Presented at 8:00am in Waverly on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.
#29217Speaker(s)
- Carly Gerard, Web Accessibility Engineer, Western Washington University
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Intermediate
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
In 2018, Western Washington University completed a redesign of their homepage. This time, it was redesigned with accessibility in mind. Learn how Pattern Lab and Drupal 8 together created an elegant yet accessible website, with a reusable pattern library so developers can stop reinventing the wheel of accessibility.
Abstract
In December 2018, Western Washington University unveiled a completely redesigned homepage. Redesigning a homepage that met branding guidelines was important to us, but this redesign gave us another opportunity: to build accessible design into the theme from the ground up, into each aspect of the future website.
In "Using Pattern Lab and Drupal 8 to Stop Reinventing the Accessibility Wheel", we will cover the following topics:
Tools used to complete our redesign from the beginning, including Pattern Lab and Drupal 8; Creating and incorporating accessible components into larger templates using Atomic Design; How developers can reuse components so that their accessibility is maintained; and, How to maintain the accessibility of a living, ever-changing style guide.
By creating patterns that have accessibility baked into their design, we can help developers across campus create accessible content with ease and more certainty.
Keypoints
- Having tools for building a pattern library with accessibility in mind
- Learning how to maintain style guides and patterns so accessibility doesn't break
- Using accessible templating for platforms like Drupal, WordPress, and static HTML sites
Disability Areas
All Areas
Topic Areas
Uncategorized, Web/Media/App Access
Speaker Bio(s)
Carly Gerard
Carly has been working in digital accessibility since 2015, providing training and expertise to institutions such as Gonzaga University and currently Western Washington University. As a Web Accessibility Engineer for Western, Carly builds and maintains accessibility in the university's Drupal, WordPress, and static HTML themes. She also provides accessibility training for web content creators and developers, serves on RFP committees as an accessibility subject matter expert, and has presented at conferences like Accessing Higher Ground, Accessibility Summer Camp, and Building Bridges.
Carly is a Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), credited by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. She also earned a certificate with distinction in Assistive Technology Applications from California State University Northridge in 2016, focusing on user populations that benefit from assistive technology as well as web accessibility.
Carly earned a certificate with distinction in Assistive Technology Applications from California State University Northridge in 2016, focusing on user populations that benefit from assistive technology as well as web accessibility.