Your Own Website

Website accessibility usually refers to ensuring that websites are accessible and usable by all types of visitors, using all types of devices.  The Royal National Institute For The Blind (RNIB) recently estimated that 80% of all UK websites are falling foul of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

The DDA, loosely modelled on the US ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requires suppliers of goods and services to ensure that equal access is available without discrimination.

Whilst legal action has thus far been infrequent, the RNIB has signalled that it will start cases against websites that are in breach of the DDA.

Is your site accessible?

There are a number of online validators that will check your site and tell you its failings with regard to accessibility - the most notable being Bobby.

Here's a guide to some of the common actions and tips that will help make your site accessible:

1. Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content.

2. Don't rely on colour alone.

3. Use markup and style sheets properly.

4. Clarify natural language usage.

5. Create tables that transform gracefully.

6. Ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully.

7. Ensure user control of time sensitive content changes.

8. Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces.

9. Design for device independence.

10. Use interim solutions.

11. use W3C technologies and guidelines.

12. Provide context and orientation information.

13. Provide clear navigation mechanisms.

14. Ensure that documents are clear and simple.

"The RNIB has signalled that it will start cases against websites that are in breach of the DDA."