University of New Hampshire, Department of Computer Science

Information Technology 502
, Intermediate Web Design

Spring 2024

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Design Template by Anonymous

Web Accessibility

Welcome to my online tutorial on website accessibility! This tutorial briefly talks about the standards and organizations which control website accessibility, then we'll dive further into the nitty gritty technical details of the accessibility.

Understanding Accessibility

First, we should get into understanding what web accessibility is and why it is important. Web accessibility is a fundamental component of digital inclusivity, which ensures that web applications are designed and operate in a manner that enable everyone, including those with disabilities, to use the website and interact with the content as intended. In order to ensure everyone has equal access to all internet websites, web developers should consider adding accessibility functionality to their sites, and designing the website to be easy to access by everyone.

There are multiple reasons to be interested in accessibility. First, there are a number of rules, regulations and guidelines that specify how a website must make itself accessible. For example, a government website is intended to be accessed by the general population, so it will need to be made accessible. Something else like a bank website or news website may also decide to set their own rules for accessibility to ensure all users will be able to access it. Second, It increases the reach of the website. With the exception of private or internal use websites, most website owners will want to maximize their reach so they can place their content and tools in front of as many people as possible. If it's a shopping website, they might generate more sales, if it is a news website, they'll get more ad revenue. If it something like a bank website, they may get more customers. It is literally a benefit to a company's bottom line to try and be as inclusive as possible in the web design, and make the website easier to use. The third reason actually has nothing to do with accessibility. Many of the tactics used to improve the website accessibility often end up improving the overall user experience in the process. Elements such as descriptive navigation buttons, high contrast between text and background colors, and the general simplification of the website design makes the website easier to use for your average Joe, who may not have any type of disability, but still benefits from these features being implemented.