Arabic web accessibility analysis: findings from a usability study of Arabian web developers

Abstract

The importance of considering people with impairments’ needs in the early stage of web application design increases with technological advances. Human–computer interaction researchers have developed many applications and tools to improve inclusive web design and alleviate struggles related to the accessibility of the web. Recent Arabic web accessibility studies have shown that the Arabian countries are falling behind western countries in many aspects of web accessibility. One of these aspects is the lack of tools and applications that assist web developers in designing inclusive websites and web applications. The purpose of this research is to implement a web tool, a previously suggested solution, to improve Arabic web accessibility and examine the effects of using an Arabic web accessibility tool as a solution to enhance Arabic web accessibility. An Arabic web accessibility testing tool called AATT was developed, tested, and improved. This research will report the final analysis and results of using the improved version of AATT. Thirty-one web developer participants took part in this study. Twenty-two of the survey respondents evaluated the tool while nine used it to improve some websites. The nine participants were chosen from different organizations in Saudi Arabia. The participants are web developers who manage organizations’ websites: two universities, a hospital, four charities, four cultural content, and one personal website. Some of these organizations’ websites are administrated by one or more web developers. One of the web developers administers our charity websites. So, twelve websites’ homepages were tested and improved using AATT. The findings show that AATT enhanced the accessibility of Arabic websites, provided user satisfaction, and improved web accessibility awareness.