4. Web Accessibility and Universal Usability

After reviewing the last exploration, I just realized that universal design learning creates flexible learning because it allows the learners to choose different aspects of learning experiences is the key idea (Collis & Moonen, 2002).

Now is the time to answer last question. When online learning environment is chosen for conducting flexible learning and students with disabilities have opportunity involve in it, there are several issues regarding accessibility and usability of the course design. I believe that it will be a long answer and more than one exploration session.

Web Accessibility Initiatives (WAI) has been developing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which the latest version is 2.0 (W3C, 2008) that more usability oriented (Termen et al, 2009) than the WCAG 1.0. The older version has been revised because low vision and with reduced mobility are practically ignored (Ribera et al., 2009). In addition Nielsen (2005) state “accessibility is not enough” because accessibility is focus primarily to make all users with various diversity can access the content and functionality of a website, and it does not guarantee make them understand. So that Horton (2006, para. 2) stated that universal usability is one step ahead which makes “the content and functionality accessible and usable by all”. May be its too long for an exploration entry. I will continue about website accessibility and usability in the next exploration.


Nielsen, J. (2005). Accessibility Is Not Enough. Retrieved 3 April, 2010, from http://www.useit.com/alertbox/accessibility.html.
Ribera, M., Porras, M., Boldu, M., Termens, M., Sule, A., & Paris, P. (2009). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0: A Further Step towards Accessible Digital Information. Program: Electronic Library & Information Systems, 43(4), 392-406. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00330330910998048
Termens, M., Ribera, M., Porras, M., Boldu, M., Sule, A., & Paris, P. (2009). Web content accessibility guidelines: from 1.0 to 2.0. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 18th international conference on World wide web. Retrieved from http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1526709.1526912
W3C. (1999). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. Retrieved 16 March, 2010, from http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/
W3C. (2008). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. Retrieved 16 March, 2010, from http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/
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