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What is Web Accessibility? From the W3C

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From: Kynn Bartlett
Date: Mar 23, 2006 3:20PM

A lot of people seem to be looking at me as if I've grown a third eye for
stating that Web Accessibility Is About People With Disabilities.

Allow me to quote from the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative's web site:
(more comments by me after the quote)

http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/accessibility.php

BEGIN QUOTE
What is Web Accessibility

*Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web*.
More specifically, Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can
perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can
contribute to the Web. Web accessibility also benefits others, including older
people <http://www.w3.org/WAI/bcase/soc.html#of>; with changing abilities due
to aging.

Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the
Web, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and
neurological disabilities. The document "*How People with Disabilities Use
the Web*" describes how different disabilities affect Web
use<http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/PWD-Use-Web/#diff>;and includes
scenarios
of people with disabilities using the
Web<http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/PWD-Use-Web/#usage>;.


Millions of people have disabilities that affect their use of the Web.
Currently most Web sites and Web
software<http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/accessibility.php#software>;have
*accessibility barriers* that make it difficult or impossible for many
people with disabilities to use the Web. As more accessible Web sites and
software become available, people with disabilities are able to use and
contribute to the Web more effectively.

Web accessibility also *benefits* people *without* disabilities. For
example, a key principle of Web accessibility is designing Web sites and
software that are flexible to meet different user needs, preferences, and
situations. This *flexibility* also benefits people *without* disabilities
in certain situations, such as people using a slow Internet connection,
people with "temporary disabilities" such as a broken arm, and people with
changing abilities due to aging. The document "Developing a Web
Accessibility Business Case for Your
Organization<http://www.w3.org/WAI/bcase/Overview>;"
describes many different benefits of Web accessibility, including *benefits
for organizations*.

END QUOTE

Someone in private email angrily accused me of *gasp* saying web
accessibility is about disabled people only (and I've added "but it benefits
other people as a side effect" repeatedly), and demanded "Who says?"

The answer is that the W3C says.

Likewise, the WebAIM site also talks about web accessibility as being
something about people with disabilities:

http://www.webaim.org/intro/

I'm not off in looney land here, folks. What I am saying is basic knowledge
about Web Accessibility and what it is, and isn't. Yes, web accessibility
benefits everyone, but it's a side effect. Web accessibility is about people
with disabilities first.

--Kynn

PS: No, I haven't suddenly "turned into Joe Clark." Check the WAI archives.
I've ALWAYS been like this.