Design Template by Anonymous

Introduction

What is Accessibility in the Context of the Web?

Accessibility in the context of the web focuses primarily on designing and developing websites, tools, and technologies in order to ensure that people with a wide array of disabilities can use them. This usability metric often refers specifically to the ability to perceive, understand, navigate, interact with, and contribute to the web. Disabilities relevant to web accessibility include auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, and visual impairments; however, this research will focus specifically on visual, auditory, and physical disabilities. It is also important to note that, in a broader sense, web accessibility is just making the web usable by as many people as possible, and even people without disabilities can benefit from these practices. Some examples include designing around people with different screen sizes, limitations due to surroundings like noise and brightness, as well as those experiencing temporary disabilities due to injury.

Why is Accessibility Important?

Web accessibility is immensely important for several reasons. From its inception, the web was designed to be inclusive, ensuring that all people, regardless of technology, language, location, or physical ability, can make use of all the benefits it has to offer. For creators, accessibility is a key factor in developing high-quality sites and tools that eliminate barriers to their message or service. It also ensures equal access and opportunity to the information being shared by these technologies. Additionally, from a non-practical sense, there is a moral responsibility to help individuals with disabilities navigate the challenges they face, and to grant them the same opportunities that able-bodied people take for granted every day.

Why Should Businesses Make Their Sites Accessible?

There are many reasons why businesses should strive to make their sites accessible for all. For starters, making sites centered around web accessibility improves user experience and satisfaction for all users. For example, having a good contrast ratio for text on a page is not only critical to allowing the message to be received by those with visual impairments, but also allows for an easier experience for those without. Additionally, without an accessible design, many will be excluded from the prospect of successfully using the site, and thus the opportunity will be lost to share the site’s message and gain new users. In short, web accessibility increases web traffic and brings more users to the site, which in turn increases the potential for services to be utilized and online purchases to be made. If none of that was convincing, web accessibility is required by law in many areas around the world. Having access to information and communication technology is classified as a basic human right under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Having an inaccessible site could potentially cut off a large market of users in certain areas, or even make site-owners face potential lawsuits.