Key Benefits of Web Accessibility
The Internet is becoming increasingly important in our lives. Web accessibility is vital to disabled people as it provides them with equal access and equal on the web. Therefore it significantly improves their lives as "the Web offers the possibility of unprecedented access to information and interaction for many people with disabilities. An accessible web allows people with disabilities to become more active members of our society" (W3C 2005).
The law
It is also a legal requirement for any company that offers goods and services on the Internet to ensure that their site is accessible (Disability Rights Commission 2004). Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) states that "From 1st October 1999 a service provider must take reasonable steps to change a practice which makes it unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of its services".
The benefits
According to the Royal Institute of Blind People (RNIB) an accessible website also brings many commercial benefits. These include:
- Increased market share - (there are 8.5 million disabled people in the UK, they represent 14% of the population and have a spending power of around £50 billion
(ONS 2006); - Increased search ranking potential - accessible websites are much more search engine friendly and web accessibility therefore helps you maximise your ranking potential in search engines;
- Increased brand awareness - by showing your commitment to people with disabilities, you can generate more positive PR;
- Increased usability - accessible websites provide clear navigation and content which encourage web users to stay longer and return to the site;
- Reduced maintenance costs - cleaner code and use of CSS make web sites easier and quicker to maintain;
- Greater compatibility & future proofings - by designing according to web standards for accessibility, web sites remain readable as browsers and web standards evolve.
