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Accessibility is a very complicated matter to solve completely. Ever since
the PC became mainstream there have been those that did everything they can
to aid the impaired and there have been those that ignored it completely.
The trouble lies that it is not easy to create software or websites that can
be accessed by everyone. The different needs vary too much and some user or
client side technology does not exist yet. This said, it is vital that we do
what is possible to make software and websites useable to everyone. It makes
good business sense as well as it broadens your client base.
Web Accessibility is also important to our Digital Inclusion for Inverclyde
promotion. The inclusion is not just for those that are not on the web yet,
but also to raise awareness to those that have trouble using the web at the
moment. We hope to raise the bar in content management, W3C complaince and accessiblity
of website in the Inverclyde area.
Web accessibility refers to the practice of making websites usable by people
of all abilities and disabilities. When sites are correctly designed, developed
and edited, all users can have equal access to information and functionality.
For example, when a site is coded with semantically meaningful HTML, with textual
equivalents provided for images and with links named meaningfully, this helps
blind users using text-to-speech software and/or text-to-Braille hardware. When
text and images are large and/or enlargable, it is easier for users with poor
sight to read and understand the content. When links are underlined (or otherwise
differentiated) as well as coloured, this ensures that color blind users will
be able to notice them. When clickable links and areas are large, this helps
users who cannot control a mouse with precision. When pages are coded so that
users can navigate by means of the keyboard alone, or a single switch access
device alone, this helps users who cannot use a mouse or even a standard keyboard.
When videos are closed captioned or a sign language version is available, deaf
and hard of hearing users can understand video. When flashing effects are avoided
or made optional, users prone to seizures caused by these effects are not put
at risk. And when content is written in plain language and illustrated with
instructional diagrams and animations, users with dyslexia and learning difficulties
are better able to understand the content. When sites are correctly built and
maintained, all of these users can be accommodated while not impacting on the
usability of the site for non-disabled users.
The needs that Web accessibility aims to address include:
- Visual: Visual impairments including blindness, various common types of low vision and poor eyesight, various types of color blindness;
- Motor/Mobility: e.g. difficulty or inability to use the hands, including tremors, muscle slowness, loss of fine muscle control, etc., due to conditions such as Parkinson's Disease, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, stroke;
- Auditory: Deafness or hearing impairments, including individuals who are hard of hearing;
- Seizures: Photoepileptic seizures caused by visual strobe or flashing effects.
- Cognitive/Intellectual: Developmental disabilities, learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia, etc.), and cognitive disabilities of various origins, affecting memory, attention, developmental "maturity," problem-solving and logic skills, etc.
Disabled users use assistive technologies such as the following to enable and
assist web browsing:
Screen reader software, which can read out, using synthesised speech, either
selected elements of what is being displayed on the monitor (helpful for users
with reading or learning difficulties), or which can read out everything that
is happening on the PC (used by blind and vision impaired users).
Braille terminals, consisting of a Refreshable Braille display which renders
text as Braille characters (usually by means of raising pegs through holes in
a flat surface) and either a QWERTY or Braille keyboard.
Screen magnification software, which enlarges what is displayed on the computer
monitor, making it easier to read for vision impaired users.
Speech recognition software that can accept spoken commands to the computer,
or turn dictation into grammatically correct text - useful for those who have
difficulty using a mouse or a keyboard.
Keyboard overlays, which can make typing easier and more accurate for those
who have motor control difficulties.
The law regarding Accessibility in the United Kingdom
In the UK, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) does not refer explicitly
to website accessibility, but makes it illegal to discriminate against people
with disabilities. The DDA applies to anyone providing a service; public, private
and voluntary sectors. The Code of Practice: Rights of Access - Goods, Facilities,
Services and Premises document published by the government's Disability Rights
Commission to accompany the Act does refer explicitly to websites as one of
the "services to the public" which should be considered covered by
the Act.
Further reading:
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