Web Accessibility
Accessibility is about more than the disabled
Web accessibility goes beyond just designing for people with physical or cognitive disabilities. Accessibility is about making your site available to the widest possible audience no matter what their browser, device, connection speed or disability.
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Accessibility makes sense from a business perspective as well as a moral and legal one. Why turn away visitors to your site just because they are using a dial-up connection, do not have the latest browser technology or have poor vision?
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Websites designed to be accessible will attract a larger number of potential customers. Disabled people in Canada have a combined spending power of $25 Billion, yet still have difficulties gaining access to goods and services.
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Accessible websites are usually more ’search engine friendly’ and, therefore, more likely to be found by potential customers.
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An accessible website, created in accordance with the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Accessibility Guidelines, costs less to maintain, and is ‘future proofed’ - more likely to continue working as browsers and hardware are updated.
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Accessible web design is important for organizations attempting to attract grant aid or funding, or contracts from public bodies.
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Accessible sites are also more likely to be viewable on alternative devices such as cell phones, pda’s and other handheld devices.
