|
Author: Trenton Moss Article source: http://www.webcredible.co.uk/. Used with author's permission.
The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) states that service providers must not discriminate against disabled people. A website is regarded as a service and therefore falls under this law, and as such must be made accessible to everyone.
Some organisations are making accessibility improvements to their websites, but many are seemingly not making the accessibility adjustments. Disabled people don't access their website, they say, so why should they care?
There are, however, two very good reasons as to why businesses should start taking these issues seriously:
1. An accessible website will make you more money
2. An accessible website will save you money
There are seven explanations for this:
1. Your website will be easier to manage
An accessible website separates the content (the words and images that we see on the screen) and presentation (the way that these words and images are laid out) of each page. Each web page has an HTML document that contains the words and images for that page (the content), and calls up a CSS document that includes the presentation information - this CSS document is shared by all the pages on the website.
To adjust the layout of your website, you only have to make changes in the CSS file, saving considerable time (and therefore money).
2. Your website will be compatible with new browsing technologies
In the near future, the use of PDAs, mobile phones and in-car browsers will all regularly be used to access the Internet. The people making use of these new technologies are generally high-income individuals. In order to reach this lucrative target, you'll need a website that is accessible to these machines. To test your website, try using it with the Wapalizer (http://www.gelon.net), which shows how your site will look on a mobile phone.
3. Your website will appear higher in the search engines
By making your website more accessible to web users, you're also making it more accessible to search engines. Search engines cannot usually understand images, JavaScript, Flash, audio and video content. By providing alternative content to each of these, all areas of your website will be accessible to search engines, who'll then be able to have a better understanding of its purpose.
The more confident a search engine is of your website's purpose, all other things being equal, the higher it'll place your website in the search rankings.
4. You won't have to incur legal fees
The RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) and the DRC (Disability Rights Commission) have been exerting pressure on companies and the government to make their websites accessible. Indeed, the DRC has now published their findings from their accessibility investigation of 1000 websites. They've warned firms that they'll face legal action and the threat of unlimited compensation payments if they fail to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities.
5. The download time of your website will be significantly improved
Accessible websites generally download quicker than websites with poor accessibility. Just 25% of web users in the UK are connected to the Internet via broadband (source: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/intc0504.pdf). You can be sure that if your website takes much longer than ten seconds to download then many of your site visitors will be clicking away and you'll lose their custom.
6. The usability of your website will be enhanced
There is a certain amount of overlap between web accessibility and web usability. It's been shown that a usability redesign increases the sales/conversion rate of a website by 100% (source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030107.html).
7. You'll gain good publicity
Make your website accessible to everyone and you can tell the world about it. This article was written by Trenton Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility - so crazy that he went and started his own web usability and accessibility consultancy ( Webcredible - http://www.webcredible.co.uk ) to help make the Internet a better place for everyone. They offer fantastic accessibility & CSS support packages, which you can read all about at http://www.webcredible.co.uk/support .
Crate Training A Puppy Or Adult Dog
Many people, who unfortunately misunderstand the concept of good crate training, believe that crating a dog for any length of time is cruel and they refuse to e...
If Youre Not Ready - Dont Start!
There are times when we feel we should take action, but feel stuck or unsure. Action does assist with moving forward, but the first question to ask is "Am I rea...
Elliptical Workout vs. Treadmill Workout
Find out how an elliptical trainer workout compares to working out on a treadmill.
How Love Dies: Spot the Symptoms Now, and Get Your Love Back on Track
Are you starting to feel that your man has changed so much, in a negative way, that your relationship is starting to die a slow death? In this article I will s...
What a Classic is the Fender 62 Reissue Telecaster!
One guitarist, who has been playing for about thirty years
and has used a myriad number of guitars, loves his Fender
62 reissue Telecaster, which he bought in t...
Market Timing?
The recent criminal fiasco in the mutual fund industry is being used by Wall Street to persuade investors that market timing is a bad thing. The late trading by...
Kids Toys Think Before You Buy
There is a chore in my home that brings out the procrastinator in me. This particular chore is so big and so difficult, that I create new tasks just to avoid st...
Bedroom Closet Organizers
If you are like most people, your life is pretty hectic. Whether you spend your days in the office, in the fields, with your children, etc., you are busy. Your ...
How to Use Solo Ads to Make a Small Fortune
Newsletter advertising has been getting a bad rap lately. Around every corner you can find someone complaining about how it doesn't work. But when you ask the...
Discount Life Insurance Will Give You The Best Protection You Need
Life insurance rates vary, you can find discount life insurance.
Networking Group Loyalty Requirements
Before joining a group you should be aware of all the rules and regulations. This article discusses loyalty requirements that may affect your decision to join.
17 Tips for Bringing Your Event to Life
Your job as an event planner doesn't stop with the meeting in the company boardroom. You may be called upon to organize an employee appreciate event, an award...
How to Change Career Horses in Mid-Stream
You'll get wet but the reward just might be a more fulfilling ride! In Survival is Not Enough, author Seth Godin says change is the "new normal." Rather than th...
Investor Banned From Offering Property For Rent
In some Communities investors are prohibited from renting the homes they have purchased and must understand how to avoid that disaster.
Successful Web Development: 10 Key Elements
A website's success is more dependent on a developer's perseverance then on raw talent.
The Truth About Diet Myths
Hearing diet myths over and over again doesn't mean they're true. In fact, believing them could be keeping you from reaching your weight goals. It's time to fin...
Gone Are the Days... Revitalizing Sales Reps for the New Century
As an "A" player in the New Century you must build business-to-business relationships through channels that other team members can service. The special buyer/sa...
Creativity, Innovation, and the Importance of Spontaneity
Spontaneity occurs when ideas or behaviours are expressed without evaluation. This lack of evaluation is the key to good idea generation. Some of the links incl...
Find Powerful Keyword Phrases in Five Easy Steps!
You may not realize it, but in the next few minutes you are going to learn one of the three most important steps to a successful pay-per-click campaign. That i...
When Emotional Eating Becomes an Eating Disorder
Learn how to tell when emotional eating crosses the line into a binge eating disorder.
The S.W.P.D. Recipe for Success
This simple and powerful formula has brought success to many men and women who have put it to use. We will be guided by powerful helping hands when we commit ou...
Free Weight Loss Tips - Help For Beginning a New Diet
Here are some tips for weight loss if you are just getting started on a new diet.
Is it Possible to Download Music Legally Anymore?
With many people being sued in the past couple years for
downloading music, is it really possible to download music
legally anymore? If so, at what price will ...
How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy
Weight control is a prevalent concern for many women after pregnancy. Although common during pregnancy, weight gain is difficult for many women to handle emotio...
|
Print this page