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What is an accessible website?

An accessible site allows all users access to information, regardless of their browser, resolution, settings, eyesight or ability.

Why should I make my website more accessible?

You provide a site that can be accessed by the maximum audience. Accessible Web sites also provide greater flexibility for the future - While the web is often considered to be a visual medium, accessible Web pages adapt to allow aural and Braille presentations. While aural browsing is already common among the blind, it may become increasingly common through in-car Web browsing or telephone browsing.

How can I make my website more accessible?

Here are ten tips taken from the World Wide Web Consortiums Accessibility Guidelines that can be applied to your site with little or no extra cost.

• Images & animations
  Use the alt attribute to describe the function of each visual
• Image maps
  Use the client-side map and text for hotspots
• Multimedia
  Provide captioning and transcripts of audio, and descriptions of video
• Hypertext links
  Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example, avoid "click here."
• Page organization
  Use headings, lists, and consistent structure. Use CSS for layout and style where possible. Keeping navigation consistent throughout your website will improve usability for everyone
• Graphs & charts
  Summarize or use the LONGDESC attribute
• Scripts, applets, & plug-ins
  Provide alternative content in case active features are inaccessible or unsupported
• Frames
  Use the NOFRAMES element and meaningful titles
• Tables
  Make line-by-line reading sensible. Summarize
• Don't rely on colour
  Do not use color alone to convey information. Provide sufficient contrast when selecting text and background colour
• Check your work
  Validate. Use tools, checklist, and guidelines at http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG

Where can I find more information on website accessibility?

W3C
http://www.w3.org/WAI/
The World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) commitment to lead the Web to its full potential includes promoting a high degree of usability for people with disabilities.
They offer comprehensive guidelines and advice on designing website for maximum accessibility.

Bobby
http://www.cast.org/bobby/
Bobby was created to help Web page authors identify and repair significant barriers to access by individuals with disabilities.

Lynx
http://lynx.browser.org/
Free text-only browser, very useful for testing how well pages will work on screen readers, Personal Digital Assistants, phones, Braille printers, and other non-graphical devices.

Colorfield
http://www.colorfield.com/
Colorfield Insight helps web designers address accessibility issues in color design, providing filters for the three most common forms of colorblindness. Use Insight to check the legibility of your designs for color-deficient viewers. Available for Macintosh only.