Accessibility on the Web: Principles and Standards

Name: Accessibility on the Web: Principles and Standards
Rating: 3.5 (1 reviews)

Learn WCAG, ARIA, and practical techniques to create, evaluate, and improve accessible web experiences.

Created byCaio Sousa

Last updated 8/2026

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Understand the fundamentals of web accessibility and why it matters for people using the Web.
Identify common accessibility barriers and understand how they can affect users with different needs and disabilities.
Understand the role of accessibility standards and guidelines in creating more inclusive web experiences.
Explain the fundamentals of WCAG, including its principles, guidelines, and conformance levels.
Understand accessibility considerations that go beyond WCAG and recognize the broader context of inclusive web experiences.
Apply practical techniques to build more accessible web content using semantic HTML and appropriate web elements.
Understand how ARIA can be used to improve the accessibility of interactive and dynamic web content.
Use common accessibility testing approaches to identify potential accessibility issues in websites and web applications.

Course content

3 sections • 9 lectures • 46m total length

What Is Web Accessibility?7:25
In this module, we introduce the fundamental concepts of web accessibility and explore why accessibility is essential for creating inclusive digital experiences.
In this module, you’ll learn:
What web accessibility means
Different types of disabilities and limitations
Why web accessibility matters
Accessibility vs. usability
What inclusive access means
Common accessibility barriers on the web
How design and development choices can affect people with disabilities
Understanding Users and Barriers5:37
Understanding Users and Barriers
In this module, we explore how different people interact with the web and why some websites and applications can create barriers that prevent users from accessing information and completing tasks.
In this module, you'll learn:
Different Types of Disabilities
Understand visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and neurological disabilities and how they can affect the way people use the web.
Different Types of Limitations
Explore permanent, temporary, and situational limitations that can affect how people interact with digital content.
Common Accessibility Barriers
Identify common barriers such as missing alternative text, poor color contrast, keyboard inaccessibility, inaccessible forms, and complex navigation.
Assistive Technologies
Learn about tools that help people access and interact with digital content, including screen readers, screen magnification, alternative input, voice control, and switch devices.
Why Accessibility Matters3:44
In this module, you'll learn:
Equal Access to Information and Services
Better User Experience
Legal and Organizational Responsibilities
Accessibility as Part of Good Web Development

Introduction to Accessibility Standards2:52
In this module, you'll learn why accessibility standards exist and how they help create more inclusive digital experiences.
You'll learn:
What accessibility standards are
Why standards are important
The difference between standards and best practices
How accessibility should be considered throughout the development lifecycle
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)2:47
In this module, you'll learn what WCAG is and how it provides a framework for creating more accessible web content.
You'll learn:
? What WCAG covers
? Why WCAG is important
? The four WCAG principles: POUR
? WCAG conformance levels: A, AA, and AAA
Accessibility Beyond WCAG4:28
In this module, you'll explore why accessibility goes beyond simply meeting WCAG requirements.
You'll learn:
How organizational accessibility policies define expectations
How laws and regulations can influence accessibility requirements
Why accessibility should be part of the entire development lifecycle
Examples of accessibility laws and regulations beyond WCAG

Building Accessible Web Content4:27
You'll explore key accessibility practices, including:
Using meaningful HTML structure
Creating clear headings and organized content
Writing descriptive links and using buttons correctly
Providing meaningful alternative text for images
Building accessible forms and controls
Using sufficient color contrast
Making multimedia more accessible with captions and other alternatives
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)8:06
In this module, you'll learn how ARIA helps make modern web applications more accessible, especially when standard HTML alone cannot communicate everything an assistive technology needs to know.
You'll explore:
What ARIA is and why it exists
Roles, states, and properties
The first rule of ARIA: use native HTML whenever possible
When and how to use ARIA effectively
How ARIA works with assistive technologies
The accessibility tree and how browsers expose information to assistive technologies
Accessibility Testing7:24
In this module, you'll learn how to test websites and applications for accessibility barriers and understand why different testing methods are needed.
You'll explore:
Automated testing — Using tools to identify common accessibility issues.
Manual testing — Reviewing and interacting with content to find issues automated tools may miss.
Assistive technology

Requirements

No prior knowledge of web accessibility is required.
Basic familiarity with websites and web applications is recommended.
Basic knowledge of HTML is helpful for understanding the practical examples, but is not required.
Students should have access to a modern web browser to follow along with the examples and accessibility testing demonstrations.

Description

The Web is an essential part of everyday life, providing access to information, services, education, communication, and opportunities. But not everyone can access and use websites in the same way.

Accessibility on the Web: Principles and Practice introduces the fundamental concepts, standards, and practices needed to create more accessible and inclusive web experiences.

In this course, you will learn how people with different disabilities and accessibility needs can encounter barriers when using websites and web applications. You will explore why web accessibility matters and how developers, designers, and technology professionals can help remove these barriers.

The course covers accessibility standards and guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), its core principles, and conformance levels. You will also explore accessibility considerations that go beyond WCAG and gain a broader understanding of inclusive web experiences.

You will then move from principles to practice, learning how to:

Understand common accessibility barriers on the Web
Apply fundamental web accessibility principles
Understand WCAG and its role in accessible web development
Build more accessible web content using semantic HTML and appropriate web elements
Understand ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) and when it can be used
Recognize common accessibility problems in web interfaces
Use accessibility testing techniques to identify potential issues
Apply accessibility concepts when evaluating websites and web applications

Throughout the course, the focus is on understanding why accessibility matters, not simply memorizing guidelines.

Whether you are a web developer, software engineer, designer, student, or technology professional, this course provides a practical foundation for understanding accessibility and creating a more inclusive Web.

No prior knowledge of web accessibility is required.

Who this course is for:

Anyone interested in creating more accessible and inclusive websites and web applications.
Web designers and UX/UI designers who want to incorporate accessibility into their design decisions and workflows.
Students and researchers in web development who want to learn accessibility from the fundamentals
Professionals who want to understand WCAG and identify common accessibility barriers in websites and web applications.
Frontend developers who want to learn about accessible web content, WCAG, and ARIA.

Accessibility on the Web: Principles and Standards

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction to Web Accessibility3 lectures • 17min

Accessibility Standards & Guidelines3 lectures • 10min

Accessibility on the Web3 lectures • 20min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: