The primary purpose of this report is to inform the senior management staff at Backcountry of our Accessibility Evaluationʼs findings. Per the scope of the evaluation, three pages were audited:
1.) Backcountry Home Page
2.) Search Result Page
3.) Product Page
During this study, we dissected our web pages to spot any errors, mistakes, or lack of concern regarding user experiences for our users who live with disabilities. A list of these issues is provided to help foster an understanding of the working environment. After the presentation of our findings, the evaluation lays out recommendations for improving Backcountryʼs accessibility that is to be considered for senior management approval.
Three strategies were used to determine the user accessibility errors that the Backcountry web environment suffered from. These methods include Automated Code Inspection, Manual Code Inspection, and Experience Walk-through, all of which are described below.
During this step, the source code inspector SortSite ran through the siteʼs underlying code to determine if any issues existed by comparing it to user accessibility guidelines. This process gives a programmatic look into a page and allows us to adjust structural coding issues that inhibit accessibility.
During this step, the issues uncovered during the Automated Code Inspection created road markers for manual reading of the source code to better diagnose problems. Additionally, Manual Code Inspection provides a thorough look into accessibility issues related to mobility and visibility breakdowns. These issues include tab navigation workflows and alt text information for photos, among many others. The use of Manual Code Inspection allows for a more in-depth qualitative assessment of the underlying source code.
During this phase of the evaluation, walk-throughs of critical workflows with limitations set to simulate mobility and visual impairments were conducted. This testing allowed for a more encompassing understanding of the Backcountry e-commerce environment. While not a one-to-one comparison, this method allows us to gain as close to a hands-on experience of using our virtual environment as a person living with a disability.
The employment of all three strategies allows for a qualitative and structural assessment of the web environment as a whole. While each individual process contains advantages and disadvantages, the tandem approach of using all three together creates a more encompassing strategy for the accessibility evaluation.
After the completion of accessibility evaluation into Backcountryʼs web pages, we conclude that the site fails to meet WCAG 2.1 AA & A standards. The number of crucial missed guidelines and glaring issues during the experience walk-through showcases a global problem. Those living with disabilities will find it hard to navigate the Backcountry site in the current status quo. The following recommendations demonstrate our approach to remedying the situation.
During the code inspection, the Backcountry site failed to pass many of the WCAG 2.1 checkpoints necessary for an optimal user experience. To view a full table of Backcountry’s results, please view the report using the button at the bottom of the page.
The following table presents issues encountered while using Backcountry‘s web pages with the macOS VoiceOver screen reader and keyboard navigation. During the walk-through simulation, these issues were severe enough to hinder the process of completing tasks.
Example of information that is inaccessible to keyboard navigation.
Example of alert text that is not read by screen readers.
Example of contrast that may be unnoticeable to low vision users.
Example of images overlapping at zoom level 200%.
The following recommendations aim to foster a truly accessible environment within Backcountry’s webpages.
1.) Structure HTML code so that it properly utilizes ARIA controls and attributes
2.) Utilize more contrast in attributes to differentiate between selections
3.) Incorporate links to allow keyboard-navigation users to skip large chunks of grouped content
4.) Eliminate errors in code such as unclosed anchor tags and lack of space between attributes
5.) Include extra content via text to allow for easier navigation of interactive content and links
6.) Add a site map to provide additional ways of navigating the Backcountry website
7.) Ensure that all non-text items have proper alt text
8.) Adjust HTML to prevent distortions in content due to users zoom settings