Winnipeg Skyline

Website Accessibility and Usability

accessibilityAccessiblity and Usability on the web refers to process of creating web sites so they are accessible and usable by people both with, and without disabilites. There are many types of disabilities which prevent people from using the internet in the same manner as a non-disabled person would. These disabilites can include people with visual, auditory, speech, physical and cognitive disabilities. This can also include older people whose physical and mental abilities change as they age.

There are many different methods web designers use to make websites accessible to people with varying disabilites. Some of the disabilites and the solution presented are:

  • Blindness - Websites should be designed for people with screen readers. Screen readers are software that read text off the screen and outputs the information in an auditory manner. This includes adding alternate text for images and supporting keyboard strokes for common mouse usage.
  • Colour Blindness - Web designers should use a colour scheme which will be able to be seen with persons of varying types of colour blindness
  • Low Vision - Websites should be designed using colour schemes which make text and images easy to see for people with low vision. For example- black text on a white background. Web designers will also enable the resizing of text without changing the look of the site, enabling people with low vision to easily read the website.
  • Deafness - For people with a hearing defecit, websites should be designed so that all audio or video presentations also contain captions, or have transcipts made available for all auditory media.
  • Cognitive Disabilites - Websites should be designed using easy to understand language, clear navigation and have consistent organization throughout the entire site. Distracting images and/or media should be minimized to eliminate distractions which may confuse people with cognitive disabilities.

17-20% of the population has some form of disability

These same steps, when taken, make it easier for people without disabilities to navigate through, and find the information or services they are seeking on websites that have taken accessibility and usability into account in the site design.

Large percentages of the population around the world have some form of disability. By not taking this into account, and designing inaccessible websites, businesses, educators and organizations are excluding a large portion of the population from accessing their services and products.