May 2013
March 2013
A complete guide to web accessibility for content authors | Access iQ
by MoniqueA practical resource for content authors that shows you how to comply with WCAG 2.0. Each topic explains what you need to do, why you need to do it and how to do it in easy-to-understand language.
February 2013
January 2013
The Importance Of HTML5 Sectioning Elements | Smashing Coding
by MoniqueMake no mistake: Sectioning elements help you improve document structure, and they’re in the spec’ to stay. Once and for all, I will be exploring the problems these elements solve, the opportunities they offer and their important but misunderstood contribution to the semantic Web.
The ULTIMATE GUIDE to logo design: 25 expert tips | Graphic design | Creative Bloq
by MoniqueFollow these pro tips and create your best ever logo design. Paul Wyatt reveals everything you need to know to improve your designs.
website dimensions - exact pixels - live check
by MoniqueWith the help of CSS3 and mediaqueries you can change the layout of your website based on the detected screen size of the device (be it a computer screen, tablet, smartphone,...). But what are the current guidelines in pixels? Find out here.
We've made an easy-to-use, always up-to-date, information resource, just for you.
December 2012
24 ways: A Harder-Working Class
by MoniqueClass is only becoming more important. Focusing on its original definition as an attribute for grouping (or classifying) as well as linking HTML to CSS, recent front-end development practices are emphasizing class as a vessel for structured, modularized style packages. These patterns reduce the need for repetitive declarations that can seriously bloat file sizes, and instil human-readable understanding of how the interface, layout, and aesthetics are constructed.
Awesome web tools to simplify front-end development | CatsWhoCode.com
by Monique & 1 otherDemystifying Accessibility | Jet Cooper
by MoniqueMy biggest overall takeaway from this experience was how inaccessible many sites are, and how frustrating it must be to a person with certain disabilities to regularly have poor web experiences. As developers, it’s our job to keep this in mind when creating any site, whether it “needs to be accessible” or not. You can bet that these lessons are being baked back into our work. Hopefully some of these will make it into your next projects as well.
November 2012
Accessibility is part of UX (it isn’t a swear word) – Humanising Technology Blog
by MoniqueThe reality is that accessibility is simply a key part of UX. A truly outstanding digital experience is a fusion of accessibility, usability, creativity and technology. The trick is to weave those things together, and to do that successfully there needs to be a cross pollination of skills and expertise.
The good news is that accessibility is usability under a magnifying glass. If you’re thinking about great usability, the chances are that you’re already thinking about great accessibility too.
NVDA 2012 and accessible PDF tables
by MoniqueIt's no exaggeration to say that the recently released NVDA upgrade is a huge step forward for PDF accessibility. With respect to tables, NVDA now matches JAWS in almost every way that matters, and in some respects it is significantly better. NVDA is now a realistic alternative to JAWS.
100 Killer Web Accessibility Resources: Blogs, Forums and Tutorials | WHdb
by Monique & 1 otherOctober 2012
NVDA screenreader keyboard helpers | Stamford Interactive
by MoniqueThis one is for testers who use NVDA, a free screenreader, to test online content for any access issues.
Why Is Accessibility So Hard? | November 2012 | Communications of the ACM
by MoniqueVinton CerfIn my experience, the range of parameters devised is fairly large and it is easy to get lost in selecting configurations or even anticipating how well they will fit user needs. Still, these tactics seem important for practitioners to apply when appropriate. The challenges strike me as fundamental, given the range of needs and potential interface designs.
CSS outline property - outline: none and outline: 0
by MoniqueWhat does the outline property do?
It provides visual feedback for links that have "focus" when navigating a web document using the TAB key (or equivalent). This is especially useful for folks who can't use a mouse or have a visual impairment. If you remove the outline you are making your site inaccessible for these people.
Best Practices for Icon Design - DesignFestival
by MoniqueIcons are an important part of making a website usable. Make sure to use best practices for your icon designs to help clients keep their clients happy and ultimately help you bring in the big bucks.
5 Ways to Make Your Browser More Secure - eSecurity Planet
by MoniqueIn this article you’ll discover extra security features in Firefox and Chrome, sandboxing to secure any browser, third-party DNS service for content filtering, and VPNs for securing your browsing while on Wi-Fi hotspots and other public networks.
Easy color contrast ratios | Lea Verou
by MoniqueBrowser support is IE10 and modern versions of Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Opera. Basic support for IE9. No responsive version yet, sorry (but you can always send pull requests!)
Hiding Content for Accessibility - Snook.ca
by Monique & 1 otherFor years now, we've used a number of techniques for hiding content offscreen for accessibility purposes. We do this because the content is still accessible to screenreaders while being removed from the interface for sighted users.