Web Design Update: April 28, 2026

[Laura Carlson]

+++ WEB DESIGN UPDATE.
- Volume 26, Issue 44, April 29, 2026.

An email newsletter to distribute news and information about web
design and development.

++ISSUE 44 CONTENTS.

SECTION ONE: New references.
What's new at the Web Design Reference site?
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/
New links in these categories:

01: ACCESSIBILITY.
02: EVENTS.
03: HTML.
04: MISCELLANEOUS.
05: USABILITY.
06: WEBWASTE & SUSTAINABILITY.

SECTION TWO:
07: What Can You Find at the Web Design Reference Site?

[Contents ends.]


++ SECTION ONE: New references.

+01: ACCESSIBILITY.

Cognitive Accessibility (Digital) in 2026: Helping Users
By Jennie Delisi.
"Stay Oriented, Focused, and Successful
Updated standards, everyday gaps, and high-impact improvements."
https://mn.gov/mnit/media/blog/?id=38-742904

Giving Pages a Clear Shape by Using Headings
By Steve Barnett.
"…In this piece, Steve Barnett walks through the three most common
heading mistakes he sees in his accessibility work, and how to put
them right…"
https://intopia.digital/articles/giving-pages-a-clear-shape-by-using-headings/

In Episode 18 of the State of Accessibility Podcast
By David Sloan and Rick Onsman.
"…From AI-assisted development and testing to content creation and
tool usability, this episode examines where progress is being made,
where challenges remain, and what organizations should consider as
they integrate AI into their accessibility strategies…"
https://ozewai.org/blog/technical-articles/state-of-accessibility-podcast/

AI Effluent Never Stops
By Steve Faulkner.
"In August 2025 I opined on ChatGPT's inaccessible UI. I now checked
it again (automatically) using one of my fave tools: the IBM
accessibility checker regretfully the results were as expected…"
https://html5accessibility.com/stuff/2026/04/23/ai-effluent-never-stops/

New Hope for Better Accessibility of 3D Experiences on the Web
By Bogdan Cerovac.
"Canvas element in HTML enables tremendous possibilities - from two
dimensional graphic interfaces to amazing three dimensional
experiences, directly in the browser. It will soon be simpler to sync
the visuals with the semantics…"
https://cerovac.com/a11y/2026/04/new-hope-for-better-accessibility-of-3d-experiences-on-the-web/

Understanding WCAG 1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded) for WordPress
By María José Maldonado.
"This post is part of a series where we explain Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), an internationally recognized
standard for measuring website accessibility…"
https://equalizedigital.com/understanding-wcag-1-2-8-media-alternative-prerecorded-for-wordpress/

Automated Evaluation of Authentication Features of Web Pages from the
Low Vision User Perspective
By Zeyu He, Suzanna Schmeelk, Jose Florez-Arango, and Helen Petrie.
"…These findings underscore the need for inclusive security design,
ensuring that CAPTCHA alternatives, screen reader-compatible password
meters, and transparent password policies are integrated into
authentication systems…"
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/11476554

Global Accessibility Awareness Day, One Month Out
By Dennis Deacon.
"Every year on the third Thursday of May, something important happens
quietly across the digital world…"
https://www.dennisdeacon.com/accessibility-2/global-accessibility-awareness-day-one-month-out/

RED ALERT: The HHS Section 504 Rule Is in Danger
By Ken Nakata.
"These are not website navigation problems. Delaying the DOJ Title II
rule will hurt people. Delaying this rule will kill people…"
https://convergeaccessibility.com/2026/04/22/red-alert-hhs/

The ADA Deadline Doesn't Matter. Here's What Does.
By Jessica Chambers.
"…Every year of delay is another year that a person who is blind
cannot apply for the benefits they're owed, that a person with an
intellectual or developmental disability cannot navigate a local
agency's website, that a deaf constituent cannot access critical
public safety information…"
https://silktide.com/blog/the-ada-deadline-doesnt-matter/

ADA Title II Deadline Extended: What This Means for Public Entities
By Noah Pearson.
"…More time is not the same as less urgency…"
https://www.3playmedia.com/blog/title-ii-deadline-extended/

The Accessibility Breakdown - Episode 5 - Title II Extension and James
Edwards (Video)
By Mark Miller and Justin Stockton.
"In this episode, Mark and Justin discuss three main topics…"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4btRbXOtLM0


+02: EVENTS.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2026: Design, Develop, Deliver
May 21, 2026.
Online
https://gaad.umn.edu/

GAAD Event: Navigating Maps With a Screen Reader: A Conversation
May 21, 2026.
Online
https://mn.gov/mnit/media/blog/?id=38-742977

GAAD Special Webinar: A Practical Session on Creating Accessible Documents
May 21, 2026.
Online
https://www.civicplus.com/webinars/wa/gaad-webinar-creating-accessible-documents/

CCC Accessibility Center Global Accessibility Awareness Day Workshop
May 21, 2026.
Online
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RlxxgZtmSoGUlbrc0uJKnw#/registration


+03: HTML.

Visual Validation Feedback for Form Fields
By Aaron Gustafson.
"Password requirements, username rules, input format constraints:
forms often have multiple validation requirements, but users
frequently do not find out whether they are meeting them until they
hit submit. The form-validation-list web component changes that by
providing real-time visual feedback as users type, showing exactly
which requirements are met and which are not…"
https://www.aaron-gustafson.com/notebook/visual-validation-feedback-for-form-fields/


+04: MISCELLANEOUS.

The End of Responsive Images
By Mat "Wilto" Marquis.
"…A descriptive syntax avoids this whole nightmare for us, and allows
the browser to do what it does best…"
https://piccalil.li/blog/the-end-of-responsive-images/

The Importance of People Who Care
By Rachel Andrew.
"…if those tools aren't under the control of experts who care deeply
about the end result, what you end up with is slop…"
https://rachelandrew.co.uk/archives/2026/04/21/the-importance-of-people-who-care/

Mike Paciello - Talks Accessibility - Fireside
By Steve Faulkner.
"Of the many people I have worked with, alongside and for in my time
doing accessibility, I can say with certainty that Mike Paciello
(along with Debra Rapsis & Charlie Pike) have supported me the most…"
https://html5accessibility.com/stuff/2026/04/26/mike-paciello-talks-accessibility-fireside/


+05: USABILITY.

Can AI Detect Usability Problems?
By Jeff Sauro, Lucas Plabst, and Jim Lewis.
"…Basically, it's like autocorrect on steroids for videos…"
https://measuringu.com/can-ai-detect-usability-problems/

Reducing Cognitive Load: How Simpler UX Drives Better Outcomes
By Natasha Lane.
"…Essentially, complex website experiences (visually cluttered, overly
stimulating, or insufficiently focused on visitors' primary desired
outcome) cause users to experience information overload…"
https://www.loop11.com/reducing-cognitive-load-how-simpler-ux-drives-better-outcomes/


+06: WEBWASTE & SUSTAINABILITY.

WSG Check
By Ivan Storck.
"Check any website against the W3C Web Sustainability Guidelines…"
https://wsg-check.netlify.app/
https://github.com/ivanoats/wsg-check

[Section one ends.]


++ SECTION TWO:

+07: What Can You Find at the Web Design Reference Site?

Accessibility Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/accessibility.html

Association Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/associations.html

Book Listings.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/books.html

Cascading Style Sheets Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/css.html

Color Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/color.html

Drupal Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/drupal.html

Evaluation & Testing Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/testing.html

Event Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/events.html

HTML Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/html.html

Information Architecture Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/architecture.html

JavaScript Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/javascript.html

Miscellaneous Web Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/misc.html

Navigation Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/navigation.html

PHP Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/php.html

Sites & Blogs Listing.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/sites.html

Standards, Guidelines & Pattern Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/standards.html

Tool Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/tools.html

Typography Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/type.html

Usability Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/usability.html

WebWaste & Sustainability Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/webwaste.html

XML Information.
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/xml.html

[Section two ends.]


++END NOTES.


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+ SIGN OFF.

Until next time,

Laura L. Carlson
Information Technology Systems and Services
University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MN U.S.A. 55812-3009
mailto:lcar...@d.umn.edu


[Issue ends.]