Web accessibility means that people who are disabled can still benefit from and contribute to the Internet. Many web browsers and other software used on the web can make it difficult or impossible for people have visual, auditory, or physical impairments to use the web. By designing and building websites that meet current accessibility guidelines, those barriers are removed and your information and services are available to those who may not have access to them otherwise.
Creating website that meet accessibility standards can also benefit people without disabilities. The goal is to design a site that is technologically flexible and able to meet different needs and situations. That way, users on slow connections, those with changing abilities due to aging, or even temporary disabilities such as a broken arm or hand will all be able to view and use your website.
What makes a website ‘Accessible’?
Making a website accessible is not difficult or complicated- but here are the types of things that need to be considered:
- Images & animations: Use the alt attribute to describe the function of each visual.
- Image maps: Use the client-side map and text for hotspots.
- Multimedia: Provide captioning and transcripts of audio, and descriptions of video.
- Hypertext links: Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example, avoid “click here.”
- Page organization: Use headings, lists, and consistent structure. Use CSS for layout and style where possible.
- Graphs & charts: Summarize or use the longdesc attribute.
- Scripts, applets, & plug-ins: Provide alternative content in case active features are inaccessible or unsupported.
- Frames: Use the noframes element and meaningful titles.
- Tables: Make line-by-line reading sensible. Summarize.
- Check your work: Validate. Use tools, checklist, and guidelines at http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG
Information taken from WAI, Quick Tips to Make Accessible Web Sites
What about ‘Web Standards’? What does that mean?
Web standards have been established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for creating and developing web-based content. Building with these standards ensures that a website will be available to more people and devices than if it were built without. And as newer browsers and devices come to market, it also means that the site will continue to function properly in the future.
The Web Standards Project was created to fight for standards support in the development of these devices and browsers. You can find out more on their purpose and mission at their website.
What else is Accessibility good for?
Aside from not excluding user groups, high accessibility is also great for search engine optimization and placement. If you think of a search engine as a user with limited capabilities: unable to read images, can’t view fancy JavaScripts or other multimedia, then it’s only natural that the more accessible your site is for users, the more accessible it is for search engines. Here’s a great article that explains how designing with accessibility and standards in mind can help search engine placement.