"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect."
Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web
Tim Berners-Lee was right about many things. Especially about universality in the web. The internet is used by people all over the world, and over the years significant work has been made in assistive technologies for people who may have a disability. This post looks at the overview of Accessibility in Web Design.
Tools of Accessibility
These tools can help people with issues such as:
- auditory
- cognitive
- neurological
- physical
- speech
- visual
Accessibility in Web Design also benefits people without disabilities, for example:
- people using mobile phones, smart watches, smart TVs, and other devices with small screens, different input modes, etc.
- older people with changing abilities due to ageing
- people with "temporary disabilities" such as a broken arm or lost glasses
- people with "situational limitations" such as in bright sunlight or in an environment where they cannot listen to audio
- people using a slow Internet connection, or who have limited or expensive bandwidth
Importance of Accessibility
The web is a monumentally important resource in many aspects of life education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more.
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.
Accessibility in Web Design supports social inclusion for people with disabilities as well as others, such as:
- older people
- people in rural areas
- people in developing countries
Business Case for Accessibility
There is also a strong business case for accessibility. As shown in the previous section, accessible design improves overall user experience and satisfaction, especially in a variety of situations, across different devices, and for older users. Accessibility can enhance your brand, drive innovation, and extend your market reach.
Web accessibility is required by law in many situations.
It is advantageous to make your site accessible not just because it is required but because it is inclusive of people who might not have the ability to experience the web unassisted.
Further Reading
If you are interested in some further reading visit the W3C website on their WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative). They are doing lots of work to make the web a usable place for anyone regardless of how they interact with the space.
If you enjoyed this short blog post please let me know. I will try and keep up with these blog posts on subjects that I think are important to web design.