"Web Accessibility"
by Kimberly Byrd

Why Should I Care?

Why should I make my Web site accessible?

It’s the right thing to do.

Although many see this as playing the morality card, the bottom line is that all individuals deserve to participate in society as equals. In a presentation by Winthrop University's coordinator of services for students with disabilities, Gina Smith quoted a sophomore as saying, "The Internet is a source of knowledge and shouldn't be limited." Access to information and learning is an integral part of a free society; and as Web designers, we should make it a priority to make our sites accessible.

It’s the law.

The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. In 1996, the question of whether or not the ADA could be applied to the Internet was raised. Numerous lawsuits followed as the debate regarding Web accessibility continued.

Section 508 is a 1998 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that establishes federal accessibility guidelines for electronic and information technology. Many states have followed the lead of the federal government in an attempt to make all IT services accessible for the disabled. Of particular interest to readers of this article, South Carolina has mandated that state agency Web sites become compliant by July 2006. Winthrop University is included in this accessibility initiative.

For an overview of Section 508 requirements, check out this "Section 508 - Web Accessibility User-Friendly Checklist" in pdf format (Sacramento City College).

It’s a moneymaker.

If you think it takes too much effort to do the right thing, and you aren't responsible for a government Web site that is required to be accessible, then perhaps the dollar signs associated with accessibility will get your attention.

"Between 15% and 30% of the population have functional limitations that can affect their ability to use technology products (50 million in US, 750 million worldwide). It is estimated that people with disabilities control a discretionary income of over $175 billion annually in US alone" (Interactive Media Technology Center). This is a huge market that the world of e-commerce would be foolish to ignore.

Additionally, computer consultants skilled in making Web sites accessible charge a "pretty penny." During a telephone conversation with one such consulting firm, I received an idea of just how much compliancy can cost. Idea Integration estimates that a one thousand page higher education Web site will cost $60,000 to revamp! That is only sixty dollars per page, but when the final figures are staring you in the face, the numbers seem outrageous. To bring the money-making aspect of accessibility a little closer to home, consider that Winthrop University's Web site currently consists of an estimated 25,000 pages. At sixty dollars per Web page, making the site compliant would cost the university approximately 1.5 million dollars!