non-Descriptive Links

  • Problem: Links are labeled with generic text like “click here” or “read more.”
  • Impact: Users relying on screen readers cannot determine the purpose of the links, leading to confusion and inefficiency.

Click here. Click the link. Click this link. Get more info. Find out more. More info. More here. Click here to learn more. 

4. No Keyboard Accessibility

  • Problem: Interactive elements like buttons and menus are not accessible via keyboard.
  • Impact: Users who cannot use a mouse are unable to navigate the site, preventing them from accessing content and features.

5. Missing Captions and Transcripts

  • Problem: Videos lack captions and audio content does not have transcripts.
  • Impact: Hearing-impaired users miss out on audio information, and those who cannot watch videos are left without alternatives.

Inconsistent Navigation

6. Inconsistent Navigation

  • Problem: Navigation menus are not consistent across pages.
  • Impact: Users with cognitive disabilities find it difficult to navigate the site, leading to a poor user experience.

Click this button

Learn More

6. Inconsistent Navigation

  • Problem: Navigation menus are not consistent across pages.
  • Impact: Users with cognitive disabilities find it difficult to navigate the site, leading to a poor user experience.

 

7. Complex Language

  • Problem: Content is written in complex language without clear explanations.
  • Impact: Users with cognitive disabilities or those who are not fluent in the language struggle to understand the content.

Individuals endowed with cognitive impairments or those who exhibit a deficiency in linguistic proficiency pertaining to the medium of communication employed herein are predisposed to encountering substantial and multifaceted challenges in the comprehension and assimilation of the presented material. The intricate nature of the content, compounded by the esoteric terminology and convoluted syntactic structures, exacerbates the cognitive load, thereby impeding their ability to decode and internalize the information effectively. Consequently, this demographic is subjected to an elevated risk of misinterpretation and informational disenfranchisement, further entrenching the barriers to equitable access and understanding.

Moreover, the labyrinthine complexity of the language utilized, replete with arcane vocabulary and prolix sentence constructions, serves to further obfuscate the intended message, rendering it increasingly inaccessible to those with cognitive limitations or limited language proficiency. This exacerbation of cognitive strain not only hampers their ability to engage with the content meaningfully but also perpetuates a cycle of exclusion and marginalization. The resultant cognitive overload, stemming from the necessity to navigate through dense and impenetrable text, significantly undermines their capacity to extract pertinent information and derive meaningful insights. Thus, the intricate and inaccessible nature of the content stands as a formidable barrier to comprehension, perpetuating a state of informational inequity and disenfranchisement for these individuals.