Intro to Web Accessibility

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"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect."
-- Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director & inventor of the World Wide Web

62% of employees with a disability have an invisible disability or a disability that one cannot immediately identify upon meeting a person.

What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility is ensuring there are no barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to websites on the web by people with disabilities. When sites are correctly designed, developed and edited, generally all users have equal access to information and functionality.

Who is Web Accessibility For?

Web accessibility benefits people with permanent physical challenges and people with changing abilities due to aging or temporary disabilities.

Web accessibility also benefits people without disabilities, for example:

People using mobile phones, smart watches, smart TVs, and other devices with small screens, different input modes, etc.
Older people with changing abilities due to aging
People with “temporary disabilities” such as a broken arm or lost glasses
People with “situational limitations” such as in bright sunlight or in an environment where they cannot listen to audio
People using a slow Internet connection, or who have limited or expensive bandwidth

Watch a 7-minute video with examples of how accessibility is essential for people with disabilities and useful for everyone in a variety of situations, see: Web Accessibility Perspectives Video (YouTube)

Web Accessibility Tools

People with disabilities often use the following devices to assist them.

Why is Accessibility Important?

The Web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of life. It is essential that the Web be accessible in order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with diverse abilities. Access to information and communications technologies, including the Web, is defined as a basic human right in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

1. Increase Your Audience, Customer Base

More People = More Success

2. Financially

Increase in sales with larger audience
Lower maintenance & alternative site costs

3. SEO

The list of accessibility and SEO practices that are closely in alignment include:

Providing a clear and proper heading structure and avoiding empty headings
Providing descriptive link text (i.e., avoiding “click here”)
Ensuring page titles are descriptive, yet succinct
Not relying on JavaScript for things that don’t need it
Avoiding mouse dependent interaction
Using standard web formats when possible
Providing transcripts and captions for video
Identifying the language of pages and page content
Allowing multiple ways of finding content (e.g., search, a site map, table of contents, clear navigation, etc.)
Using text instead of images when possible
Providing useful links to related and relevant resources
Ensuring URLs are human readable and logical
Presenting a clear and consistent navigation and page structure
Avoiding CSS and other stylistic markup to present content or meaning
Defining abbreviations and acronyms