Exploring Web Accessibility in American Accredited Universities
- toldham2
- May 6, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: May 14, 2023
Using Python to Collect and Analyze Data for a Quantitative Understanding of Current Education Access
Accessibility is crucial in ensuring equal opportunities for everyone, including individuals with disabilities. In today's digital age, where information and services are often delivered through websites, web accessibility plays a vital role in inclusive education. My recent study focused on understanding the current state of web accessibility compliance in American higher education institutions. I am excited to share my findings and presentation, which provide valuable insights into web accessibility and its impact on education access.
The Study
In my study, I investigated the web accessibility of 1,061 higher education institutions in the United States. Using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA as the benchmark, I examined the rate of compliance, the relationship between compliance and various factors such as ownership, size, and tuition, and the potential implications of these findings. My comprehensive slideshow presentation provides a detailed study overview, highlighting key points and takeaways.
Key Findings
My analysis revealed some important findings. First, 18.9% of institutions met the WCAG 2.1 AA compliance criteria (zero violations), while 55.7% were close to meeting the criteria (less than five violations). I also found that public institutions had significantly fewer compliance violations than private institutions. There was a significant negative correlation between the size of the undergraduate population and the number of violations in private nonprofit institutions.
On the other hand, no significant correlation was found between tuition and web accessibility compliance, suggesting that higher tuition does not necessarily translate to better web accessibility.
Conclusion
My study has brought to light the current state of web accessibility in American higher education institutions. While there is progress in compliance rates, there is still room for improvement. Institutions should strive to create inclusive digital environments that cater to all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. The findings from my study can help institutions identify areas where they can improve their web accessibility practices, ensuring equal access to education for everyone. I recommend expanding current web accessibility legislation to all .edu domains in America.
Explore my full paper and slideshow presentation to learn more about my findings and how they can impact web accessibility and education access for individuals with disabilities.
Full Paper:
Python Notebook:
コメント