We at Com.Motion Consulting have had many questions on the subject of Website Accessibility, so we thought we would take some time to explain what it is and why it is important.
What is Website Accessibility?
Website Accessibility is providing unhindered access to your organizations website for disabled users online. For example, website owners may and should consider the following disabilities.
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Visual – Users of the web, who are blind, color blind or have poor eyesight
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Motor - Users of the web who have problems using a mouse or keyboard.
Why is it important?
Website accessibility is important is because there are over 10 million disabled people in the UK who by law should have unrestricted access to your website. From an ethical and a business point of view, it makes sense to take steps to address accessibility issues with your website.
Website accessibility can and should be seen as a huge opportunity for organisations to make their websites, products and services available to an audience of potential customers who do not have access at this time. By meeting accessibility standards, organisations are covering themselves legally, disabled users will be able to browse their website and they are potentially capturing new customers as a result.
The Law
Website accessibility is important because it is a legal requirement that organisations should be aware of and should be catering for on their organisations websites. The law requires organisations to make online information accessible to disabled people i.e. "reasonable steps” to make sure that you website is accessible to all.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - Consider the these Guidlines
Priority 1 (A) – Your website must satisfy this checkpoint otherwise some groups of people will find it impossible to access the content on a web site and it i.e. A compliant
Priority 2 (AA) - Web Developers should satisfy this checkpoint otherwise one or more groups will find difficult to access information on a website. The British Government is aiming for Level AA on its own sites i.e. AA compliant
Priority 3 (AAA) - If Web developers satisfy these checkpoints the majority of users will be able to access most of the information on a website.
Please click on the link below that provides a report from the Disibility Rights Commission on web accessibility for disabled users.
What should and can you do?
There is a wealth if information freely available on website accessibility and as a starting point, check out the W3C Website Accessibility Imitative website (WAI). The WAI has developed a range of literature, strategies and guidelines to assist you with your web accessibility issues.
Additional Information on website accessibility can be found at the following websites.
Website Accessibility Cases
Have a look at this website accessibility cases involving Bruce McGuire and the Sydney Olympics Committee.
Website Accessibility is a huge area and cannot be covered in one article. If you have any further question or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us directly at Com.Motion Consultancy. If we don’t know the answer we will be able to refer you to someone who does.
