Accessible JavaScript In Action

In this session, we will examine common Web interactions and explore ways to make them more accessible. We'll investigate different ways people can experience these barriers. We will then present solutions using JavaScript in simple, creative ways.

In this session, we will review accessibility challenges presented by these components:

Modals. We will examine a modal overlay that attempts to reward users with a 50% off coupon. This type of interruption can create a real barrier for people with disabilities.
TypeAhead or Autocomplete. We will review a site search component that attempts to help users complete their entry accurately and allow them to further refine suggested options. We will review the accessibility feature Drupal.announce and demonstrate how providing feedback to users can help them accomplish simple tasks.
Menus. We will evaluate complex menus that contain multiple levels of links. Navigating a multi-level menu or a mega menu can prove to be challenging for keyboard only users.
This session aims to provide practical tips and solutions that will help all users, regardless of their abilities, have equal access to content and functionality.

Speakers
Andrew Olson
Lead Front-End Developer @ Principal Financial Group
Andrew enjoys front-end development and the challenge of making the web accessible for everyone on any device. He has designed and developed dozens of sites for companies specializing in sporting goods, health and wellness, restaurant food service, and more. He is also a talented team leader, photographer, musician, and speaker. Andy is on the Drupal team at his current company, Principal Financial Group. At his previous company, Andy helped create an internal accessibility task force that performs accessibility audits for clients and advocates for accessibility initiatives. He is an organizer for A11yTalks, a monthly meet-up featuring conversations around digital accessibility. Andy remains active in open-source as the co-maintainer of the Live Captioning Initiative, an open-source project that helps hearing-impaired individuals participate at events online or in-person. He is an organizer of the Fox Valley Drupal Meet Up and Midwest Drupal Camp (MidCamp). In addition, Andy is Acquia Certified for Front End Development for Drupal 7 and Drupal 8 and is an approved Acquia Site Studio 6 Site Builder. Andy has a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Iowa. A fun fact about Andy is that he sang in a band at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

https://www.midcamp.org/2023/topic-proposal/accessible-javascript-action

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