Universal Design and Disability Access to the Web

Background

As the importance of the Internet increases, so does the need to make its content available to larger, more diverse audiences. These audiences use a variety of technologies to access the web, ranging from traditional browsers on desktop computers to portable, hand-held devices, cell phones and hands-free devices. The need to accommodate these technologies through more universal web design strategies grows with every new technology which is introduced. Web developers who ignore the emerging trend toward multiple-environment Internet access will be left to lament their inability to reach important segments of the population.

One important segment of the population which will benefit from the increased emphasis on universal design is the disability community. Unfortunately, not enough attention is currently given to the principles of universal web design to provide individuals with the disabilities with the same standard of access to the Internet as the rest of population. Many web sites are partially or completely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities, even though most accessibility "fixes" are quite easy to implement.

The problem of web inaccessibility is currently most poignant to the disability community. However, it won't be long before those without disabilities begin to complain that their favorite web site is inaccessible from their cell phone and other alternative devices. Web developers should recognize the importance of implementing universal design principles in anticipation of the coming need. They should also recognize that there is an immediate need for universal design. Without it, individuals with disabilities are excluded from full participation in the "information age" that many of us take for granted.

The Need for Better Accessibility

The Internet may well be both the present and the future of modern computing, communication, commerce, information access, education, employment opportunity and entertainment. Its significance has not been overlooked by the business world, which daily introduces hundreds of new "dot coms" to the public scene. Government agencies make their publications available online and provide the means for the exchange of information via the Internet. Universities sponsor online classes that can be taken from any location in the world. In some areas you can even pay your parking ticket fines through web forms! Nearly everything exists on the web in one way or another.

Now imagine that you can only access 22% of it. Let's say that 78% of what you want to access is totally unavailable to you, and that there is little chance of that content becoming accessible to you in the near future. Individuals with disabilities do not have to imagine this scenario (Rowland 2000, unpublished data). For them it is a reality and a persistent reminder that they are different and, perhaps, less important than individuals without disabilities (at least the temptation to feel this way is a strong one). For individuals with disabilities, the inaccessibility of web sites is a major disadvantage--not only from a personal or moral standpoint, but from a practical standpoint as well. Students with disabilities are frustrated by the fact that many of their classes have online content which they cannot access. They tire of requiring the assistance of friends or volunteers to simply get to the course syllabus or lecture notes. Consumers with disabilities are frustrated when they cannot make online purchases at certain sites even when they want to. Many individuals with disabilities simply avoid the Internet because they have either experienced or because they fear the frustrations that inaccessible web sites can cause.

The great irony is that the Internet represents one of the greatest possible solutions for individuals with disabilities. Through the use of technologies known as screen readers, for example, blindness no longer has to be a barrier to the availability of newspapers, magazines and other printed materials. When the materials reside in a digital format (such as HTML) on the Internet, the potential exists for nearly complete equality of access. Knowing the potential of the Internet only exacerbates the frustrations of those who cannot access its content. The good news is that the solutions are not as difficult as they might seem.

Current Solutions

The Web Accessibility Initiative (W.A.I.) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has compiled and published guidelines for web accessibility as it pertains to content, authoring tools and user agents (browsers) which are available at http://www.w3.org/wai/ - external link. Although it is difficult to control for the capabilities of either the browser or the authoring tool, web developers do have control over the way in which they design and present the content. This is a human variable which can be influenced and over which accountability can be exercised. By incorporating the suggestions of the W.A.I., web developers can increase the accessibility of their web sites significantly. The best news is that some of the most important corrections are also some of the easiest to make. By including textual "alt tags" with each image, for example, developers can make graphical hypertext links accessible to those who are blind. Other accessibility solutions require more time and effort, but overall the transition of a page from inaccessible to accessible does usually not represent a complete overhaul of the site.

The project in which I participate--Web Accessibility in Mind (WebAIM)--is an initiative at Utah State University that focuses on the importance of web accessibility in the postsecondary education environment. Training is offered to webmasters and developers of all levels, both in person and through online channels (see http://www.webaim.org). The main goals of WebAIM are to increase awareness of the issue of accessibility, to offer training, to improve the accessibility features of authoring tools, and to provide a model of institutional reform. The potential returns on the project are high, because the stakes are high. Without the incorporation of universal design principles, individuals with disabilities are unable to participate as equals in the modern age.

Other organizations also recognize the importance of accessibility. Microsoft, Sun and I.B.M. are among those that have official accessibility policies within their organizations. Their efforts are laudable, but they are just a beginning. The fact remains that the Internet has a long way to go before it fulfills its potential for individuals with disabilities.

Universal Design

Designing accessible web sites can seem like a daunting task. Mere awareness of the issue often raises more questions than it answers. Misconceptions often arise that need to be corrected. The truth is that web developers who design with accessibility in mind are often able to improve their web site for all users, and not just for those users who have disabilities. It is here that the concept of universal design becomes important, especially when we take into account current and future technologies which will stretch the limits of conventional web wisdom. Improving a site's accessibility for individuals who are blind also improves its accessibility to individuals who access the web in environments that prohibit visual web surfing, such as in the car. Improving a site's accessibility for individuals who do not have use of their hands also improves its accessibility for individuals who must use their hands for other things while accessing the web. The knowledge of how to make sites accessible is available. It is just a matter of using it. The first step is often the one we resist most. Luckily, with proper training, the path of universal and accessible design is not as difficult to walk as some think it is.