Accessible Web Design - Why Should You Make Your Website Accessible?

Accessible web design refers to the creation of web pages that are accessible to all users, including users with disabilities. Accessible web design is built in aid of many disabled people including those who are visually impaired (poor eye sight, colour blindness), motor impaired (Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy) and hearing impaired (deaf).

Accessible web design UK

The UK passed a law called “The disability discrimination act” in 1992 making it illegal to discriminate those with disabilities. Although the law does not refer to Internet users and website accessibility, many larger companies are starting to use technology to cater for those with special needs.

With the advance of technology many new products have been created to assist disabled people. The different products available vary from speech recognition software for those who are motor impaired and have difficulties using a mouse, to software that can read web pages or selected parts of the page using synthesised speech.

The importance of accessible web design lays in the fact that a lot of these helpful products will not be fully effective unless the websites are designed to be accessible.

Why should you make your website accessible?

Using accessible web design London based companies and others around the UK have found that rewards outweigh the costs. Companies using accessible web design have the knowledge and comfort that they are providing useful alternatives for people with special requirements. They also have the added benefits of increasing their potential customer base, as customers with disabilities will be more receptive to companies that cater to their needs.

We have established the importance of accessible web design across the globe but the most important factor is how daily tasks we take for granted, can be carried out with relative ease giving the user peace of mind and independence. With the Internet being the most used information resource for people from all walks of life it has become necessary to provide people with disabilities the equal opportunities of accessing information and people at the touch of a button.

Fast becoming an integral part of building a website, accessible web design UK, and globally is a must for all website owners who wish to bridge the gap between web design and web functionality.

Daniel Brudgins is a web accessibility and TYPO3 CMS consultant at Atto New Media Ltd. - who provide TYPO3 development and accessible web design services to customers in the UK.

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