Introduction

Most people today can hardly imagine life without Internet. The Internet provides access to information, enables the exchange of emails, shopping online and play at any time of day and night. Some even think that no other invention has been more revolutionary since Gutenberg's printing press in 1400. Now, at the click of a mouse, anyone can be "at hand" - ... if you can use a mouse ... and see the screen ... and listen to audio - in other words, if you have not a handicap.

This article should help you understand how people with disabilities navigate the Web, their frustrations when they can not access the Internet, and what you can do to make your sites more accessible.

The Web offers unprecedented opportunities

The internet is one of the best things that ever happened to people with disabilities. You may have never considered the question this way, but yet you can just imagine the days before the Internet to understand why. For example, before the Internet, how blind people read newspapers? They read them very rarely. Audio or Braille impressions were expensive - a printed version of Braille Sunday New York Times is too bulky to be effectively used. At best, they could ask a family member or friend to read the newspaper for them. This method works, but it makes blind people dependent on other people.

Most newspapers now publish their content online in a format that can be read by "screen readers" used by blind people. This software enables reading digital text aloud so that blind people can use computers and access any text through a computer. Thus, blind people are more dependent on other people to read the newspaper. They do not have to wait for the release of audio tapes expensive or bulky and expensive printed in Braille. They simply launch a web browser and listen to their screen reader that reads the newspaper for them. They are free to do so when they want as content is published online.

Similarly, people with motor disabilities who can not hold a newspaper or turn the pages can access the online journals via their computer, using some assistive technologies that adapt the computer interface to their disability. Sometimes the adjustments are simple, like having the person placing a stick in his mouth and uses it to type keyboard commands. In other cases, adjustments are more sophisticated, such as the use of keyboards or software called "eye-tracking" that allow people to use a computer only with the movements of their eyes. Deaf people still have the option to read the papers independently, suggesting that deaf people do not need assistance on the Internet unlike the blind and those with motor disabilities. However, deaf people need to read the verbatim transcripts of speeches online to understand or read the subtitles of multimedia content. Many people with cognitive disabilities can also benefit greatly from the structure and flexibility of Web content.

Underutilization of the potential of the Web

Despite the great potential of the Web for people with disabilities, this potential remains largely untapped. For example, some sites can be accessed only with the mouse, and only a very small percentage of video and multimedia content are subtitled for the deaf. What if the Internet content is only accessible using a mouse? What are people doing if they can not use a mouse? And what happens if Web developers use images rather than text? Screen readers can only read text, how could they read the images for the blind?

As soon as you start to ask these questions, you begin to understand that there are problems with Internet access by the disabled. The Internet has the potential to revolutionize the ability to access information for disabled people, but if we are not careful, we can place obstacles destroying this potential and allow people with disabilities and discouraged and always dependent on others as before.

Disabled people on the Web

Although estimates vary, most studies indicate that nearly a fifth (20%) of the population has some form of disability. All those people who have disabilities do not necessarily have a problem with access to the Internet, but they are an important part of the population. Companies would not make a deliberate choice to exclude 20, 10 or even 5% of their potential customers coming through their websites. For schools, universities and government agencies, this would not only unreasonable, but in many cases this would be illegal.

Each of the major categories of disability requires certain types of adaptations in the design of Web content. In most cases, these adaptations benefit nearly everyone, not just those with disabilities. Almost everyone gets a profit of well-chosen illustrations, on informational content of a well organized and easy navigation. Similarly, while the subtitles are a necessity for the deaf, they can be useful to others, including those who watch a video without sound.

Implementation of Web Accessibility

For everyone to make available its website, one must first understand the concept of accessibility, a commitment to ensure accessibility, learn how to implement it and know the legal requirements.

Development principles accessible

You will find below a list of some general principles of accessible development. Most accessibility principles can be implemented very easily and they will have no impact on the overall "look and feel" of your website.

Provide an alternative text

A text alternative provides an alternative text to all non-text content in Web pages. This is especially useful for blind people who use screen readers to listen to the content of a website.

Provide headers for data tables

Tables are used for Web page layout and to organize data. The tables are used to organize data should have header rows and columns (the tag th ). Data cells must be associated with their headers, making it easier for users of screen reader navigation and understanding of the data table.

Verify that users can complete and submit all forms

Ensure that each form element (textbox, checkbox, dropdown, etc..) Has a title and make sure that each title is associated with the scope using the tag label . Also make sure that the user can send the form and correct any errors , such as failure to have completed all required fields.

Check that the links make sense out of context

Each link must make sense if the link text is read out of context. Users of screen readers may choose to read only the links of a Web page. Phrases such as "click here" and "read more" should be avoided.

Subtitled and / or provide a text transcript for multimedia animations

Videos and live sounds must have subtitles and text transcripts. For archives audio text transcripts should be sufficient.

Ensure accessibility to non-html content, including files PDF , documents Microsoft Word , presentations PowerPoint content and Adobe Flash .

In addition to all other principles here, PDFs and other non-HTML content should be as accessible as possible. If you can not make them accessible, generate a html version, and as a last resort offer an affordable alternative. PDF documents should also include a set of tags to make them more accessible. A tagged PDF is visually identical, but it is almost always more accessible to someone using a screen reader.

Allow users to avoid the elements present on all web pages

You must provide a method that allows users to skip navigation or other elements that repeat on each page. This is usually done by Commes links "to content Go," "Skip to Main Content" or "Skip Navigation Menu" set top.

Do not provide information only by color

The use of color can enhance understanding, but do not use that color to convey information. This information may not be distinguishable by a person who is color blind and will not be available for users of screen readers.

Make sure the content is written clearly and is easy to read

There are many ways to make your content easier to understand. Write clearly, using precise line fonts , and use headings and lists appropriately (read the document give a semantic structure to Web pages ).

Make JavaScript accessible

Ensure that the JavaScript event handlers are independent devices (eg, they do not require the use of a mouse) and make sure that your page is accessible even without JavaScript.

Develop according to standards

The pages validate in html and accessible are more robust and provide better indexing in search engines. The Cascading Style Sheets allow you to separate content from presentation. This provides more flexibility and accessibility to Web content.

This list is not all accessibility issues, but by following these basic principles, will ensure greater accessibility to all your Web content. You can learn more about accessibility by browsing our products and our resources .

Conclusion

The Web offers many opportunities for people with disabilities. It provides independence and freedom. However, if a website does not meet accessibility guidelines, it may exclude a segment of the population yet has the most to gain from using the internet. Most people who have no intention to exclude people with disabilities, when organizations and Web developers become aware of accessibility and its implementation, they will ensure that their contents are accessible by a wider population .