In this practical and actionable talk presented at WebExpo 2024 in Prague, Ondřej Pohl shed light on the challenging yet essential journey of creating accessible websites. He drew from experiences collaborating with high-profile organisations such as the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, MONETA Money Bank, and the Government of the Czech Republic. The crux of his presentation revolved around recognising and addressing the bridge between expectations and the reality of accessibility in web development.
The planning phase: Compliance versus usability
Outside the confines of mere compliance, Ondřej’s discourse is initiated by examining the planning phase of accessibility projects. One of the initial expectations is that “accessible equals fulfilling the legal requirements.” However, he asserted that “the reality is that you need to go above and beyond the legislation to have a truly accessible and usable solution.” This highlights a significant misconception prevalent within many organisations that legal compliance alone ensures usability for all users.
Another common misconception is that simply quoting a website’s URL is enough to estimate the cost of making it accessible. This is akin to estimating the cost of repairing a car based on a photo. In reality, as he explained, multiple factors come into play. The expertise of the team, the scope of the project, and the available resources all influence the overall cost, making accurate estimation a complex process.
Perhaps one of the unfortunate realities he stressed was the idea that accessibility could be achieved cheaply or automatically. “Making something accessible requires a lot of time, significant effort, time-and-resources and cannot be fully automated.” This moment should serve as a wake-up call, as it dismantled the notion that accessibility can be implemented as a mere add-on rather than an integral part of the design process. And on that very topic, Lukáš Hosnedl will be presenting Killing accessibility with one line of code: The danger of accessibility overlays explained at WebExpo 2025.
Training for all: Skills development and retention
The conversation then moved to the training stage, a crucial element in developing accessibility proficiency within design and development teams. Here, Ondřej pointed out a frequent misunderstanding: “The expectation a lot of time is that they will be able to do everything by their own after the accessibility training.” However, it is important to establish realistic assumptions when it comes to skill development.
The reality, as he articulated, is that expertise in accessibility takes years of experience to cultivate. “A few hours of training won’t make you an accessibility expert,” he stated emphatically, reinforcing the importance of continuous learning and hands-on practice. He further brought up the challenge of retention, revealing that “most people will remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see and 50% of what they see and hear, and 90% of what they do.” These statistics emphasise the necessity of interactive and practical training sessions, ensuring that teams can truly apply what they learn.
Guiding hands: The role of supervision in accessibility
Supervision emerged as a crucial theme in Ondřej’s presentation. He then turned to the expectations surrounding accessibility oversight after training. One amusing assumption he shared was that meaningful guidance could be provided in just a few hours. In reality, teams often need over 150 hours of structured support to develop the necessary understanding and competencies for building accessible websites.
Another insight involved the understanding that “after one round of providing feedback, it is done.” Instead, Ondřej illustrated that there are often multiple rounds of feedback needed to resolve only half of the identified issues, a process that can be frustrating for teams but is vital in guaranteeing accessibility standards are met.
The role of design and development in accessibility
As Ondřej progressed into the practical aspects of design and development, his insights became more tangible. He illustrated common design issues, such as low contrast input outlines and using placeholders as the only input labels, mentioning the barriers these create for users with disabilities.
For instance, he demonstrated how low contrast can lead to significant accessibility problems, particularly for users with low vision. He exclaimed, “not every disability is our permanent, you can be outside in direct sunlight”, thereby showing that accessibility considerations must encompass real-world scenarios that extend beyond the typical office-environment user experience. After all, that is where websites are mostly tested.
In the development phase, Ondřej expanded on the need for clear communication and understanding between the design and development teams. He shared that visually hidden interactive elements should not be focusable, warning, “You should always allow a user to interact with the things that are visible on the display.” This reinforced the idea that accessibility must be considered holistically throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Finding clarity in content creation
Finally, in addressing the content phase, Ondřej showcased some recurring issues, including the infamous “karaoke style captions”, and Ondřej didn’t mince his words. He warned that “karaoke captions visually distract users and could be overwhelming”, drawing attention to the importance of considering different learning styles and preferences when creating accessible content.
Further to that, he emphasised the necessity of alternative text for images, remarking on the barriers created by missing or empty alt text. A screen reader cannot describe what it cannot read. This highlights the importance of comprehensive content strategies that consider users with diverse access needs.
Key takeaways for a more accessible future
Concluding his talk, Ondřej encapsulated the primary ideas into succinct takeaways. He urged participants to remember that compliance with accessible standards does not guarantee usability. Moreover, “Don’t settle for the first legally compliant solution; strive for the best.” Through these statements, he called for a cultural shift within organisations to prioritise inclusivity over mere compliance.
For those interested in a more comprehensive overview of creating accessible websites, Ondřej’s engaging presentation provides a wealth of information. A recording of this insightful talk, accompanied by presentation slides, is available for viewing at the bottom of this blog post.
And by the way, we couldn’t have been happier that we’ve invited him back for WebExpo 2025. Check his new talk out right here.