Web Quality - Accessibility (WAI)
A website can only be considered user-friendly (accessible) if it can be used by people with disabilities.
People with disabilities refer to users who have impairments or are physically unhealthy.
Web Accessibility Initiative - WAI
WAI (launched by W3C in 1997) is a series of guidelines for web developers, creators, and designers on how to make content more accessible to people with disabilities.
The goal of these guidelines is accessibility, but they also help make web content usable for more browsers (voice browsers, mobile phones, handheld devices) and for users in challenging environments (non-handheld, bright light, dark, low vision, noise, etc.).
Is WAI important for your website?
Yes.
Millions of people with disabilities surf the web daily, and even more people use poor browsing devices or work in difficult environments.
If your website lacks features like adjustable font sizes, text descriptions for graphics, and easy navigation, those people cannot access your information.
In fact: Your website deprives these people of their rights.
Reasons to enhance website accessibility include:
- Improves the reputation and image of the website
- Enhances user satisfaction
- Increases the number of visitors
- Increases the time visitors spend on the site
- Increases the number of repeat visitors
- Increases usability for people without disabilities
- Increases usability for visitors with graphics disabled
- Increases usability for people using older devices
- Makes your website serve the fastest-growing demographic: the elderly
Using Adjustable Font Sizes
Use relative font sizes so that users can change the default font size using the browser menu.
Can you read this?
Can you read this?
Can you read this?
Can you read this?
Using the "alt" Attribute
The alt attribute allows you to provide a corresponding text for an image (or other elements).
Example:
Sometimes browsers fail to display images. Possible reasons include:
- Users have turned off image display
- The browser is a mini browser that does not support graphics
- The browser is a voice browser (for blind and low-vision users)
If you use the alt attribute, the browser can at least display or read a description of the image.