Web site accessibility refers to the ease in which people with a disability are able to view and navigate the web site content. A web site auditor or consultant is able to provide specialist advice to web site designers on how to improve or maximise the accessibility of a web site.
When developing a web site, the designer needs to ensure that the web site is accessible to all without compromising aesthetics or functionality. Providing information in alternative formats and/or following alternative design principles ensures that the information published on the world wide web can be accessed by all individuals. Examples of web site accessibility features include:
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navigation (general site layout—site map or table of contents; navigating without a mouse or keyboard use)
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viewing the site (size of the text, colour of text and layout, providing text equivalent for every non-text equivalent, use of captions)
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site organisation, language (using clear, simple and appropriate language for a site's content, ability to translate language), sound and speech.
Ideally, the web site should be accessible by removing obstacles or barriers that prevent people with disabilities accessing information online.
Policies have been developed regarding web site accessibility for all people, including government, state, commonwealth and international policies. It is a legal requirement for many government and community organisations to provide appropriate access on their web sites for people with disabilities or people with difficulties when it comes to accessing information. The standard for web content accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which were devised by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines which can viewed by clicking on the following click (link will open in a new window).
The W3C guidelines provide a series of checkpoints that can be used to ensure web sites are accessible. The checkpoints are listed based on priority. The priorities have been ordered based on the impact on accessibility. All web sites are required to follow these guidelines and need to pass recognised tests of accessibility.
In addition to a legal requirement, web site access is important to enable all individuals to access all sites and information with ease and comfort.
References and resources
Department of Finance and Administration 2004, Guide to minimum web site standards – accessibility, Australian Government Information Management Office, Canberra, viewed 25 June 2007, <http://www.agimo.gov.au/practice/mws/accessibility>.
Vision Australia 2007, Web accessibility, Vision Australia, Sydney, viewed 27 June 2007, <http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=54>.
Links to suppliers of web site accessibility auditors and consultants
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