Call to make Web more accessible

Web accessibility is mandated by law. But, many a website may not follow it, often robbing those wanting to visit a website of a chance to explore the World Wide Web.

Poorly designed websites can create unnecessary barriers for people with disabilities, just as poorly designed buildings prevent some from entering. Designers may not realise how simple features built into a web page will assist someone who, for instance, cannot see a computer monitor or use a mouse, said a CII report “A Values Route to Business Success — The Why and How of Employing Persons With Disability”.

One example of a barrier would be a photograph of a minister on a website with no text to identify the picture, it added. This is so because screen readers cannot interpret images unless there is text associated with it, a blind person would have no way of knowing whether the image is an unidentified photo or logo, artwork, a link to another page, or something else. Simply adding a line of hidden computer code to label the photograph will allow the blind user to make sense of the image.

People with different disabilities use assistive technology to enable them to use computers and access the Internet. Blind people, who cannot see computer monitors may use screen readers — devices that can read the text aloud that would normally appear on a monitor. People who have difficulty using a mouse can use voice recognition software to control their computers with verbal commands. People with other types of disabilities may use still other kinds of assistive technology. New and innovative technologies are being introduced everyday, said the report.

With the Web being an increasingly important resource to many aspects of life like education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation and more. The web is used for receiving information as well as providing information and interacting with society. Hence, it is essential that the Web be accessible in order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities. An accessible Web also benefits other, including people with changing abilities due to aging.

Web accessibility has the potential for direct and indirect financial gains from increased website use. Web accessibility makes it easier to find websites, access it and use it successfully, thus resulting in increased audience and increased effectiveness.

Accessible sites can be used by more people — including people with disabilities, older people, people with low literacy, people who are not fluent in the language of the site, people with low bandwidth connections to the Internet..

Accessibility techniques increase the findability of Web pages by exposing content to search engines.