Skip Navigation | Accessibility Introduction | What is Accessibility? | Why is Accessibility Important? | W3 Consortium Guidelines | Section 508 Standards | ADA and Disabilities Guidelines | Accessibility Audit | References and Resources | Accessible Sites | Validators | Usability Introduction | Usability Resources | InfoQuest!
| What is Web Site Accessibility? |
|---|
Types of People Affected by Webiste Accessibility
Web site accessibility, from a legal standpoint, is about giving people who are disabled as easy access to information through web sites as anyone else. There are an estimated 54 million people, or 20 percent of the US population (one in five people), who fall under the legal definition of disabled.
In reality, the accessibility issue reaches far beyond those numbers since many people who do not fall under the legal definitions of disability may have difficulty using certain web sites. The fact is that most people need accessible websites at some time in their lives. The fact is that most people who need accessible websites do not consider themselves "disabled." Accessibility is really an issue of inclusion, not disability. When we focus on the term "disabled" we compartmentalize and start talking statistics, which are variable and manipulable. Inclusion, sometimes also known as universal design, is about making the content and functionality of your website available to the widest possible audience.
The issue of website accessibility affects people who may:
- not be able to see, hear, move, or may not be able to process some types of information easily or at all
- have difficulty reading or comprehending text
- not have or be able to use a keyboard or mouse
- have a text-only screen, a small screen, or a slow Internet connection
- not speak or understand fluently the language in which the document is written
- be in a situation where their eyes, ears, or hands are busy or interfered with (e.g., driving to work, working in a loud environment, etc.)
- have an early version of a browser, a different browser entirely, a voice browser, or a different operating system.
Usability and Accessibility
Usability and accessibility are similar, but not the same. The ITTATC explains the difference this way:
Even if the technology is "accessible", there may still be serious usability problems that make it equally difficult for any person, disabled or non-disabled, to use it.
Usability focuses on how intuitive and easy it is for all people to use. Usable designs are consistent and simple to learn to use. Usability and accessibility often go hand-in-hand.
Accessibility is determined by how barrier free the technology is. Accessibility
problems are those that make it more difficult for persons with disabilities to use
an application or service than for a non-disabled person.
ITTATC
Accessibility Introduction | What is Accessibility? | Why is Accessibility Important? | W3 Consortium Guidelines | Section 508 Standards | ADA and Disabilities Guidelines | Accessibility Audit | References and Resources | Accessibility References and Resources | Accessible Sites | Validators | Usability Introduction | Usability Resources | InfoQuest!
Copyright 2001-2002 InfoQuest! Information Services
Last updated: April 9, 2002
Please send any comments to
tbchad@tbchad.com or 503-228-4023.
Terry Brainerd Chadwick
InfoQuest! Information Services
2324 NW Johnson St., Ste.4
Portland, OR 97210-5221
