Benefits Of Making Your Website Accessible To Disabled Users ? Part 2: The Business Case

The Disability Discrimination Act states that service providers must not discriminate against disabled people. A website is regarded as a service and therefore comes under this law.

Some organisations are changing to their websites, but many are seemingly not making the adjustments. Disabled people don't access their website, they say, so why should they care?

There are, however, two very good reasons as to why businesses should start taking these issues seriously:

  • An accessible website will make you more money

  • An accessible website will save you money

    There are seven reasons for this being applicable:

    1. Your website will be easier to manage

    An accessible website separates the content (the words and images that we see on the screen) and presentation (the way that these words and images are laid out) of each page. Each web page has an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) document, which contains the words and images for that page (the content), and calls up a CSS (Cascading StyleSheets) document that includes the presentation information ? this CSS document is shared by all the pages on the website. To adjust the layout of your website, you only have to make changes in one file, saving considerable time (and therefore money).

    2. Your website will be compatible with new browsing technologies

    In the near future, the use of PDAs, mobile phones and in-car browsers will all regularly be used to access the Internet. The people making use of these new technologies are generally high-income individuals. In order to reach this lucrative target, you will need a website that can work on these machines. To test your website, try accessing it on the Wapalizer, a free program available at http://www.gelon.net, which shows how your site will look on a mobile phone.

    3. Your website will appear higher in the search engines

    By making your website more accessible to web users, you are also making it more accessible to search engines. Search engines cannot usually understand images, JavaScript, Flash, audio and video content. By providing alternative content to each of these programs, search engines will have a better understanding of the purpose of your website. The more confident a search engine is of what your website is about, all other things being equal, the higher it will place your website in the search rankings.

    4. You will not have to incur legal fees

    The RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) and the DRC (Disability Rights Commission) have been exerting pressure on companies and the government to make their websites accessible. Indeed, the DRC is currently investigating 1,000 websites for accessibility (http://www.gelon.net). If your organisation's website is on this list then you can expect to be hearing from them soon.

    5. The download time of your website will be significantly improved

    Just 25% of UK web users are connected to the Internet via broadband (www.liquidzope.com/abc/2/4currentusage/currentstatebbd/view). You can be sure that if your website takes much longer than ten seconds to download then many of your site visitors will be clicking away and you will lose their custom.

    6. The usability of your website will be enhanced

    There is a certain amount of overlap between web accessibility and web usability. It has been shown that a usability redesign increases the sales/conversion rate of a website by 100% (http://www.gelon.net).

    7. You will gain good publicity

    Make your website accessible to everyone and you can tell the world about it.

    About The Author

    This article was written by Trenton Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility - so crazy that he went and started his own web usability and accessibility consultancy (Webcredible - http://www.gelon.net) to help make the Internet a better place for everyone.

    limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
    In The News:

    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Artificial intelligence-based cameras are giving air defense operators unprecedented capabilities in monitoring and protecting airspace.
    Apple's iOS 18.1 Inactivity Reboot automatically reboots your iPhone if it hasn't been used or unlocked for more than three days, providing better data protection.
    An inventor designed rooftop solar panels for a Tesla that draws solar energy while the car is parked, adding travel mileage without plugging in.
    There are currently no laws governing what artificial intelligence can and cannot do with the information it gathers; here are 10 things to avoid telling AI chatbots to keep yourself safe.
    A credit union with over 240,000 members recently revealed it was targeted by cybercriminals, resulting in a data breach that was part of a two-month attack by hackers.
    Scammers have become skilled at creating convincing fake websites that can easily fool unsuspecting users. The CyberGuy offers tips to protect yourself.
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    CAPTCHAs, which are used by websites to confirm whether users are people or bots, are harmless, but hackers are using them to infect PCs with malware.
    Hackers recently leaked personal information of about 500,000 Americans and stole patient medical records that included lab results and insurance details.
    The holiday season sees a rise in mobile shopping scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to stay safe.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy.
    Beware of these six sneaky holiday scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives you tips to avoid falling victim.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data.
    Artificial intelligence is making life easier for cybercriminals, allowing them to create elaborate scams to trick people. Kurt the Cyberguy explains how to protect yourself.
    Cut through all the digital clutter and delete multiple emails from your Android simultaneously. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how it's done.
    Tips to prevent your holiday decorations from being stolen
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson lays out the immediate steps you should take if your phone has been hacked and your personal information becomes vulnerable.
    Fraudsters are sending people bogus invoices through PayPal as part of a sneaky scam that is going around; here's how to protect yourself from being fooled.
    A former Colgate-Palmolive employee was shocked to discover $750,000 had been drained from her 401(k) account. "CyberGuy" offers tips on how to prevent identity theft.
    Electric vehicle maker Harbinger recently showed its electric delivery truck can handle icy roads with agility and stability in winter.
    To make the busiest time of year more manageable, here are some tricks for tracking your packages, taking quality family photos and curating the perfect Christmas playlist.
    Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to keep your online Amazon gift purchases a secret from loved ones or friends this holiday season.
    Factory resetting an iPhone is a crucial step to protect your privacy and prevent theft when you are selling, trading or donating your device.
  • New Years Resolutions: Is Improving Your Website One of Them?

    With the New Year upon us yet again, it's time... Read More

    Entangled in the World Wide Web

    I am just a learner who likes to delve in... Read More

    Selecting a Web Content Management Product

    So you want to take a look at a real... Read More

    I Want To Be A Freelancer

    So you have decided that you want to do freelance... Read More

    The Topic Of Your Website

    The first thing you will have to deal building your... Read More

    How To Write More Powerful Online Text

    Although there are significant differences among the various types of... Read More

    Whats Your Business Online Attitude?

    This article was prompted by some customer support work I... Read More

    The Most Important Aspect of Writing Web Copy

    There is an ongoing debate about web copy. Some say... Read More

    Trinkets, Lockets And Empty Pockets

    It never ceases to amaze me how many people set-up... Read More

    Website Development: Become Your Own Expert

    Starting and maintaining a business is challenging enough without the... Read More

    Your Website Reflects Your Business

    Some left shoes are in isle 5, while the right... Read More

    Effective Webdesign

    D.zigns dzignerwebs The Basics Before starting on... Read More

    Build It and They Will Come

    Build it and they will come is not always true;... Read More

    Functions and Subroutines in ASP

    Functions and Subroutines in ASP If you read... Read More

    Seven Daft Things Not To Do To Your Website

    1. Splash pagesMost of the time splash pages are uncalled... Read More

    Making the Most of Your Website: Start with the Basics

    One of my most salient memories from when I sold... Read More

    Why a CSS Website Layout Will Make You Money

    Although CSS layouts have been around for years, they haven't... Read More

    Is Your Web Site Talking to Your Customer?

    A while ago one of my clients approached me and... Read More

    Server Stats ? Analyzing Traffic To Your Site

    Analyzing traffic to a site is a key factor in... Read More

    How One Word Or Even One Letter Can Boost Conversion Rates By Over 400%!

    Recently I was reviewing the keyword specific conversion rate data... Read More

    Get a Website!, Register Your Domain!: To Website or Not to Website?

    If you're fairly new to the Internet scene, you may... Read More

    Thinking Of Taking Money Online? Whats Best For Merchants? PayPal, WorldPay or Something Else?

    It's now easier than ever to take payments on the... Read More

    How Did You Get Here?

    When marketing your website, it's important to know which of... Read More

    Remember This When Building A New Site - Beginners Guide

    I recently helped my mom to launch a website (www.mom2me.com)... Read More

    How Disabled Users Access The Internet

    In 1995 a new era of accessibility for disabled people... Read More

    shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..