Website Accessibility (W3C)
The Internet has quickly matured into an essential public service that millions of people rely on everyday. It is the greatest hub of information ever assembled and affects how we study, shop for products and services, learn about world events and communicate with those around us.
Recognizing the Internet's importance in today's society, many governments around the world are in the process of introducing legislation designed to ensure equal access to the Web regardless of any physical disability of a person
As a leading Internet Marketing provider, WSI is committed to assisting our customers to ensure their websites are Web Accessible. We do this by providing education, guidance and solutions that comply with the worldwide W3C standards.We do this by providing education, guidance and solutions that comply with the worldwide W3C standards.
Frequency Asked Questions on Web Accessibility
What is the standard for Web W3C Accessibility?
The recognized authority for Web Accessibility guidelines is the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The W3C was founded by Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, and Internet industry member organizations to establish technical standards and usability guidelines for the Web.
Is compliance with Web Accessibility guidelines a legal UK requirement?
In certain countries private businesses are required by law to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities. Currently this includes the United Kingdom.
A growing number of countries, including many of those in the European Union and Asia, are reviewing Web Accessibility guidelines and are expected to introduce their own expanded legislation in the near future.
Why should I do this? What are the benefits to my business?
Beyond compliance with UK laws, there are benefits to be gained by ensuring your website meets Web Accessibility guidelines.
Perhaps the most obvious benefit of removing barriers to people with disabilities in that you'll reach more potential customers! In the UK alone there are an estimated 10 million people with some sort of cognitive, visual, hearing or physical disability that prevents them from using the Internet in a traditional manner. Having an inaccessible website means turning away a lot of business and a better well prepared competitor would be happy to accommodate.
Is it my website's structure or the page content that must be Web Accessible?
The answer is both.
Web Accessibility guidelines cover the actual structure of the website (i.e. the layout and programming) as well as on page content. Without getting too technical, the way a website is built - the technologies used, navigation scheme and so forth - play a major role in determining how well the various tools used by those with disabilities will work when trying to view the website. For example, if your website uses lots of Flash and animated navigation elements, chances are someone with impaired vision or motor-control won't be able to navigate the site very well, if at all.
When it comes to page content, simple things like proper formatting, use of image tags, punctuation and a logical flow between paragraphs go a long way towards making the site more accessible. Imagine how difficult it would be to understand an entire Web page if it were read aloud in one long continuous sentence! Using headers on paragraphs, and commas and periods where they should be helps someone using a text-to-speech screen reader follow along and understand what it is you're trying to tell them.
How will complying with Web Accessibility rules affect my search engine ranking?
The good news is that many of the checkpoints outlined in Web Accessibility guidelines actually have a positive effect on a website's search engine optimization.
The software "spiders" that the major search engines use to find and index websites look for text content because they cannot really "see" or "read" images, Flash or fanciful navigation schemes. Adding descriptions to your pictures and multimedia content will help the search engines to more accurately classify your website's content, while clear navigation and sitemaps ensure that the whole site is viewed by the search engine.
Is a 'Web Accessiblity' compliant website expensive?
In most cases, no. Much of the cost will depend on what stage of development your Internet presence is in. Just as adding wheelchair ramps and elevators to a store after the fact would be more expensive than having planned for it initially, building your website to be accessible at the onset will save you money. If you already have a website, upgrades can be done in phases; The W3C has defined three levels of accessibility, from A to AAA, which can be implemented as required over time.
We can assess your needs and come up with a strategy that is both affordable for your business and compliant with the regulations that may be in place in your region.
For more information and to learn how to implement the right solution for your website, please call us for a free 'Web Accessibility' Consultation.
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