What is 'Web Accessibility'?
People use the web in different ways. While most people use a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and a common web browser like Internet Explorer, others rely on assistive or other technologies to deliver the content of a web page.
Some users may not be able to see, hear, move, or process some types of information easily, or they may:
- Have difficulty in reading or comprehending text.
- Be unable to use a keyboard or mouse.
- Have a text-only screen, a small screen, or a slow Internet connection.
- Be unable to speak or understand fluently the language in which the document (the Web page) is written.
- Be in a situation where their eyes, ears, or hands are busy or interfered with (e.g., working in a loud environment, etc.).
- Have an early version of a browser, a different browser entirely, a voice browser, or a different operating system.
Taken from W3C Guidelines
Examples of Technologies used to view the web
'Adaptive or assistive technologies' refers to software or hardware that allows disabled users to gain access to information on a computer. One example of an adaptive technology is a screen reader such as JAWS. This application overcomes the limitations of a blind users' disability by reading the text in a document or web page to a user.
Another example of adaptive technology is switch access. Some users who are mobility-impaired and cannot use a keyboard or mouse, but still have some controlled movement, can control a computer using switch access. Switch access records movement from the user, and gives options to proceed. Users that can only blink can use this form of adaptive technology. Switch access is a very slow method of accessing the web but it allows some users to access content that would otherwise be completely inaccessible.
