Abstract:

Issues related to accessibility, especially concerning web accessibility, have gained increasing significance over time. They represent a fundamental aspect tied to the rights of all individuals, including those with disabilities, particularly in their ability to access the internet. In light of this, and with a specific focus on digital accessibility as a crucial factor for ensuring Quality Education, aligning with the 4th Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, our objective is to comprehend this phenomenon within one of the most widely accessed websites globally, namely Wikipedia.

Our aim is to identify and scrutinize accessibility practices within the Portuguese Wikipedia. To achieve this, we initially provide a brief overview of the concept of accessibility, emphasizing its digital dimension. Subsequently, we present a concise introduction to the online encyclopedia, situated within the Wikimedia universe, and its interaction with the WEIWER® International Academic Network, which encompasses our analysis. This analysis is based on tests conducted on a prominent Wikipedia article, utilizing AccessMonitor software (version 2.1).

In conclusion, we examine the results derived from the web accessibility practices report for the tested website. Our findings suggest that while the Wikipedia community, resulting from voluntary contributors to this global initiative, is attentive to ensuring digital accessibility, there remain various aspects that require improvement for comprehensive accessibility attainment.

Keywords:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), AccessMonitor software, Wikipedia Community, WEIWER® International Academic Network, Quality Education.