Approximately one in four people in the United States are living with some type of disability. With disabilities affecting so many people, what is being done to help them? We can see a lot is being done just by making some observations when going out for a walk or entering a public building. We’ll see ramps, disabled toilets, elevators, etc. This is all to help those who need assistance with their mobility and we all welcome this. But what about online? While trying to navigate the internet, many of those with disabilities face unnecessary difficulties. Why do we say unnecessary? Because thanks to companies, like accessiBe, there is no reason why they should experience these difficulties at all. So, what exactly is the problem?
When setting up a website, most people are focusing on trying to make it look as appealing as possible. Unfortunately, it seems to slip the mind of some that this isn’t enough. Some disabilities mean that accessing websites requires a little extra help. For example, a person with a visual impairment may need additional support to be able to see a website, such as having it available in a larger font, or having audio descriptions for any images. Others may need to have audio support for more than just images. There are some disabilities that mean some people cannot use a mouse and need access to the whole website using the keyboard alone. The problem or obstacle many seem to create for themselves is that disabilities are so diverse, they become overwhelmed and think they couldn’t possibly make their website accessible to all of these different needs and so they don’t attempt it. But this is why we say it is unnecessary difficulty. There is software available which will do all the hard work for you. It will scan through your website, searching for any lack of accessibility and it will then fix the problem for you. So, there is no reason to feel overwhelmed or to put this off. You could have your website accessible in just a few days’ time.
It is in your own best interests to do this as you leave your business or yourself open to legal ramifications if you do not. Yes, in many countries this is now a legal matter and just as we have seen a sharp rise in the number of websites out there in recent times, we have also seen a sharp rise in the number of lawsuits against those not making their websites accessible during the same period of time. People are starting to take notice of this issue and the fight is on to make all websites accessible.
