What is Web Accessibility

Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web.  More specifically, Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web.  Web accessibility also benefits others, including older people with changing abilities due to aging.

Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the Web, including: visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.

Millions of people have disabilities that affect their use of the Web.  Currently, most Web sites and Web software have accessibility barriers that make it difficult or impossible for many people with disabilities to use the Web.  As more accessible Web sites and software become available, people with disabilities are able to use and contribute to the Web more effectively.

Web accessibility also benefits people without disabilities.  For example, a key principle of Web accessibility is designing Web sites and software that are flexible to meet different user needs, preferences, and situations.  This flexibility also benefits people without disabilities in certain situations, such as people using a slow Internet connection, people with "temporary disabilities" such as a broken arm, and people with changing abilities due to aging.

Why Web Accessibility is Important

The Web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of life: education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more.  It is essential that the Web be accessible in order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities.  An accessible Web can also help people with disabilities more actively participate in society.

The Web offers the possibility of unprecedented access to information and interaction for many people with disabilities. That is, the accessibility barriers to print, audio, and visual media can be much more easily overcome through Web technologies.

Another important consideration for organisations is that Web accessibility is required by laws and policies in some cases.  Click here for the Council of the European Union’s policy on Accessibility of Public Websites -- Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Making the Web Accessible

Much of the focus on Web accessibility has been on the responsibilities of Web developers.  However, Web software also has a vital role in Web accessibility.  Software needs to help developers produce and evaluate accessible Web sites, and be usable by people with disabilities.

One of the roles of the Web Accessibility Initiative is to develop guidelines and techniques that describe accessibility solutions for Web software and Web developers. These WAI guidelines are considered the international standard for Web accessibility.

Making Your Web Site Accessible

Making a Web site accessible can be simple or complex, depending on many factors such as the type of content, the size and complexity of the site, and the development tools and environment.

Many accessibility features are easily implemented if they are planned from the beginning of Web site development or redesign.  Fixing inaccessible Web sites can require significant effort, especially sites that were not originally "coded" properly with standard XHTML mark-up, and sites with certain types of content such as multimedia.

Evaluating the Accessibility of a Web Site

When developing or redesigning a site, evaluating accessibility early and throughout the development process can identify accessibility problems early when it is easier to address them.  Simple techniques such as changing settings in a browser can determine if a Web page meets some accessibility guidelines.  A comprehensive evaluation to determine if a site meets all accessibility guidelines is much more complex.

There are evaluation tools that help with evaluation.  However, no tool alone can determine if a site meets accessibility guidelines.  Knowledgeable human evaluation is required to determine if a site is accessible.

For More Information

The WAI Web site provides guidelines and resources to help make the Web accessible.  

Related resources for making the Web accessible are also available from other organisations, and many can be found on the Web.

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