Web Design in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Chapter 5. Accessibility

—by Derek Featherstone

At its core, web accessibility is about building web sites, applications, and pages so that there are as few barriers to use as possible for anyone, regardless of ability and the device used to access the information. Web accessibility goes beyond creating a more usable Web for persons with disabilities, too. Many of the techniques and principles designers apply to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities also improve accessibility for those using slower connections who might have the images off as well as increase interoperability with handhelds.

For sites to be accessible, we have to let go the notion that we know how people use our web sites. We have to understand the nature of the medium in which we work. And, we have to be willing to embrace “universal design” and to use web development techniques and code that support accessibility.