New Browser Changes Impacting Web Accessibility | WallyAx Whitepaper

new browser changes that impact accessibility

Synopsis: Web browsers play a critical role in enabling people to access the Web. Each browser has a unique set of website accessibility features that set it apart. Read on to make your own decision.

Est read time: 2.5 minutes

With most web browsers these days offering all the basic functional requirements, it's the standout features that create brand recall among us, the users.

Edge is known for its integration with Windows 10, Chrome for its extensions, Opera for its built-in ad blocker, etc.

Accessibility is one such feature that makes browsers unique. It's how browsers demonstrate their commitment to making the web more inclusive and accessible for all users, including people with disabilities.

Web browsers need to make not only their UI accessible but also all the content on the web. In order to guide assistive technologies across the web, web browsers need to offer vendor-specific APIs along with core APIs.

Here are the top 3 WCAG accessibility features we love about Chrome, Firefox, and Safari:

For Chrome

Customizable Font Size: Chrome enables users to customize the font size on webpages. This feature benefits individuals with visual impairments or those who prefer larger text for improved readability.

High Contrast Mode: Chrome supports a high contrast mode that allows users to switch to a high contrast color scheme, enhancing visibility for users with certain visual disabilities.

Voice Control: Chrome incorporates voice control capabilities, empowering users with mobility impairments to navigate the web and interact with websites solely through voice commands.

For Mozilla Firefox

Reader Mode: Mozilla Firefox includes a reader mode that simplifies webpages, removes distractions, and provides a more accessible reading experience for users with cognitive or visual impairments.

Screen Reader Compatibility: Firefox ensures compatibility with popular screen readers like NVDA and JAWS, providing smoother and more accurate web browsing experiences for users who rely on screen reader technology.

Web Developer Tools: Mozilla Firefox offers extensive web developer tools, allowing developers to test and optimize website accessibility for users with disabilities.

For Safari

Zoom and Magnification: Safari offers built-in zoom and magnification options, enabling users to enlarge webpage content for improved visibility and accessibility.

VoiceOver: Safari incorporates VoiceOver, a powerful screen reader that provides comprehensive support for visually impaired users, enabling them to navigate and interact with web content using gestures, keyboard commands, or braille displays.

Accessibility Inspector: Safari features an Accessibility Inspector tool that assists developers in identifying and resolving accessibility issues within their webpages, ensuring a more accessible browsing experience.

For Opera

Aria: Opera integrates AI into their browser, which transforms the way people find information, while being accessible.

Language Translation: Opera features a Language Translation tool that helps users who are non-native speakers of the language shown in the webpage.

Audio Description: Opera includes an Audio Description feature, enabling users to listen to the content shown.

Apart from the above, Apple, Google, and the Mozilla Foundation are working with the W3C to inform screen readers on a custom basis, about the user’s actions like scrolling a page, dismissing popups, and other semantic input events.

We hope this blog helped you get a basic understanding of the accessibility features offered by Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

If you are someone who wants your company to achieve total digital accessibility, we at Wally can help you. We specialize not only in making your marketing website accessible but also the entire content supply - produced by various people in the company.

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