Benefits of Accessibility
What is there to gain from an accessible web site?
An accessible web site will:
- Meet the legal requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
This came into force in October 1999 and you will be able to show that you have taken necessary precautions to ensure that you are not discriminating against the disabled audience.
- Be more user friendly.
Accessible web sites need to be easy to understand and part of this includes intuative and consistent navigational features. A web site that makes the visitor feel like they are in control will be a more "sticky" web site (i.e. they will be more likely to return). If it is taking the customer too many clicks to find what they are after then they will leave your web site.
- Use complaint code.
If you're used to quality service and high standards then don't settle for second best with your web site. Accessible web sites need to meet internet standards. Showing this on your web site will increase the trust/confidence of your target audience; both your customers and you will know your web site has been created professionally.
- Be Search Engine Friendly (SEF).
Search engines visit your web site using "spiders" to filter through your web pages and analyse your keyword/content. Effectively these spiders can be thought of as a disabled user - they have a very different perspective of your web pages.
Someone has had to programme these spiders so that they can navigate through your web site. If your web site does not use compliant code then these spiders will hit a dead end and your search engine rankings will suffer.
- Be more compatible.
Which web browser/platform do you use for the internet? More importantly what does your target audience use?
An accessible web site will work with a larger range of web browsers, opertating systems, PDA's, mobile phones and assistive tools often used by disabled users.
In fact there are many other benefits of designing a more accessible and user friendly web site, which you may not have crossed your mind.