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The definitive guidelines for accessible web design are those published by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines (the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), which the RNIB support and promote. The WAI guidelines consists of 14 basic statements, each of which is broken down into a number of more specific "checkpoints" which are designated as priority one, two or three. In conjunction with their guidelines, the WAI define three standards of accessibility. 'A' The most basic standard. A site should comply with all of the priority one checkpoints to achieve this standard. 'A' A higher standard than the single 'A' standard. Sites must comply with all the priority one and two checkpoints to achieve this standard. 'AAA' A high standard of accessibility. Sites must comply with all priority one, two and three checkpoints to achieve this standard.
This site has been designed to accessibility standards which include: Minimal use of graphics Fast upload times Accessible to blind and partially sighted people Accessible to disabled people who may not be able to use a mouse No frames Consistent navigation
If you are partially sighted or a disabled person and have difficulties with any areas of this web site particularly the [plain text version] please contact the webmaster completing the Email box at the bottom of the web page For more information on web accessibility issues see: Bobby W3C Accessibility Information The Web can present barriers to people with different kinds of disabilities: People with visual disabilities can have problems with: Unlabeled graphics, undescribed video Poorly marked-up tables or frames Lack of keyboard support or screen reader compatibility
People with hearing disabilities can have problems with: Lack of captioning for audio Proliferation of text without visual signposts People with physical disabilities can have problems with: Lack of keyboard or single-switch support for menu commands
People with cognitive or neurological disabilities can have problems with: Lack of consistent navigation structure Overly complex presentation or language Lack of illustrative non-text materials Flickering or strobing designs on pages The WEB site can be user friendly to all by careful design
Use of accreditation standards like ‘Bobby’ Refer to WIC initiatives Avoid the heavy use of graphics and animation
There are Several Reasons Why Web Accessibility is Important:
Use of the Web is spreading rapidly into all areas of society There are barriers on the Web for many types of disabilities Millions of people have disabilities that affect access to the Web Web accessibility carry-over benefits for other users
The Web is the Fastest-Adopted Technology in History But for people with disabilities, it’s sometimes a "mixed blessing": It is displacing traditional sources of information & interaction Schools, libraries, print materials, discourse of the workplace Some of the traditional resources were accessible, some not.
The Web is becoming a key, but sometimes inaccessible, resource for: News, information, commerce, entertainment Classroom education, distance learning Job searching and workplace interaction Civic participation, laws, voting, government information, services
An accessible Web will mean unprecedented access to information for people with disabilities |
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