Accessibility refers to the range of IT and writing techniques which allow Disabled people to get as much from a website as those without disabilities.

The overall aim is to allow people with cognitive, hearing, physical and visual problems to use and understand a website without losing any information or usability in the process.

People with impairments are generally prevented from using websites because their problems limit their ability to actually read or use a site with a keyboard or mouse.

Overcomes obstacles

However, putting accessibility into practice on a site helps them overcome these obstacles allowing them to "access" a website and its information and functions without any problems.

For example, blind people can't read web content but using "accessible" HTML code and sentence structures allows them to use specialist screen reader software which "reads" content to them via a speaker instead. 

The same techniques also allow physically disabled people to quickly navigate and understand websites despite this not being possible for them using a traditional keyboard or mouse.

Web guidelines

Legislation is now in place to ensure websites don't discriminate against Disabled people and prevent them from accessing online information under The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

In line with this the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) has developed its Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) explaining how to make websites accessible.

If you would like to find out more about accessibility and how it can help you and your website please contact us on 0845 833 5436 or at mail@allinthewords.co.uk.