The Fear of Making Web Sites Accessible

I hope you're able to garner some insight from your readers. I suspect making their web site accessible is on many site owners' to-do list but there are probably other items that have a higher priority in the day-to-day running of an organization that trump it. Eventually, the to-do will move to the top of the list ... I hope.

Sandi,

You have a great point there. Obviously, all companies have a to-do list. And unless we take care of the highest priority items, we cannot get to lower ones. And when a small company starts out, accessibility cannot be the highest. For the simple fact that we need to take care of day-to-day operations first. If I can't get new orders or can't pay taxes, accessibility has to be lower on the list. However, there are many other items on this list which usually stay on the same level together with accessibility. But let's say a small business has budget to accomplish 5 things and they have 20 would be nice to do items. Based on my experience, accessibility is usually not one of the 5. I believe that accessibility is not only the right thing to do to achieve equal access to all, but it actually does generate more income. Honestly, it is one of the best marketing tactics I have seen. Once you open up your site to people with disabilities, you will right away have more potential clients. Also, once you have an accessible site, you can directly advertise it to people with disabilities. Take it to conferences, mailing lists, events, etc. where mostly people with disabilities make decisions. It all of a sudden makes your product very competitive among a large nitch.

I'm one of the persons who'd really want to make our website
accessible, but I'm worried that, if we do make our site accessible for say, the blind users, such moves may in turn affect the browsing experience of persons with other disabilities such as the deaf.

Steve,

The idea is to make a web site accessible to all. To all people who can't see, who can't hear or who live with any kind of a disability. And let me take it one step further. A site should be accessible to all people, with or without a disability.

It is certainly true that if you target one group of disabilities and try to develop a site exclusively accessible to them, other people might not enjoy it that much. But there are ways around it, you can create sites which address the needs of people with any kind of a disability, but still do not exclusively target any particular groups.

This is a great idea, frankly one that I have never thought about. One tends to forget or rather not think about this subject at all. We take it for granted that we are able to see, write, or whatever as we do not have a disability. But what about those of us who do?
I do not have a website, not yet, but planning to as soon as I train as a life coach - any ideas out there? So it would be nice if I could make my website accessible.
Many thanks for bring this to our awareness.

Unfortunately most of the cases I work with already existing sites which we want to make accessible. For those instances, I just wrote an article on how to make your site accessible when you don't have the finances.

However, in an ideal case, you would start to think about accessibility before you start designing your project. You will save yourself lot's of headache and time, as it is much more difficult to change things later on.

First, understand how people with disabilities use the computer.
After that, there are a couple of things you can do without going wrong: make sure all graphical information has a textual interpretation. Make sure all audio information has a transcript or a captioning associated to it. Make sure you don't use only color to indicate information. Make your site well structured and use proper coding. For a starter, these suggestions will make a big difference.

Hi,

In my case, I'd really like to work on the accessibility of our website, and I saw this WCAG document. It's supposed to be the main tool for making sites accessible. But looking at all the WCAG's points and subpoints, I am a bit intimidated by its complexity. I'm afraid I won't be able to follow the guidelines and I'd end up making my site more inaccessible. Hope you could help me with this concern. Thanks!

Nicole,

I agree with you, it is certainly a very large and complex series of documents. But also consider that many items may not even apply to your site. For example, if you are not posting videos on the site, you already cut out a bunch of success criteria. You can always contact me with specific questions, but right now I'm working on some materials which will help you get a better handle of the materials.

I agree with Nicole that WCAG is too intimidating. I have tried to make my site WCAG 1 compliant; and there are still several failures. With the adoption of WCAG 2.0 in December 2008; the World Wide Web Consortium/WAI Team has discontinued helping me on WCAG 1.0 accessibility.

I believe the real burden in my situation is on them.

They should continue to provide service for individuals who want to make their site WCAG 1.0 compliant.

The World Wide Web Consortium/WAI and WCAG 2.0 is my greatest fear.

Dear Tom -

I liked this part of your commentary -

"Make sure all audio information has a transcript or a captioning associated to it. Make sure you don't use only color to indicate information. Make your site well structured and use proper coding. For a starter, these suggestions will make a big difference."

It would seem we could work on this without having to be involved with the WCAG.

When I had a travel agency, we advertised we would help people with disabilities. In those earlier days, the airlines were extremely resistant. But things could be arranged if you stuck with your client and what they wanted and bothered the airlines, limo services and hotels enough so they would get things done to get rid of you. It's easier now.

I sent one woman who was disabled to many countries - and alone! She fortunately was wealthy so she could pay for extraordinary services. But there are also tours especially for the disabled.

I'm not even sure what makes a site accessible or not accessible but it's something I'll definitely be looking into thanks for the heads up.

Hi Tom,

Boy you opened up my eyes to something that I had never really thought about before. I always thought it was the user that had to have the right equipment to access a site not how the site was laid out.

I beleive we all need to learn something new every day. And you have just taught me something new for today. Thanks Tom, now can I take the rest of the day off?
Debbie

Uh oh, "don't use color to indicate information".

Thanks, Corinne for highlighting that phrase. I use color to indicate importance or to focus someone's eye to a certain point or phrase on a page.

How do I capture the attention of a person who can't see? What is it that compels him or her to keep reading? Do you have tips or tricks or insight into how to arrange content to capture the attention of a person who can't see the page?

For audio, we use voice inflection. For video, we use body language. I've never thought about how to engage a non-sighted person's attention to written words.

Thanks!
Cheryl

Hi Tom,

I have learnt a load here -- thanks!. I had not really thought how I could make my site more accessible. Is there a simple button that could increase the size of the text, for example?
Are there five or six things we could do and waht priority should we implement them?

Lance

I think it's important to make sure that your web site is as accessible as possible.

This is a great reminder!

Krizia

Many sites are not very accessible for anyone; over time I've gradually simplified my site which hopefully improves everyone's experience. My main problem at present is the complexity of my language - a recent plugin I installed (Scribe) indicates that my prose is "difficult" and for a highish reading age! Its very hard to eradicate such things overnight.

Corin,

The WCAG is a set of recommendations, and according to my views a good one. But the real idea is that we should make sites accessible, with or without standards and guidelines. So, as long as we do it, the job is done. Standards are mandatory in certain circumstances, but if a small business or an individual blogger makes a little effort, it also goes a long way. For example, you can make a big difference if you explain pictures which are relevant to understanding your content. I found that somebody who cares about accessibility can make more of a difference than those who follow standards and guidelines by the letter.

Mitch,
The purpose of this post certainly wasn't about teaching accessibility, because there's a whole lot to say about it. Even on this site, you will find lot's of info. But reading your comment, I feel that I achieved what I wanted with this post, creating awareness.
Thanks for your feedback.

Hi Debbie,

It is certainly very important to have the right equipment. For example, if somebody doesn't have a screen magnification system who cannot see regular size text and graphs is important. But the designer has to add just as much. These days content management systems, like WordPress, can do some of the work for you, or prompt you to do it. But it will never be automated. Just take an unrelated scenario: if you want to talk to to English speakers, you have to write in English. If you want to include people with disabilities, you have to create content so that their technology can understand it.

And you have earned your day off, I agree that we should learn something new every day.

Cheryl,

It is very important to use colors, as you said, you have to capture your reader. The idea is that you shouldn't use color only. For example, don't say that the mandatory fields are marked with red. Rather, mark it with red, and also indicate it with a "*" or say "required".

And how to capture the attention of visually impaired users? With great navigation, the use of headings, lists, descriptive links, etc. I can tell you what works for sighted people, will work for visually impaired people if coded properly. It will be somewhat different of course, they won't look for highlighted content. But they will look for information, and if it is easy to find, you will have their attention.

Lance,

Regarding the button, if your site is coded properly, you should be able to adjust the text size in your browser.

Recently I put together a list of things you can pay attention to. Well, not 6, but 26 things, but it is a short list, and you can consider what applies to your site. This would be a good start:
http://www.evengrounds.com/articles/is-your-web-site-accessible

Hi Tom, I have never seen information about making a website more accessible, you've got a lot of good information here about how to do that. To be honest, I do find the prospect a little overwhelming but your list and advice to choose what is suitable is very helpful, it somehow doesn't seem so daunting that way!

Tom, is it possible you find "plain vanilla" blogs because blogs are born that way? As a father and blogger, I see parallels between the two - babies and blogs :-) First you have to make one - big milestone (for the parents)! Then you realize they are not born speaking multiple languages. They need time and TLC to grow up and develop skills in the process. Maybe the resistance you encounter isn't resistance at all, but part of growing up. To connect everyone - with or without disabilities, even with or without computers or internet connection - is in the very DNA of the internet. Example: Google features a language tool, and countless other solutions exist, for overcoming language barriers. Short of "site accessible for everyone" 1-for-all solutions by the likes of Google, Microsoft or Yahoo, for individual site owners such as I, a registry of - for lack of a better word - "disability plug-ins" could make a difference. Make sense? Cheers, B@

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the article. Now I know that I should put that in mind when I design a website. I have never thought of that. Thank you.

Hi Tom,

I agree on this. The way you deliver information to people via your website should not only be focused on the quality of information it may give but how it accesses to different kinds of people. Also, uniformly noting people having different experiences is a good point to give that personal touch always.

Thanks!

I really don't know much about how it is done. So you have a template to help website owners make sites accessible?
My Father-in-Law does not search the web or go online because of that problem. I see some information in the right hand column above, but I confess that it seems daunting to learn and do something else for what I perceive as very little return from a business stand point. It isn't that I would discriminate against a disabled person, I discriminate against those who are not going to contribute to my bottom line. If I was in the free information business, then it would make business sense. It does make humanitarian sense. What is your argument about that point?

I had the privilege of hearing a presentation from Glenda Hyatt from her wheelchair, and mouth tube, and keyboard that makes her speak. It was a moving and informative hour. Since then I put in the titles on photos, but I find captioning my videos is too time consuming, and I don't know what else to do. Help? Thanks for the important work you do.

David,
It always depends on what you are writing about. For example, if you are posting your Ph.D. dissertation, the reading age is almost irrelevant. One thing you can do is breaking up your content a little bit, using shorter sentences, lists, short paragaphs, etc.

Jan,
There's a lot you can do for accessibility, and you can make it simple or complex, depending on your technical experience. However, there are so many simple things which will make a difference. If you have checked out my accessibility tips and tricks, I specifically make sure that I give simple advice, not even too often, to people who have enough knowledge to use the computer. I always tell people that you don't have to be an expert if you want to make a difference, it is all about the willingness.

Bruce,

I don't know of a template, as there's no templates in general on creating web sites.
Information does exist, but to be honest, you have to dig it out, there's no one stop resource. Ok, maybe this site... But seriously, I can't direct you to only one place. However, it is not the most difficult thing to find out quite a bit about accessibility in a relatively short time. Some people do that, and others pay for it, because they want to get it done quickly, they will be audited by the government, etc. It really depends on your needs.

Michelle,
Glenda is really great, I can only recommend her presentations to anybody.
When it comes to captioning, I do agree that it is time consuming. If you don't have the funds to have somebody do it for you, it is still better to have something than nothing at all. Maybe you could consider transcripts, you can do it yourself, or there are some inexpensive options. The problem is not that a self-made blogger does not use captioning. The problem is when large companies who have the resources do not bother.

I would imagine a company has to look at whether or not the investment of a redesign would be worth their trouble. How many disabled visitors do they receive every month and therefore how many sales are potentially lost? I think the big question is what is their target market and are they catering to it?

To be honest, I haven't really considered it until now.

I suppose the main concern would be the leveraging of time.

I spent a significant amount of time installing and configuring a translator plugin... and it doesn't seem like it sees much use.

The ease of creating the accessibility would be my only concern.

If I'm being honest... laziness may prevent me from completing the necessary research...

keep smiling,

Ben

This is a great topic. I know I am guilty of not thinking about making my blog posts accessible to everyone. Just keeping it in mind when posting should help, like the instance of being sure to explain photos. Thanks for reminding people of the need to do this.

As for why people do NOT do it... just my guess, but I suppose they figure it's too much trouble, don't have the time, not worth the effort, and on and on.... I know I would have trouble with the transcripts for videos part for instance.

But still good to be thinking about and doing whatever possible to make a site more available to everyone.

This may sound simplistic but the ideal solution for me would be to have the browsers take care of accessibility rather than individual site owners. Just like Google has a 'translation' feature for allowing you to read a site in the language of your choice, it (and other browsers) could also have a sight/hearing assistance option.

I definitely see your point, but what happens is that only certain things can be corrected automatically. Let's take again the description of pictures. A browser does not know what an image contains. Content management systems should offer you an option when you upload an image to describe it. But it is the same with translation software. It can try to translate your page, but it is nothing like a professional translation.

Hey Tom, I did think my suggestion might have been a little simplistic and now I can see why.

I suppose what I see as an ideal guiding principle is for individual site owners not to have the burden of having to make design adjustments (as I understand it)on top of all the other things that they've got to do. (Unless, of course, this was already built into their software i.e. webpages/templates and the sight/sound assistance was already set to default.)

When you multiply the burden of one site owner by the total number of sites, that's a lot of redundant effort. I would still want to look for ways where that burden could be handled by a much smaller number of people/technology dedicated to it.

PS Forgive me if I've missed the point altogether.

I also saw Glenda Watson Hyatt's presentation with Michelle and was equally moved. I try to caption photos (haven't used much video) but often miss that detail because when I link in an image, I have to click through multiple windows to get the tag included. Time is a commodity I don't have enough of, and unfortunately accessibility is lower on my priority list than I would like.

This is a good reminder to me to bump it up higher on the list. Thanks.

Tom, in the context of accessibility, I thought you might find this news item on "Speaking scanners offer practical help to blind" interesting:
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Speaking_scanners_offer_practical...

I've re-worded a few things, like adding the word "Important:" + whatever is important. Or 'Note:' or even "Make sure". This works for things in red sometimes too.

Not all of these are appropriate, but you get the idea. Helps sighted users pay more attention too. ;-)

HTH,

Jan

I use the Gunning fog index and find it helpful. You can find more information about it on wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunning_fog_index

Jan Lastort