Adventures in the Digital School
Why Accessibility Matters for Everyone
Imagine playing a game, but each time you go to the next level, the screen gets blurrier, or trying to watch a funny video, but the sound is so quiet you miss the best parts. Pretty annoying, right?
That’s what some people deal with every day online—it’s like a game that’s harder to play or a video that’s tough to enjoy, just because of how it’s set up!
Now imagine if every game and website was made for everyone—no matter their age, tools, or abilities. That’s what Accessibility is all about!
The A11y Cats are on a mission to make sure everyone can enjoy the digital world. As you read, you’ll discover how they solve small problems that make a huge difference. Ready to join them and see how accessibility makes life better for all?
Let’s go!
Meet the A11y Cats
The Meaning Behind Their Names
The A11y Cats are a very special group of friends, each with a unique talent that helps make the digital world easier for everyone. Want to know a secret? Their names aren’t just fun—they actually tell you a little about what they do! Each cat is named after one of the big ideas behind making things accessible.
Perci is a super-smart cat who helps everyone see and hear things online. She adds words to pictures, makes sure videos have captions, and checks colors so they’re easy to read. Perci’s name comes from “Perceivable”—she makes sure everyone can enjoy what’s online, no matter how they see the world!
Ollie is a speedy, clever cat who makes websites easy to use. Whether you’re clicking buttons, using a keyboard, or even talking to your device, Ollie makes sure everything works smoothly. Her name comes from “Operable,” which means you can use websites your way!
Una is a kind and wise cat who loves helping things make sense. He writes clear instructions, keeps words simple, and makes sure every button does what you expect. Una’s name comes from “Understandable” because he loves making websites as easy as reading your favorite story!
Raffi is a brave and adventurous cat who makes sure websites work no matter what! Old computer, new tablet—Raffi’s got you covered. His name comes from “Robust,” which means strong and flexible, just like him. Raffi makes sure the digital world works for everyone!
The A11y Cats follow a special rulebook called the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG (say it like “Wuh-kag”!). It’s their trusty guide to make sure everyone can use the internet, no matter how they get around. With their awesome skills, the A11y Cats make the digital world a fun and friendly place for everyone
Why Focus on These Principles?
The A11y Cats work hard to make the internet fun and easy for everyone to use.
But why do they follow the P.O.U.R. principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust? It’s because these ideas help solve big online problems, like when a video doesn’t have captions or a button is hard to click. And guess what? Fixing these problems isn’t as tricky as it sounds!
Every year, a group called WebAIM out of Utah State University looks at 1 million websites and finds the same simple mistakes over and over—like forgetting to add descriptions to images! With a little know-how (and some help from the A11y Cats), these problems can be fixed quickly to make the digital world better for everyone.
Let’s have a closer look…
Perci works hard to make sure everyone can see and read things online. One big problem she fixes is when websites use colors that make it hard to read the words—like yellow letters on a white background. That’s like trying to read chalk on a sunny sidewalk—super tricky, right? WebAIM found that 86 out of every 100 home pages have this problem! But don’t worry—Perci knows how to fix it by picking better color combinations, making everything easier to read. It’s like magic, but with colors!
Ollie makes sure websites are easy to use for everyone, even if they don’t use a mouse. Some people use a keyboard to move around a website, but sometimes they get stuck—like hitting a dead end in a maze! WebAIM found that this happens on 60 out of every 100 home pages. That’s a big problem for people who can’t use a mouse! Luckily, Ollie knows how to fix this by teaching websites how to play nice with keyboards, so no one gets trapped. It’s like unlocking a secret shortcut for everyone!
Una’s job is to make sure websites are easy to understand. One big problem he fixes is confusing forms—like when a form doesn’t tell you what to type in a box. Imagine being told to “fill this out” but not knowing what “this” is—it’s frustrating, right? WebAIM found that this happens on 54 out of every 100 home pages! But Una knows just what to do: he helps websites add clear labels to forms and buttons, so everyone knows exactly what to do. It’s like adding helpful signs to a treasure map!
Raffi makes sure websites stay strong and work everywhere, even with new tools or old gadgets. WebAIM found that nearly 96 out of 100 home pages have broken code or don’t work well with assistive technologies like screen readers. That’s where Raffi steps in! He helps fix these problems so websites work smoothly on any device and for anyone, no matter how they get online. It’s like making sure everyone can cross a bridge, no matter what vehicle they’re using!
The A11y Cats focus on these four super-important principles to fix problems that make the web tricky for some people to use. The WebAIM report shows that with just a little learning, these problems can be fixed quickly. And when the web is easier for everyone to use, it’s way more fun for all of us!
So, let’s be like the A11y Cats—learn a little, help a lot, and make the internet a place where everyone can play, explore, and have a great time!