Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can still benefit from and contribute to the Internet. Many web browsers and other software used on the web can make it difficult or impossible for people with visual, auditory, or physical disabilities to use the web. By designing and building websites that meet current accessibility guidelines, those barriers are removed and your information and services are available to those who may not have access to them otherwise.
Creating website that meet accessibility standards can also benefit people without disabilities. The goal is to design a site that is technologically flexible and able to meet different needs and situations. That way, users on slow connections, those with changing abilities due to aging, or even temporary disabilities will all be able to view and use your website.
What makes a website 'Accessible'?
Making a website accessible is not difficult or complicated - but here are the types of things that need to be considered:
What about 'Web Standards'? What does that mean?
Web standards have been established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for creating and developing web-based content. Building with these standards ensures that a website will be available to more people and devices than if it were built without. And as newer browsers and devices come to market, it also means that the site will continue to function properly in the future.
The Web Standards Project was created to fight for standards support in the development of these devices and browsers. You can find out more on their purpose and mission at their website.
What else is Accessibility good for?
High accessibility is great for search engine optimization and placement. If you think of a search engine as a user with limited capabilities: unable to read images, can't view fancy JavaScripts or other multimedia, then it's only natural that the more accessible your site is for users, the more accessible it is for search engines.
So what can I do?
You do not need to know how to create a website that adheres to these standards - but you should work with a designer or developer who understands the importance of following these rules and guidelines. And, if you hire Confidtech to work on your site, you can be confident that you have found a designer who believes that web standards are not to be ignored.