We try to dispell certain myths about Web Accessibility and provide some great resources. Both government and private websites should pay attention to these. Those who don't may run the risk of a lawsuit from external web users and your own employees.
Myth # 1- Good design and accessibility are mutually exclusive goals
A common belief is that a plain web site devoid of color and advanced technologies is the key to web accessibility. This is false. It defies the overall goals of making a web site usable and accessible to the most people.
The World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines recommend supplementing sites with graphics and sound to facilitate comprehension.
Myth #2- Just Provide a Text Only Version
This approach is similar to the "separate but equal treatment" doctrine that was common place in the U.S. with respect to school education of the races.
The problem with this approach is that in practice, the text only version is not updated or maintained as frequently as the main web version. With the text only version in place, web developers usually spend little or no effort on making the main version accessible.
Myth #3- Assistive Technologies will solve accessibility problems
Assistive technologies are a partial solution. Since these technologies read applications and web pages, their success depends on how well the pages are designed and incorporate accessibility features.
Myth #4- It's an option for my organization
Unfortunately, this may not be the case. Regulatory and legal concerns have been one of the more important drivers for accessible web sites. A number of countries have issued accessibility standards and guidelines:
-Canadian Common Look and Feel Standards and Guidelines;
-European Union has made a similar commitment to making information and services accessible to the public;
-U.S. Section 508 Guidelines
Does the Private Sector have to Comply?
Many of the guidelines do not require private sector companies to comply with guidelines. However, in the U.S., there is great incentive to do so, because Section 508 requires:
a) the Federal government to procure electronic and information technology that meets defined accessibility standards;
b) Federal agencies to purchase products from vendors that best meet the standards.
Many people consider accessibility a civil right. Hiowever, only one web inaccessibility suit has been filed in Australia. An individual in Australia won a complaint of web inaccessibility against the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. See the Reader’s guide to Sydney Olympics accessibility complaint
That's it for now. Comments always welcome whether you agree or disagree.
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