subject: Understanding W3c Accessibility Website Design [print this page] The World Wide Web is such a huge phenomenon that it extends beyond all boundaries, across widths and depths. Since it is such a mega element, there needs to be a body to safeguard it as well as create a set of procedures from time to time in order to make the World Wide Web interesting, dynamic and most of all, extremely user friendly. This body is known as the W3C, i.e. the World Wide Web consortium. It works towards the betterment of the internet for everyones benefit. The prime objective of this consortium has always been to make the web equally accessible (W3C accessibility) to all strata of the society, whether belonging to different caste or class.
So what is it that makes this W3C accessibility so important?
Since all law books and constitutions across the world grant equal privileges to every citizen of the world, it becomes an important issue to make the world wide web equally accessible to all since the web provides numerous opportunities to everyone to grow, learn, socialize, enjoy as well as earn. Thus, everyone should be able to avail these benefits equally and as a result, W3C accessibility becomes an important issue. Lets probe deeper into this phenomena and observe the importance of W3C accessibility.
Disabled individuals: People who are visually disabled, i.e. those who may be color blind, partially blind or fully blind may have inconsistencies in seeing the designs and images mentioned on a particular website. Further, if theres no text, it becomes an even bigger problem. If theres text on the web page, visually impaired individuals can still hear the text with the aid of a screen reader. The screen reader reads out the matter aloud. The W3C accessibility features makes provisions for the visually challenged to benefit from a website despite the challenges.
When there are websites that work solely on the basis of sounds, it becomes difficult for the hearing impaired to grasp that information. Such websites should keep an alternative in the form of images and transcribed text that can make them understand the audio.
In case of complexities in the design of the website, people with neurological disabilities usually suffer. They find it hard to understand the website if there are repetitive animations and unnecessary links. According to the provisions of the accessibility standards, it is advisable to keep the website within the reach of neurological patients.
Apart from disabilities: A large population prefers accessing internet while on the go, i.e. on cell phones and related devices. Website owners need to take care that they develop mobile friendly versions. Secondly, there are a lot of people who are not well versed with certain languages. W3C accessibility suggests that facilities for translation should be made available on websites so that people can read the contents in their native language.
As youve noticed, World Wide Web accessibility can make life much easier for a lot of individuals. People just need to put in some conscious efforts and follow these guidelines!
