The design and build of an accessible website relies not just on awareness and designing with accessibility in mind, but also careful planning, testing and evaluation.
Accessibility is the degree to which anyone can access and use a website using any web browsing technology. A fully accessible site is one that is designed to make use of the latest web technologies such as multimedia, while at the same time accommodating the needs of those who have difficulty with or are unable to use these technologies.
Accessibility is not about dull, boring websites
Text-only sites can be useful for someone using speech or braille output or even a mobile phone. However well designed graphics and multimedia are a positive aid to using and understanding websites for the rest of the browsing public, and do not need to be sacrificed for accessibility.
Design for all
Accessibility is about flexibility in design. Designers need to think in terms of providing more than one way of doing things on a website, so that if a user is unable to use one method, other options are available to them.
Tackling myths and assumptions
Accessibility is also about avoiding myths and assumptions about how and why people use the web. It may surprise you to learn that accessibility benefits everyone who uses your website, not just people who have a disability.
Some examples of the types of assumptions and mistakes that are commonly made:
•Everyone can use a mouse.
•Everyone can upgrade to the latest browser or download the required plug-in.
•Blind people can't drive, so they won't be interested in a website about cars.
A better web experience for everyone
Accessibility is about understanding and supporting the needs of the people who visit your website. A well-designed site will remove the barriers that may prevent people from entering and using it.
A website that is accessible will provide the same level of experience to everyone who visits it, regardless of his or her level of ability or disability.
Inclusion not exclusion
Imagine visiting your favourite shop.
For example Marks and Spencer, You find it open for business, but all the doors are locked. How would you feel unable to open those doors even though you know they are open to others? Frustrated, angry, excluded?
This was what it was like for a visitor to there web site, all images without alt tags, no long descriptions, and so on.
This may sound ridiculous but it might not be as far-fetched as you may think. If we examine how people with different needs use websites, we may find it uncomfortably close to the truth.
Some Valuable quotes:
"Did you know that producing information in such a way that all your customers can read, makes good business sense, is the law and is fair?"
"For the first time in six years I’ve been able to complete my food shopping without sighted assistance. That felt brilliant - A blind internet user"
Breaking The Law Priest
So let's get straight to the point. Is your website breaking the law? Well, in October 2004 we reached the deadline of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), 1995 in which the DDA ordered service providers to make "reasonable adjustments" to the physical features of their premises to ensure the services they provide are accessible to people with disabilities.
The 175 page code of practice for the DDA published in May 2002 specifically mentions websites. The relevant sections are included below.
2.13 - 2.17 (p11-13): “What services are affected by the Disability Discrimination Act? An airline company provides a flight reservation and booking service to the public on its website. This is a provision of a service and is subject to the act.”
5.23 (p71): “For people with visual impairments, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include... accessible websites.”
5.26 (p68): “For people with hearing disabilities, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include... accessible websites.”
To elaborate on this some more.
“The duty not to refuse or deliberately not provide a service could apply in a case where a service provider has deliberately chosen not to integrate accessibility into his Web site. This might include where a Flash movie is used, but there is no option for a user with a screen reader to skip it.
… A service provider must not provide a lower standard of service to a disabled person, compared to that offered to an able-bodied person. Thus, where a retailer offers an e-commerce facility in addition to its high street shop, if the Web site is inaccessible then the disabled person will be unable to enjoy the convenience of home shopping and will thus be subject to a lower standard of service. "
Source: Martin Sloan (www.dmag.org.uk)
With the legal side of things out of the way there are a number of important benefits to building an accessible website. There are 8.6 million registered disabled people in the UK , totaling 14% of the population (Source: Disability Rights Commission). Two million people in the UK have sight problems and 9% have some form of colour blindness (Source: Institution of Electrical Engineers). There are also 12 million people aged 60 or over, some 21% of the UK population (Source: UK Government). This eventually means that 48% of the population of the UK, not to mention those of other countries could potentially face problems using a website that does not comply with accessibility guidelines. Therefore producing an accessible website could gain you important commercial benefits in the shape of many new customers.
Accessibility is closely linked to the other standards covered in this section, so much so that the W3C launched the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) in order to advise web agencies of strategies to achieve compliance.
The WAI offers three standardized levels of access, from the readily achieved (Priority 1), to one that requires slightly more work (Priority 2), to a master level (Priority 3). Creative Eye can achieve all of the above
“I own a B2B company and the DDA doesn't apply to me” I hear you say. Well there are some great reasons for designing with accessibility in mind. Accessibility and web standards are so closely linked that many of the benefits cross over. Some of the many benefits include:
Speed of development and updates
Future compatibility with new browsers, PDA's and mobile devices
Both Zane Clements & Gary Moyle are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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