Accessibility Matters In Web Development
March 16th, 2010 by Richard
These days, web design is supposed to allow access for all users, including those with disabilities. In practice, however, there are still many websites where poor design prevents use by people with physical and cognitive problems.
A site’s design can allow or bar disabled users in a number of specific ways. One important example is the use of alternative text in case images cannot be viewed. Visually impaired visitors using a screen reader will have no information about an image unless this vital ‘equivalent alternative text’ is present on the page. Similarly, audio files should be accompanied by a written transcript for those who are unable to listen to them. Otherwise, such visitors are denied that information. For people who find it difficult to handle a mouse, a web page which cannot be fully utilised via the keyboard will limit their use.
A common misconception is that by ignoring accessibility requirements or providing a disclaimer that the site is ‘working towards’ them, a website cannot be held to account. Yet the UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities views access to communication and information technology, such as the Internet, as one of the basic human rights. In America, the National Federation for the Blind took the company Target to court over failure to use alternative text on its website. It should not be difficult to incorporate accessibility techniques into the web design process as a matter of course. At Click Consult we realise that the best web design results from accessible web development and search marketing.
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I read your post. It is very Interesting. And i am Sure its very Benificial for me.
You are right on target! This is a smart business practice for anyone in our field