Web Accessibility Benefits

Recently I began redesigning a new web site for my web site design business and thought it would be a good idea to make it as web accessible as possible. People who have various disabilities find it difficult to access the Web. This might be because they have bad eye site, are blind, deaf or have limited dexterity.

Top 7 Benefits of Web Accessibility


1. Access to a wider audience

If your web site is designed to allow access even to people with various disabilities you automatically attract attract more visitors.

2. Easier site navigation

Your web site will have a navigation structure than makes it user friendly for both impaired and non-impaired visitors.

3. Search engine friendly

Search engine spiders are more able to index web sites that have validated code and are fast loading.

4. Reduce bandwidth

If you use CSS (cascading style sheets) instead of tables for layout, a website can reduce its file sizes by 50%.

5. Legal requirement

Website accessibility is a legal requirement in the US
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) states a website must be accessible to disabled people.

6. Cross-browser compatibility

Using CSS for layout combined with valid markup (HTML or XHTML), will make your website render well at different screen sizes such as 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, and 1152×864. You won’t see any horizontal scrolling that you may get with table layouts.

7. Print Friendly Web Pages

Include an alternative style sheet to allow visitors to print your web page. Web page formatting, images and navigation
should not be included in the printed page.

Conclusion

Designing web pages for correct accessibility takes more time than not catering to this audience however it will help you to create clean, fast loading, search engine friendly pages that will attract more visitors.

Comments

  1. I was surfing the site above and saw a really good website named FreedomDisability.com that can really help you if you are disabled. This site has great information that can help individuals with disabilities who live in the US apply for SSDI and win. This website offers a lot of great tips and information where you can get free information on how to successfully apply for and win Disability Benefits with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

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