Web Design Update: March 24, 2026
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Laura Carlson
Mar 24, 2026, 2:41:43 AM (23 hours ago) Mar 24
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+++ WEB DESIGN UPDATE.
- Volume 26, Issue 39, March 24, 2026.
An email newsletter to distribute news and information about web design and development.
++ISSUE 39 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: CASCADING STYLE SHEETS.
03: EVALUATION & TESTING.
04: EVENTS.
05: HTML.
06: INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE.
07: JAVASCRIPT.
08: MISCELLANEOUS.
09: NAVIGATION.
10: USABILITY.
11: WEBWASTE & SUSTAINABILITY.
SECTION TWO:
12: What Can You Find at the Web Design Reference Site?
[Contents ends.]
++ SECTION ONE: New references.
+01: ACCESSIBILITY.
RED ALERT: The DOJ Title II Web Accessibility Rule is in Danger!
By Ken Nakata.
"There are credible rumors that the Title II web accessibility rule may not just get pushed back - it may get pulled entirely. DOJ and OMB are apparently pushing hard for an 'interim final rule' (a procedural shortcut that bypasses public notice-and-comment). As I explained in my February 2026 Legal Update, that move would almost certainly be challenged in court. But the administration may not care. This blog post outlines why an Interim Final Rule is a terrible idea and what you can do about it today…Inundating OIRA with requests from disability advocates, practitioners, and allies sends a direct signal that this rule has a constituency willing to fight for it. This may be the most concrete lever we have right now. It's what worked with the preposterous Department of Energy Direct Final Rule-and it should work here too if enough people sign up…"
https://convergeaccessibility.com/2026/03/17/red-alert/
Getting Past the FUD: A Day-One Compliance Strategy for the New ADA Title II Web Accessibility Rule
By Ken Nakata.
"This post is a follow-up to my previous post urging readers to ask the OMB and DOJ not to delay or modify the DOJ Title II web accessibility rule. As explained here, the new rule won't cause a flood of problems for state and local governments and is actually quite simple to comply with…"
https://convergeaccessibility.com/2026/03/23/why-the-ada-web-rule-is-straightforward/
Slouching Towards WCAG 2.1
By Minnesota IT Services.
"The updated rule to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act becomes effective April 24. What then?…"
https://mn.gov/mnit/media/blog/?id=38-733058
AI, Plain Language, and Responsibility
By Minnesota IT Services.
"Learn about potential weaknesses in AI-generated text and how to use it responsibly…"
https://mn.gov/mnit/media/blog/?id=38-733057
Designing for Cognitive Accessibility
By Ted Drake.
"CSUN highlighted cognitive accessibility as a key part of inclusive design. Sessions showed that clear, predictable, low-effort interfaces better support neurodivergent people, older adults, and anyone under stress or fatigue…"
https://www.last-child.com/design-cognitive-accessibility.html
A11y 101: 2.5.3 Label in Name
By Nat Tarnoff.
"We all navigate the internet and computers in different ways. Some use screen readers, others keyboard, and some people by voice. Success Criterion 2.5.3 was created to support these diverse methods…"
http://tarnoff.info/2026/03/16/a11y-101-2-5-3-label-in-name/
A11y 101: 2.5.4 Motion Actuation
By Nat Tarnoff.
"Imagine you're holding your phone, walking down the street, and you accidentally bump it against your leg. Suddenly, your app thinks you've shaken it into submission and deletes your entire shopping cart. Or maybe you're trying to scroll, but the device interprets your hand tremor as a 'shake to undo' command. This isn't just a quirky feature gone wrong; it's a potential accessibility nightmare. Enter WCAG 2.5.4: Motion Actuation.…"
http://tarnoff.info/2026/03/23/a11y-101-2-5-4-motion-actuation/
A Beginner's Guide to Manual Accessibility Testing with Keyboard Navigation
By Ilknur Eren.
"Manually testing a website is a critical step in ensuring that screen reader users can successfully access and understand its content. While automated tools can help identify certain accessibility issues, they cannot fully replicate the real experience of navigating a site without a mouse…"
https://www.sitepoint.com/accessibility-testing-with-keyboard-navigation/
The Fox, PDFs and Screen Readers
By Andrew Downie.
"…I couldn't resist a rant about importance of accessible documents while providing some background to the sometimes vexed relationship between screen readers and PDFs…"
https://ozewai.org/blog/technical-articles/the-fox-pdfs-and-screen-readers/
Accessibility is the Foundation
By Julia Solórzano.
"Accessibility is not a feature you bolt on at the end. It is the foundation you build on from the start. This is how I approached it when I rebuilt my personal site."
https://juliasolorzano.com/blog/2026/03/15/accessibility-is-the-foundation/
The Current State of Digital Accessibility Research and AI: What 137 Papers Tell Us
By Robert Dodd.
"After reviewing 137 (109 directly referencing AI) peer-reviewed accessibility research papers published between 2021 and 2025 - from the ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS) and the International Web for All Conference (W4A) - a clear picture emerges of a field at an inflection point. Artificial intelligence is simultaneously the most promising tool and the most concerning threat in digital accessibility today…"
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/current-state-digital-accessibility-research-ai-what-137-robert-dodd-qb7ie/
Building a Stronger, More Innovative Accessibility Community (Video)
By Haben Girma.
"As a Deafblind child in a sighted-hearing world, Haben faced the choice of accepting barriers or advocating for justice. Her self-advocacy soon grew to advocating for others, leading her to sharpen her skills at Harvard Law and beyond. She champions the belief that challenges are opportunities to develop new, better solutions. Through powerful stories infused with humor, Haben's presentations help people build stronger, more innovative communities…"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr9ukGLJmyU&t=294
Getting Developers to Care about Accessibility: Carrots and Sticks
By Sheri Byrne-Haber.
"Most developers aren't intentionally hostile to accessibility. They just weren't taught about its importance…"
https://buttondown.com/access-ability/archive/getting-developers-to-care-about-accessibility/
The Real Cost of Ignoring Web Accessibility for Non-Profits with Amber Hinds (Video)
By David Pisarek.
"In this conversation, David Pisarek sits down with Amber Hinds, CEO of Equalize Digital, to unpack why web accessibility matters so much for non-profits, not only for compliance, but also for inclusion, usability, donor experience, and long-term impact…"
https://wowdigital.com/podcast/136-the-real-cost-of-ignoring-web-accessibility-for-non-profits-with-amber-hinds/
Web Accessibility of University Websites in China: An Empirical Study
By Hao Liu, Jing Sun, Zanxiang He, Hongzhan Huang, Xinai Liu & Liming Nie.
"University websites serve as critical digital gateways to higher education and should be accessible to all users. Despite China possessing the world's largest higher education system, systematic empirical research in this domain remains scarce. To bridge this gap, we utilized three automated tools to quantitatively evaluate the compliance of 993 key pages (e.g., homepages, undergraduate admissions) from 250 Chinese universities with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) Level A and AA standards…"
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44443-026-00544-6
Ninth Circuit Reinstates Jury Awards in Case Against Los Angeles Community College District
By The National Federation of the Blind.
"The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) applauds a significant victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has ordered the reinstatement of jury awards to blind students, Roy Payan and Portia Mason, in their case against the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), in which the NFB and NFB of California are also plaintiffs."
https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/ninth-circuit-reinstates-jury-awards-case-against-los-angeles-community-college
Access to Video Conferencing
By Federal Communications Commission.
"In accordance with Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, this Small Entity Compliance Guide (Guide) is intended to help small entities- small businesses, small organizations (non-profits), and small governmental jurisdictions- comply with the rules adopted in the above-referenced Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) rulemaking docket…"
https://www.fcc.gov/document/access-video-conferencing
Fifty Years of Hard-Won Rights Are on the Line: The Fight to Save Section 504
By Darrell Hilliker.
"There is a lawsuit moving quietly through the American legal system right now that could undo five decades of civil rights progress for tens of millions of disabled Americans. It is called Texas v. Kennedy, and if you haven't heard of it yet, that is exactly the problem…"
https://blindaccessjournal.com/2026/03/fifty-years-of-hard-won-rights-are-on-the-line-the-fight-to-save-section-504/
+02: CASCADING STYLE SHEETS.
Everything You Never Wanted to Know About visually-hidden
By David Bushell.
"…You can't go wrong with well crafted, semantically accurate structure."
Everything you never wanted to know about visually-hidden
https://dbushell.com/2026/02/20/visually-hidden/
+03: EVALUATION & TESTING.
Archetypes vs. Personas (Video)
By Therese Fessenden.
"Personas and archetypes are different ways of communicating the same user research data. Archetypes describe categories of users; personas humanize those categories to illustrate real impact…"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoigZKtOrUA
Accessibility Snapshot Testing in iOS
By Mark Steadman.
"Snapshot testing is a popular type of regression testing that a lot of development teams are unaware has untapped potential when it comes to accessibility. The AccessibilitySnapshot library offers a way to bring accessibility into your automated regression suite. By treating the accessibility hierarchy as a testable artifact, developers can catch issues early and maintain a consistent, inclusive experience for all users…"
https://dev.to/steady5063/accessibility-snapshot-testing-in-ios-408e
Testing Mobile Apps - What Differs From Web Testing? (Part 1)
By Detlev Fischer.
"In the first part of a series of blog posts about mobile accessibility testing, we look at the main differences between testing common web content and testing native mobile apps.…"
https://bitvtest.de/en/blog/blog-article/testing-mobile-apps-what-differs-from-web-testing-part-1
Android and iOS - Should I Test Both? (Part 2)
By Detlev Fischer.
"…Conclusion: test both versions…"
https://bitvtest.de/en/blog/blog-article/android-und-ios-should-i-test-both-part-2
Keyboard Operability - Why Is It Important? (Part 3)
By Detlev Fischer.
"…That so many problems with keyboard operation still appear in our tests is certainly due to the fact that in the absence of legal obligations, this user group…have not been considered…"
https://bitvtest.de/en/blog/blog-article/keyboard-operability-why-is-it-important-part-3
+04: EVENTS.
The AI Quagmire: Benefits, Risks, and Aspirations Through a Disability Lens
March 25, 2025.
Online
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3217731747490/WN_rJT-xta9TMetFYVh_X78nw#/registration
UX Jumpstart: Design Products That Drive Real Action for Climate Tech
March 26, 2025.
Online
https://www.kolaxis.dev/shift-sustainability-left-software-development-lifecycle
Virtual UX Training
May 11-22, 2026.
Online
https://www.nngroup.com/training/may
Accessibility Club Summit 2026
May 9-10, 2026.
Würzburg, Germany
https://accessibility.club/event/accessibility-club-summit-2026
Open Source Assistive Technology Hackathon
May 21, 2026.
San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-source-assistive-technology-hackathon-tickets-1984064378967
A-TAG 2026
May 21, 2026.
Vienna, Austria
https://atag.accessible-media.at/
Inclusive Design 24
May 31, 2026: Call for Presentations
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HvDshghFG2QiyTCz7O7-_3ATAZnx4cTkevoT7LBR2fc/
September 24, 2026: Event
https://inclusivedesign24.org/2026/
Inclusive Design 24
May 31, 2026: Call for Presentations
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HvDshghFG2QiyTCz7O7-_3ATAZnx4cTkevoT7LBR2fc/
September 24, 2026: Event
https://inclusivedesign24.org/2026/
+05: HTML.
Quick Tip: Don't Use <abbr>
By Nat Tarnoff.
"…It's better to fall back to the old newspaper styling where you say the whole phrase the first time followed by the abbreviation in parenthesis. From there forward, you can use the abbreviation"
https://tarnoff.info/2026/03/20/quick-tip-dont-use-abbr/
+06: INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE.
Affinity Diagramming in Workshops (Video)
By Sarah Gibbons.
"Affinity diagramming reveals hidden patterns by clustering information into themed groups. This foundational UX method builds team alignment and transforms complex research data into actionable insights…"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L49s5ZYbVa8
+07: JAVASCRIPT.
JavaScript for Everyone: Destructuring
By Mat Marquis.
"…I'm able to share the entire lesson on destructuring assignment. These are some of my favorite JavaScript syntaxes, which I'm sure we can all agree are normal and in fact very cool things to have -syntaxes are as powerful as they are terse, all of them doing a lot of work with only a few characters. The downside of that terseness is that it makes these syntaxes a little more opaque than most, especially when you're armed only with a browser tab open to MDN and a gleam in your eye. We got this, though - by the time you've reached the end of this lesson, you'll be unpacking complex nested data structures with the best of them…"
https://css-tricks.com/javascript-for-everyone-destructuring/
Temporal: It's About Time!
By Jason Williams.
"After more than seven years of specification work, Temporal is finally here! In this talk, we'll explore the history, the challenges, and the new API that's set to replace JavaScript's long-maligned Date object…"
https://2026.stateofthebrowser.com/speaker/jason-williams/
+08: MISCELLANEOUS.
Can I Use AI to Create a Logic-Check for Systemic Ableism in Writing?
By Chris Yoong.
"Turns out, partially - this is helpful…"
https://chrisyoong.com/blog/using-ai-to-give-me-more-insight-to-disability-bias
Flood Fill vs.the Magic Circle
By Robin Sloan.
"…The world can run without an internet. The internet can't run without a world…"
https://www.robinsloan.com/winter-garden/magic-circle/
The Last Quiet Thing
By Terry Godier.
"…Your phone is not a slot machine. It's a to-do list that writes itself…The purchase isn't the end of anything. It's the first day of a relationship you didn't agree to…You're not bad with technology. Technology got bad at being finished…"
https://www.terrygodier.com/the-last-quiet-thing
+09: NAVIGATION.
Dropdowns Inside Scrollable Containers: Why They Break And How To Fix Them Properly
By Godstime Aburu.
"Dropdowns often work perfectly until they're placed inside a scrollable panel, where they can get clipped, and half the menu disappears behind the container's edge. Godstime Aburu explains why this happens and offers practical solutions to fix it…"
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2026/03/dropdowns-scrollable-containers-why-break-how-fix/
+10: USABILITY.
What Is Your Site's AI Chatbot for? Users Can't Tell
By Maria Rosala, Georgia Kenderova and Tanner Kohler.
"Users see little reason to use site AI chatbots. To prove their value, chatbots must solve problems that existing site features don't"
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/site-ai-chatbot/
The 3 C's of Informational Microcopy
By Taylor Dykes.
"Well-written informational microcopy should be clear, concise, and have character."
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/3-cs-microcopy/
A Newbie's Guide to Designing Good Web Forms
By Beeps.
"…This is (hopefully) going to be a series of blog posts covering the design and development of good online forms, starting with what you ask for in the first place…"
https://beeps.website/blog/2026-03-17-newbies-guide-to-forms-structure/
+11: WEBWASTE & SUSTAINABILITY.
Shift-Left Sustainability: How to develop green software by design
By Ioannis Kolaxis.
"Today, sustainability is an afterthought for most software applications…"
https://www.kolaxis.dev/shift-sustainability-left-software-development-lifecycle
[Section one ends.]
++ SECTION TWO:
+12: 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.
+ SUBSCRIPTION INFO.
WEB DESIGN UPDATE is available by subscription. For information on how to subscribe and unsubscribe please visit:
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/webdev_listserv.html
The Web Design Reference Site also has a RSS 2.0 feed for site updates.
+ TEXT EMAIL NEWSLETTER (TEN).
As a navigation aid for screen readers we do our best to conform to the accessible Text Email Newsletter (TEN) guidelines. Please let me know if there is anything else we can do to make navigation easier. For TEN guideline information please visit:
http://www.headstar.com/ten
+ 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.]
- Volume 26, Issue 39, March 24, 2026.
An email newsletter to distribute news and information about web design and development.
++ISSUE 39 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: CASCADING STYLE SHEETS.
03: EVALUATION & TESTING.
04: EVENTS.
05: HTML.
06: INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE.
07: JAVASCRIPT.
08: MISCELLANEOUS.
09: NAVIGATION.
10: USABILITY.
11: WEBWASTE & SUSTAINABILITY.
SECTION TWO:
12: What Can You Find at the Web Design Reference Site?
[Contents ends.]
++ SECTION ONE: New references.
+01: ACCESSIBILITY.
RED ALERT: The DOJ Title II Web Accessibility Rule is in Danger!
By Ken Nakata.
"There are credible rumors that the Title II web accessibility rule may not just get pushed back - it may get pulled entirely. DOJ and OMB are apparently pushing hard for an 'interim final rule' (a procedural shortcut that bypasses public notice-and-comment). As I explained in my February 2026 Legal Update, that move would almost certainly be challenged in court. But the administration may not care. This blog post outlines why an Interim Final Rule is a terrible idea and what you can do about it today…Inundating OIRA with requests from disability advocates, practitioners, and allies sends a direct signal that this rule has a constituency willing to fight for it. This may be the most concrete lever we have right now. It's what worked with the preposterous Department of Energy Direct Final Rule-and it should work here too if enough people sign up…"
https://convergeaccessibility.com/2026/03/17/red-alert/
Getting Past the FUD: A Day-One Compliance Strategy for the New ADA Title II Web Accessibility Rule
By Ken Nakata.
"This post is a follow-up to my previous post urging readers to ask the OMB and DOJ not to delay or modify the DOJ Title II web accessibility rule. As explained here, the new rule won't cause a flood of problems for state and local governments and is actually quite simple to comply with…"
https://convergeaccessibility.com/2026/03/23/why-the-ada-web-rule-is-straightforward/
Slouching Towards WCAG 2.1
By Minnesota IT Services.
"The updated rule to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act becomes effective April 24. What then?…"
https://mn.gov/mnit/media/blog/?id=38-733058
AI, Plain Language, and Responsibility
By Minnesota IT Services.
"Learn about potential weaknesses in AI-generated text and how to use it responsibly…"
https://mn.gov/mnit/media/blog/?id=38-733057
Designing for Cognitive Accessibility
By Ted Drake.
"CSUN highlighted cognitive accessibility as a key part of inclusive design. Sessions showed that clear, predictable, low-effort interfaces better support neurodivergent people, older adults, and anyone under stress or fatigue…"
https://www.last-child.com/design-cognitive-accessibility.html
A11y 101: 2.5.3 Label in Name
By Nat Tarnoff.
"We all navigate the internet and computers in different ways. Some use screen readers, others keyboard, and some people by voice. Success Criterion 2.5.3 was created to support these diverse methods…"
http://tarnoff.info/2026/03/16/a11y-101-2-5-3-label-in-name/
A11y 101: 2.5.4 Motion Actuation
By Nat Tarnoff.
"Imagine you're holding your phone, walking down the street, and you accidentally bump it against your leg. Suddenly, your app thinks you've shaken it into submission and deletes your entire shopping cart. Or maybe you're trying to scroll, but the device interprets your hand tremor as a 'shake to undo' command. This isn't just a quirky feature gone wrong; it's a potential accessibility nightmare. Enter WCAG 2.5.4: Motion Actuation.…"
http://tarnoff.info/2026/03/23/a11y-101-2-5-4-motion-actuation/
A Beginner's Guide to Manual Accessibility Testing with Keyboard Navigation
By Ilknur Eren.
"Manually testing a website is a critical step in ensuring that screen reader users can successfully access and understand its content. While automated tools can help identify certain accessibility issues, they cannot fully replicate the real experience of navigating a site without a mouse…"
https://www.sitepoint.com/accessibility-testing-with-keyboard-navigation/
The Fox, PDFs and Screen Readers
By Andrew Downie.
"…I couldn't resist a rant about importance of accessible documents while providing some background to the sometimes vexed relationship between screen readers and PDFs…"
https://ozewai.org/blog/technical-articles/the-fox-pdfs-and-screen-readers/
Accessibility is the Foundation
By Julia Solórzano.
"Accessibility is not a feature you bolt on at the end. It is the foundation you build on from the start. This is how I approached it when I rebuilt my personal site."
https://juliasolorzano.com/blog/2026/03/15/accessibility-is-the-foundation/
The Current State of Digital Accessibility Research and AI: What 137 Papers Tell Us
By Robert Dodd.
"After reviewing 137 (109 directly referencing AI) peer-reviewed accessibility research papers published between 2021 and 2025 - from the ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS) and the International Web for All Conference (W4A) - a clear picture emerges of a field at an inflection point. Artificial intelligence is simultaneously the most promising tool and the most concerning threat in digital accessibility today…"
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/current-state-digital-accessibility-research-ai-what-137-robert-dodd-qb7ie/
Building a Stronger, More Innovative Accessibility Community (Video)
By Haben Girma.
"As a Deafblind child in a sighted-hearing world, Haben faced the choice of accepting barriers or advocating for justice. Her self-advocacy soon grew to advocating for others, leading her to sharpen her skills at Harvard Law and beyond. She champions the belief that challenges are opportunities to develop new, better solutions. Through powerful stories infused with humor, Haben's presentations help people build stronger, more innovative communities…"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr9ukGLJmyU&t=294
Getting Developers to Care about Accessibility: Carrots and Sticks
By Sheri Byrne-Haber.
"Most developers aren't intentionally hostile to accessibility. They just weren't taught about its importance…"
https://buttondown.com/access-ability/archive/getting-developers-to-care-about-accessibility/
The Real Cost of Ignoring Web Accessibility for Non-Profits with Amber Hinds (Video)
By David Pisarek.
"In this conversation, David Pisarek sits down with Amber Hinds, CEO of Equalize Digital, to unpack why web accessibility matters so much for non-profits, not only for compliance, but also for inclusion, usability, donor experience, and long-term impact…"
https://wowdigital.com/podcast/136-the-real-cost-of-ignoring-web-accessibility-for-non-profits-with-amber-hinds/
Web Accessibility of University Websites in China: An Empirical Study
By Hao Liu, Jing Sun, Zanxiang He, Hongzhan Huang, Xinai Liu & Liming Nie.
"University websites serve as critical digital gateways to higher education and should be accessible to all users. Despite China possessing the world's largest higher education system, systematic empirical research in this domain remains scarce. To bridge this gap, we utilized three automated tools to quantitatively evaluate the compliance of 993 key pages (e.g., homepages, undergraduate admissions) from 250 Chinese universities with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) Level A and AA standards…"
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44443-026-00544-6
Ninth Circuit Reinstates Jury Awards in Case Against Los Angeles Community College District
By The National Federation of the Blind.
"The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) applauds a significant victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has ordered the reinstatement of jury awards to blind students, Roy Payan and Portia Mason, in their case against the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), in which the NFB and NFB of California are also plaintiffs."
https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/ninth-circuit-reinstates-jury-awards-case-against-los-angeles-community-college
Access to Video Conferencing
By Federal Communications Commission.
"In accordance with Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, this Small Entity Compliance Guide (Guide) is intended to help small entities- small businesses, small organizations (non-profits), and small governmental jurisdictions- comply with the rules adopted in the above-referenced Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) rulemaking docket…"
https://www.fcc.gov/document/access-video-conferencing
Fifty Years of Hard-Won Rights Are on the Line: The Fight to Save Section 504
By Darrell Hilliker.
"There is a lawsuit moving quietly through the American legal system right now that could undo five decades of civil rights progress for tens of millions of disabled Americans. It is called Texas v. Kennedy, and if you haven't heard of it yet, that is exactly the problem…"
https://blindaccessjournal.com/2026/03/fifty-years-of-hard-won-rights-are-on-the-line-the-fight-to-save-section-504/
+02: CASCADING STYLE SHEETS.
Everything You Never Wanted to Know About visually-hidden
By David Bushell.
"…You can't go wrong with well crafted, semantically accurate structure."
Everything you never wanted to know about visually-hidden
https://dbushell.com/2026/02/20/visually-hidden/
+03: EVALUATION & TESTING.
Archetypes vs. Personas (Video)
By Therese Fessenden.
"Personas and archetypes are different ways of communicating the same user research data. Archetypes describe categories of users; personas humanize those categories to illustrate real impact…"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoigZKtOrUA
Accessibility Snapshot Testing in iOS
By Mark Steadman.
"Snapshot testing is a popular type of regression testing that a lot of development teams are unaware has untapped potential when it comes to accessibility. The AccessibilitySnapshot library offers a way to bring accessibility into your automated regression suite. By treating the accessibility hierarchy as a testable artifact, developers can catch issues early and maintain a consistent, inclusive experience for all users…"
https://dev.to/steady5063/accessibility-snapshot-testing-in-ios-408e
Testing Mobile Apps - What Differs From Web Testing? (Part 1)
By Detlev Fischer.
"In the first part of a series of blog posts about mobile accessibility testing, we look at the main differences between testing common web content and testing native mobile apps.…"
https://bitvtest.de/en/blog/blog-article/testing-mobile-apps-what-differs-from-web-testing-part-1
Android and iOS - Should I Test Both? (Part 2)
By Detlev Fischer.
"…Conclusion: test both versions…"
https://bitvtest.de/en/blog/blog-article/android-und-ios-should-i-test-both-part-2
Keyboard Operability - Why Is It Important? (Part 3)
By Detlev Fischer.
"…That so many problems with keyboard operation still appear in our tests is certainly due to the fact that in the absence of legal obligations, this user group…have not been considered…"
https://bitvtest.de/en/blog/blog-article/keyboard-operability-why-is-it-important-part-3
+04: EVENTS.
The AI Quagmire: Benefits, Risks, and Aspirations Through a Disability Lens
March 25, 2025.
Online
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3217731747490/WN_rJT-xta9TMetFYVh_X78nw#/registration
UX Jumpstart: Design Products That Drive Real Action for Climate Tech
March 26, 2025.
Online
https://www.kolaxis.dev/shift-sustainability-left-software-development-lifecycle
Virtual UX Training
May 11-22, 2026.
Online
https://www.nngroup.com/training/may
Accessibility Club Summit 2026
May 9-10, 2026.
Würzburg, Germany
https://accessibility.club/event/accessibility-club-summit-2026
Open Source Assistive Technology Hackathon
May 21, 2026.
San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-source-assistive-technology-hackathon-tickets-1984064378967
A-TAG 2026
May 21, 2026.
Vienna, Austria
https://atag.accessible-media.at/
Inclusive Design 24
May 31, 2026: Call for Presentations
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HvDshghFG2QiyTCz7O7-_3ATAZnx4cTkevoT7LBR2fc/
September 24, 2026: Event
https://inclusivedesign24.org/2026/
Inclusive Design 24
May 31, 2026: Call for Presentations
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HvDshghFG2QiyTCz7O7-_3ATAZnx4cTkevoT7LBR2fc/
September 24, 2026: Event
https://inclusivedesign24.org/2026/
+05: HTML.
Quick Tip: Don't Use <abbr>
By Nat Tarnoff.
"…It's better to fall back to the old newspaper styling where you say the whole phrase the first time followed by the abbreviation in parenthesis. From there forward, you can use the abbreviation"
https://tarnoff.info/2026/03/20/quick-tip-dont-use-abbr/
+06: INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE.
Affinity Diagramming in Workshops (Video)
By Sarah Gibbons.
"Affinity diagramming reveals hidden patterns by clustering information into themed groups. This foundational UX method builds team alignment and transforms complex research data into actionable insights…"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L49s5ZYbVa8
+07: JAVASCRIPT.
JavaScript for Everyone: Destructuring
By Mat Marquis.
"…I'm able to share the entire lesson on destructuring assignment. These are some of my favorite JavaScript syntaxes, which I'm sure we can all agree are normal and in fact very cool things to have -syntaxes are as powerful as they are terse, all of them doing a lot of work with only a few characters. The downside of that terseness is that it makes these syntaxes a little more opaque than most, especially when you're armed only with a browser tab open to MDN and a gleam in your eye. We got this, though - by the time you've reached the end of this lesson, you'll be unpacking complex nested data structures with the best of them…"
https://css-tricks.com/javascript-for-everyone-destructuring/
Temporal: It's About Time!
By Jason Williams.
"After more than seven years of specification work, Temporal is finally here! In this talk, we'll explore the history, the challenges, and the new API that's set to replace JavaScript's long-maligned Date object…"
https://2026.stateofthebrowser.com/speaker/jason-williams/
+08: MISCELLANEOUS.
Can I Use AI to Create a Logic-Check for Systemic Ableism in Writing?
By Chris Yoong.
"Turns out, partially - this is helpful…"
https://chrisyoong.com/blog/using-ai-to-give-me-more-insight-to-disability-bias
Flood Fill vs.the Magic Circle
By Robin Sloan.
"…The world can run without an internet. The internet can't run without a world…"
https://www.robinsloan.com/winter-garden/magic-circle/
The Last Quiet Thing
By Terry Godier.
"…Your phone is not a slot machine. It's a to-do list that writes itself…The purchase isn't the end of anything. It's the first day of a relationship you didn't agree to…You're not bad with technology. Technology got bad at being finished…"
https://www.terrygodier.com/the-last-quiet-thing
+09: NAVIGATION.
Dropdowns Inside Scrollable Containers: Why They Break And How To Fix Them Properly
By Godstime Aburu.
"Dropdowns often work perfectly until they're placed inside a scrollable panel, where they can get clipped, and half the menu disappears behind the container's edge. Godstime Aburu explains why this happens and offers practical solutions to fix it…"
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2026/03/dropdowns-scrollable-containers-why-break-how-fix/
+10: USABILITY.
What Is Your Site's AI Chatbot for? Users Can't Tell
By Maria Rosala, Georgia Kenderova and Tanner Kohler.
"Users see little reason to use site AI chatbots. To prove their value, chatbots must solve problems that existing site features don't"
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/site-ai-chatbot/
The 3 C's of Informational Microcopy
By Taylor Dykes.
"Well-written informational microcopy should be clear, concise, and have character."
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/3-cs-microcopy/
A Newbie's Guide to Designing Good Web Forms
By Beeps.
"…This is (hopefully) going to be a series of blog posts covering the design and development of good online forms, starting with what you ask for in the first place…"
https://beeps.website/blog/2026-03-17-newbies-guide-to-forms-structure/
+11: WEBWASTE & SUSTAINABILITY.
Shift-Left Sustainability: How to develop green software by design
By Ioannis Kolaxis.
"Today, sustainability is an afterthought for most software applications…"
https://www.kolaxis.dev/shift-sustainability-left-software-development-lifecycle
[Section one ends.]
++ SECTION TWO:
+12: 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.
+ SUBSCRIPTION INFO.
WEB DESIGN UPDATE is available by subscription. For information on how to subscribe and unsubscribe please visit:
https://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/webdev_listserv.html
The Web Design Reference Site also has a RSS 2.0 feed for site updates.
+ TEXT EMAIL NEWSLETTER (TEN).
As a navigation aid for screen readers we do our best to conform to the accessible Text Email Newsletter (TEN) guidelines. Please let me know if there is anything else we can do to make navigation easier. For TEN guideline information please visit:
http://www.headstar.com/ten
+ 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.]
Laura L. Carlson
Information Technology Systems and Services
University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MN U.S.A. 55812-3009
http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/
W3C Invited Expert
Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
https://www.w3.org/groups/wg/ag/participants
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Information Technology Systems and Services
University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MN U.S.A. 55812-3009
http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/
W3C Invited Expert
Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
https://www.w3.org/groups/wg/ag/participants
Pronouns: she/her/hers
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