The role of accessibility in custom AEM applications

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a powerful content management solution that allows businesses to create personalized and interactive digital experiences and interactions for their customers. With AEM, organizations can manage multilingual websites, deliver personalized user experiences, and leverage tools for digital marketing and campaign management. AEM is part of the Adobe Experience Cloud, which provides a comprehensive suite of solutions for digital experience management.

What is AEM?

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is an enterprise content management system that enables businesses to build and manage websites, applications, and digital assets. With AEM, organizations can easily create, manage, and deliver content across various channels, including web, mobile, and social media.

AEM provides a range of features and capabilities, including content authoring and editing, digital asset management, workflow management, and integration with other Adobe Cloud tools. It offers a user-friendly interface, robust security controls, and scalable architecture, making it an ideal solution for large enterprises and organizations with complex content management needs.

The Importance of Accessibility in AEM Applications

Accessibility refers to the design and development of digital content and applications that are usable by people with disabilities. In the context of AEM applications, accessibility plays a crucial role in ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access and interact with the content and functionality provided by the application.

Building custom AEM applications with accessibility in mind is not only a legal requirement in many countries but also a moral and ethical responsibility. By making AEM applications accessible, businesses can reach a wider audience, improve user experience, and demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Key Considerations for Accessibility in Custom AEM Applications

When building custom AEM applications, there are several key considerations that developers and designers should keep in mind to ensure accessibility:

1. Use Semantic HTML: Semantic HTML tags provide meaning and structure to web content, making it easier for assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to interpret and present the content to users with disabilities. Developers should use appropriate HTML tags, such as headings, lists, and tables, to convey the structure and hierarchy of the content.
2. Add Alternative Text to Images: Images play a crucial role in web content, but they can also be a barrier for users with visual impairments. By adding alternative text (alt text) to images, developers can provide a textual description that is read aloud by screen readers, allowing users to understand the content and context of the images.
3. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility: Many users with disabilities rely on keyboard navigation to interact with web applications. Developers should ensure that all interactive elements in AEM applications, such as buttons and links, can be easily accessed and activated using the keyboard alone. Additionally, the application should provide clear focus indicators to help users navigate and understand the current focus state.
4. Provide Transcripts and Captions for Multimedia: Multimedia content, such as videos and audio files, should be accompanied by transcripts and captions to make them accessible to users with hearing impairments. Transcripts provide a textual version of the audio content, while captions provide synchronized text that is displayed alongside the video or audio.

Testing and Validating Accessibility in AEM Applications

Ensuring accessibility in custom AEM applications requires thorough testing and validation. Here are some key steps to consider:

1. Conduct Accessibility Audits: Use automated accessibility testing tools, such as the Accessibility Insights for Web or the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool, to identify accessibility issues in AEM applications. These tools can scan the application and provide detailed reports on accessibility violations and recommendations for improvement.
2. Perform Manual Testing: Automated tools can help identify common accessibility issues, but manual testing is essential to catch nuanced issues and ensure a truly accessible user experience. Test the application using assistive technologies, such as screen readers and keyboard navigation, to identify any usability barriers or shortcomings.
3. Follow Accessibility Guidelines: AEM applications should adhere to international accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. These guidelines provide a comprehensive set of recommendations for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. Following these guidelines can help ensure compliance and improve the overall accessibility of the application.

Conclusion

Accessibility is a critical aspect of building custom AEM applications. By considering accessibility from the early stages of development and following best practices, businesses can create AEM applications that are usable by all users, regardless of their abilities. Ensuring accessibility not only enhances the user experience but also demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and diversity. With the right tools and techniques, businesses can leverage the power of AEM to deliver accessible and engaging digital experiences to their customers.