What is Website Accessibility?

Website accessibility is a huge concern to anyone with disabilities. Having disabilities means that you will need special equipment or software to be able to use a website. Often this specialized software or hardware is expensive and out of reach of most smaller business owners. A website design for the disabled can provide the means to make your website accessible to everyone.

Computer accessibility refers to the ability to use a computer system, no matter how severe or basic of impairment, to all individuals, no matter what disability or impairment type. This includes keyboard, mouse, pointing devices, Braille computer print, or any other method of tactile accessibility. There are many different types of computer access which are often referred to as accessibility features. These include Auto-responders, Home Page Extensions, Auto-play Video Players, or text-to-speech tools. All of these can be used on any website and will often mean that your website will be more accessible to those who use them.

Unfortunately, website design for the disabled is not always cost effective, especially when dealing with specialty or advanced software.

The best way to ensure that your website is completely accessible to everyone is to follow guidelines provided by the US government. The Office of Federal Accessibility Policy (OFPP) is a great place to start. The OFPP provides detailed, official government guidelines for website accessibility. Using their website to check current guidelines and to request updated information is one of the best ways to stay on top of current website accessibility regulations.

Of course, it is never possible to make all accessibility changes to your website without running the risk of legal issues. You can find out more about website accessibility guidelines for each individual agency by visiting their website. The Disability Discrimination Act (ADA) helps to define who is disabled and provides many regulations for individuals who experience disabilities. These laws were created so that individuals who experience certain behaviors, vision problems, learning disabilities, medical conditions, or life experiences can be provided equal access to different types of programs and activities based on their disabilities. Many times, disability lawyers and other professionals can assist you with obtaining the proper paperwork and filing it with the appropriate agency.

Websites that are accessible to those with various disabilities can help raise the overall quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Because of the significant amount of time and energy that people put into building and maintaining a website, and the cost of hiring professionals to design and build accessible websites, many organizations shy away from making the investment in them.

However, a good-faith effort at accessibility can pay off in the form of greater website profits and revenue. It's important to remember, however, that there are many organizations out there that provide free or inexpensive accessibility software, which can significantly decrease the time it takes your website to load. Additionally, there are many individuals and organizations who will take the time to professionally build an accessible website for a small price.