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Design and Accessibility: Part I
Accessibility Apathy: Are you guilty?
Apathy about accessibility in Web site designs seems to be a common malady. Have you given up or do you compromise accessibility standards because they seem to whittle your design down to nothing? If you don’t comply with accessibility standards, does this mean that are you ignorant about these issues, or do you harbor malicious intent against people with disabilities? Or, have you developed apathy about accessibility because the issues seem obtuse or downright silly?
If the Web designer understands accessibility issues and applies them to design elements and principles, the incomprehensible may become understandable and usability of your site may come to life for many more readers. Plus, you could avoid legal issues and possibly increase profits. In this article, Linda Goin begins to address the difference between usability and accessibility and also begins to provide step-by-step solutions which can be addressed immediately as she analyzes a blog/CSS Website. Even if you are allergic to blog layouts, you’ll discover that the issues addressed here apply to all Website designs.
Who Needs to Be Concerned?
Frankly, my guilt and frustrations about Web accessibility issues drove me to write this article. First, I know that the sites which I design could and should be more accessible to a wider variety of users. Secondly, I know that “alt” tags should be utilized in my sites, but that’s about all I knew about the standards before I began my research. And, there were times when I wondered if I needed to be concerned, because my clients consist of small businesses, sole proprietorships, and start-ups. None of my clients are as large as Target, a company which the National Federation for the Blind has sued for the exclusion of “alt” tags in their mark-up.
Target’s code now includes some “alt” tags, at least on its homepage.
On 15 Feb 2006, Matt May commented on the Web Standards Project that the lawsuit against Target was a bit overworked, since other sites violate accessibility with a seeming vengeance. One example May used in comparison to Target was Costco, a bricks-and-mortar business which prides itself on its “outstanding business ethics.” While Costco may utilize these ethics in their physical location, their Website violates quite a few accessibility standards with excessive tables, JavaScript, and hidden subcategories.
Linda Goin
Linda Goin carries an A.A. in graphic design, a B.F.A. in visual communications with a minor in business and marketing and an M.A. in American History with a minor in the Reformation. While the latter degree doesn't seem to fit with the first two educational experiences, Linda used her 25-year design expertise on archaeological digs and in the study of material culture. Now she uses her education and experiences in social media experiments.
Accolades for her work include fifteen first-place Colorado Press Association awards, numerous fine art and graphic design awards, and interviews about content development with The Wall St. Journal, Chicago Tribune, Psychology Today, and L.A. Times.