Who needs Accessible Web Sites? part 3
Let’s look at some more access issues that affect web sites, so along with visual impairment:
Cognitive abilities need accessible sites
 Cognitive abilities - the customer has problems understanding your web pages. Sometimes pictorial representations of information help to get a message across.
Changes need not be daunting.
Some minor changes can make a big difference – such as ensuring that a user with low vision can make the text larger on your web pages.
Question: Imagine what your company web site would look like if a visitor had difficulty seeing the text, images or buttons?
Answer: A mostly blank screen?
Blind customers, or the visually impaired, may use a text-only browser or a text-to-speech converter, which changes the words on your web site to the spoken word. A text-to-braille converter is also widely used. Accessible web sites don't have to be plain and dull! If a web site is constructed and designed using correct coding, styles and all the necessary user-friendly features, it can be a rich and entertaining online environment for all.
An accessible web site can contain just as much information for everyone. It should be noted that web sites must not discriminate against anyone. Under the act all products and services must be offered on the same terms!
What are the guidelines?
The Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international body that sets the standards used on the internet. Through its Web Accessibility Initiative it has produced a set of guidelines aimed at making web sites as accessible as possible. There are three levels of accessibility Priorities 1, 2 and 3 (also called A, AA and AAA).
Priority 1 checks must be attained - this really is the most fundamental level of accessibility. Without this, one or more groups of people will find it impossible to access the information and services on your web site. If you can pass Priority 2 and 3 checkpoints you will have removed significant barriers to internet information and services on your web site.
Go back to the "who needs accessible web design" article here
The "who needs accessible web design" article continues here on page 2
To determine how accessible your website is, please contact us. For further details on making your website accessible, visit the Disability Rights Commission or read our report on 8 benefits of free accessible reports web sites. |
