Website Accessibility Designs

Website Accessibility failings

 

As highlighted in a recent BBC report titled 'most website failing disabled', a majority of websites are designed in such a way the prevent accessibility for users who have some form of disability.

 

What is web site accessibility ?

 

People with disabilities are being confronted with barriers which make access to a websites either very difficult or some cases impossible. With the increasing importance of the web for our every days lives, there have been significant advancement in Disability Aids to allow users with a disability to see, hear, navigate and fully interact with a website.

 

Website designs with full accessibility

 

A website that is W3C complaint has the necessary features incorporated into the website to ensure that any disability aids work as intended, where as a website that is completely navigational by the commonly used technology JavaScript is going to prevent some disability aids from functioning correctly. Good website designer are fully aware of these web technology failings and should ensure that where designs address these issues by including both JavaScript and an alternative method of navigation, thereby accommodating any person who maybe using a disability aid and allowing full interaction for all.

 

Designing a website for all does not prevent a website from been visually appealing, with some consideration for the technologies available to a web designer all barriers can be overcome. Some designer will argue there is a trade off with complaint websites, and that they reduce interaction, look dull, and are more expensive to produce - this is simply not the case, compliant websites can be produced without any loss of features and provide all users the same high quality websites.

 

Accessibility Legal Requirements

 

All websites owners within the UK have a legal obligation to ensure their website is fully accessible, this legal requirement is defined within 'The Disability Discrimination Act 1995' (Chapter 50 Part III section 3-C).

 

Web designers have moral duty to ensure their websites provide equal access to everybody and should actively encourage all walks of life to participate. Our ever growing dependence with online information and its access 24/7 should not be restrictive, due to any form disability. Web designers must be proactive, keep abreast of technology advancements and apply these standards to their websites.