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Accessibility on the web

Why is accessibility important?

Most web pages are partially or entirely inaccessible to the enhanced devices used for web browsing by people with visual or motor impairments.

An accessible web site can easily be viewed in larger print, read or listened to through a text-only screen reader, and navigated without a mouse.

Online accessibility may be a particularly important accommodation for people with disabilities: A year 2000 study showed that Americans with disabilities spend twice as much time on the Internet than those without disabilities. (see the Harris Poll #30, June 7, 2000).

Given that there are 750 million people worldwide with disabilities, it is estimated that a web site's audience can be increased by 20% just by complying with accessibility guidelines.

A properly designed, accessible website doesn't shut out any visitors.

What is the law?

In 1996, the U.S. Justice Department ruled that web sites are public accommodations that must comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). As in every other accommodation, organizations have a legal obligation to not discriminate against people on the basis of disability.

In 2000, the National Federation of the Blind withdrew a suit against America Online when the company agreed to create a more accessible version of its internet software.

What is Section 508?

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 required that electronic and information technology developed or purchased by the Federal Government must be accessible to people with disabilities.

Criteria for compliance with Section 508 were published in 2000 by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the "Access Board"). The document is called the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards.

What are the WAI standards?

In addition to the standards produced by the Access Board in response to Section 508, another important system of standards has been developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The W3C standards are called the Web Accessibility Initiative, or WAI.

What are the benefits of standards-compliant sites?

The W3C is the worldwide consortium that sets standards for internet technology and interoperability. Thus the Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative, or WAI, sets important standards for all future internet technology. Future internet-capable devices like cellular phones, PDAs, web kiosks, will all require standards-compliant web sites.

Compliant sites are much easier and less expensive to update, as their code must validate to strict standards. Design changes can be painlessly applied across an entire site without modifying content.

Most importantly, a standards-based web site will be equally accessible to any medium: computer screen, printed page, devices like PDAs and cellular phones, web kiosks, or screen readers used by visitors with special needs.

Accessibility is a sleeping giant in the world of online communications.

Accessibility Resources Online