Accessibility in Web Design addresses the issue of creating
Web sites that are accessible to all users, regardless
of physical ability or the way in which they are using
the Internet.
In this article I will be introducing the concepts
surrounding accessible Web Design, the current initiatives
to increase the accessibility of Web sites and the
guidelines that you can use to make your site more
accessible.
Technical level: Intermediate ||
Date: 23rd November 2002 || Author:
Nigel Peck
Why Accessibility Is Important
Why aren't all Web sites accessible? You may be asking
yourself why this issue exists and why all Web sites
aren't already accessible to all users. There are
a number of reasons that I will outline now.
Visually Disabled Users
Visually disabled users ranging from colour blind
to fully blind have problems with images that do not
provide a text description of what they show. Without
a text description a user who can't see an image has
no way of knowing what it is or what it represents.
These users also have problems understanding sites
that are not logically built when "viewed"
using a non-visual browser such as a screen reader.
A screen reader is a Web Browser that reads Web sites
out loud so as to make them accessible to visually
disabled users. Often a Web site that looks nice visually
will be a complete mess when it is listened to through
a screen reader.
Hearing Disabilities
In a similar way to visually disabled users not having
any way of understanding an image, users with hearing
disabilities have no way of understanding information
that is communicated with sound, unless an alternative
is provided that does not use sound, such as a text
description or an image.
Physical Disabilities
If you are not physically disabled, have you tried
using a Web site without your mouse? Unless you were
lucky with the site you chose then you probably found
it very difficult. Physically disabled users are often
incapable of using a mouse. Unless these users needs
are taken into account when creating Web site navigation
and input methods physically disabled users will sometimes
find a Web site completely inaccessible.
Cognitive and Neurological Disabilities
Web sites can be complex, and finding the information
we want can be difficult for the most able of us.
This is not helped by sites that use an overly complex
design, navigation that works differently on different
pages (inconsistent) and distracting repetitive animation.
All of these problems are compounded for users with
Cognitive and Neurological Disabilities and this makes
some sites completely inaccessible for them.
Beyond Disabilities
As we have seen, using the Internet if you have a
disability can be a difficult task. By observing and
understanding the guidelines for accessible Web Design
a site can be produced that serves it's purpose and
is accessible to all of it's users, not just those
without disabilities.
But it doesn't stop there. Accessible Web Design
has benefits for other users too. Let's see who else
can benefit.
The following groups will benefit from following
the guidelines for making your site accessible:
Users of mobile phones, Web-TV and kiosks,
Low bandwidth users,
Users in a noisy environment,
Users with "screen glare",
Users who are driving,
Users with a low literacy level,
Second-language access and
Users with different learning styles.
Dealing with accessibility issues also improves:
Page transmission and site maintenance,
Machine indexing of content and
Searching of content.
The Marketplace
There's another reason for making your site accessible
(if you need any more). According to current figures
disabled users currently make up around 10% to 20%
of the population in most countries. Increase that
for the amount of your users who fall into the categories
listed above and you're looking at up to 30% of the
market. If making your site accessible to 30% of the
market doesn't persuade you that accessible Web Design
is worth it then stop reading now.
The average age of the population in many countries
is also increasing. Aging results in a number of accessibility
issues including vision and hearing changes and changes
in dexterity and memory. If your market includes a
significant number of elderly users then you can increase
that 30% to a much larger percentage of users who
will reap the benefits of accessible Web Design.
Legal Requirement
For certain Web sites, addressing accessibility can
be a legal requirement. This is usually for government
sites but can affect others, every UK Web site must
be accesbile under the Disability Discrimination Act.
For more information on the requirements in different
countries see the W3C page Policies Relating to Web
Accessibility.
