| Introduction: | | | | - Avoid the use of animation, and flash which may |
| Over the last decay, an increase number of research | | | | affect users with photosensitive epilepsy. |
| were conducted to determine ways Information | | | | - Avoid using Frames because it can pose problems |
| Technology can assist in meeting special needs to | | | | for technology used by some disabled users. |
| ensure universal accessibility. Findings to date suggest | | | | - Try not to use graphics for menu and button |
| that by being more knowledgeable about accessibility | | | | forms. |
| issues, Web designers and developers are able to | | | | - Avoid hiding menu items (using DHTML or applets) |
| accommodate end users with special needs. As we | | | | II- Content |
| enter the knowledge age, it is no longer acceptable | | | | Web designers should organize content in a way that |
| that people with limited or no vision are on their own | | | | can provide ease of use and simplicity. Below, are |
| when it comes to accessing the web, nor those with | | | | helpful tips that designers need to consider when |
| mobility problems are on their own when it comes to | | | | designing an accessible website: |
| use a hardware. To ignore website accessibility raises | | | | - Use a clear language, and write short sentences. |
| moral, business, and legal issues. It is morally wrong | | | | For example, a web page should provide blind users |
| to discriminate against disabled people on the web | | | | with a short summary of what they can find. A |
| simply through lack of thought, consideration, or | | | | Search Functionality is important because a blind |
| awareness. Many business web sites designed | | | | person can't scan the page, and will generally trust |
| without considering accessibility issues result in loss of | | | | first result he/she receives. |
| revenue. Some countries, such as the US, UK, and | | | | - Add Accessible tags and attributes by using rich set |
| Australia has introduced legislation that requires | | | | of tags to enhance accessibility. For instance, an ALT |
| organizations to adhere to accessibility issues. | | | | tag is used to provide a text equivalent for images |
| In June 1999, the Disability Discrimination Act (1999) | | | | within a website. The ALT text description is what |
| has been used to fight for access rights in Australia. | | | | the screen reader or talking browser will read to the |
| The 2000 Olympic Site Games, jointly developed by | | | | blind users . |
| Sydney Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games | | | | - Use clear link descriptions, and include links that a |
| (SOCOG) and IBM was found inaccessible to the blind | | | | user can click to skip repetitive regions of the page. |
| users, and SOCOG was fined A$ 20,000 [1]. | | | | - Ensure the pages are usable when scripts, applets, |
| The purpose of this paper is raising awareness | | | | or style sheets are turned off or not supported. |
| among web designers and developers, to achieve | | | | - All audio and video content should contain captions, |
| universal web accessibility goal. The paper looks at | | | | transcription, and descriptive information. |
| the disability issues and the existing assistive | | | | Analysis: |
| technologies or methods used by disabled users to | | | | It is estimated that 20% of the population has some |
| assist them in accessing the web. | | | | kind of disability. The internet opens a new window |
| Afterwards, the paper reviews guidelines for good | | | | of opportunity and independence to disabled users |
| web site design, and provides analysis for designing | | | | from reading news to banking to conducting business. |
| an accessible website. Furthermore, the paper | | | | For example, by using the screen reader technology |
| highlights on the challenges and gaps in the web | | | | a blind user can listen to the latest newspaper |
| accessibility area. | | | | published electronically. Similarly, a user with mobility |
| Literature Review: | | | | problem who can not go out shopping to buy a |
| Two years ago, a Conference was held in 'London' | | | | newspaper, nor use a keyboard or mouse |
| and attended by representatives of commerce, | | | | independently, can rather use the eye tracking |
| industry, government, and the IT Sector aiming to | | | | software that allow people to use a computer with |
| raise awareness of the potential benefits of assistive | | | | nothing more than eye movement. |
| technology to disabled users. The outstanding number | | | | Nowadays, organizations are asking designers to |
| of speakers highlighted through number of cases | | | | make their web sites accessible and for good |
| how technology can transfer lives. 'Sue Bassoon' a | | | | reasons. First of all, the more people who can use a |
| Business Development Manager at IBM said: "IBM's | | | | site, the more potential it can generate. Online stores, |
| goal is to have a speech recognition system as good | | | | in particular have a great deal to gain, since many |
| as the human ear by 2010" [2]. | | | | people with functional limitation problems, find it much |
| The objectives of this literature is two folds: (1) | | | | easier to shop online. Most Web designers are not |
| explain how a particular disability (e.g. visual | | | | personally opposed to the concept of making web |
| impairment, mobility restriction, hearing impairment) | | | | sites accessible to people with disabilities. In fact |
| can impede the use of the web, and what can be | | | | most accessibility errors on web sites are the result |
| done to accommodate special needs; and (2) show | | | | of ignorance. A large proportion of web designers |
| how web designers and developers can construct | | | | and developers have simply never thought about |
| accessible web sites to end users with disabilities, | | | | accessibility issues. A small proportion of web |
| such as visual or hearing impairment. | | | | designers (4%) do not understand the needs of |
| (1) Disability Issues | | | | users with disabilities; another (46%) understand |
| The section begins with a descriptive part concerning | | | | some of the needs of users with disabilities. While |
| disabled user functional limitation and dependence on | | | | only (26%) of designers understand most of the |
| assistive technologies. | | | | needs of users with disabilities and can accommodate |
| A- Vision Issues: | | | | them [3]. |
| A web user who has no sight (totally blind) is likely to | | | | The Challenges and Gaps of Web Accessibility: |
| use the screen reader technology to reads a load the | | | | In this section, we highlight the challenges and the |
| content of the web page. Other web users, with | | | | requirements posed by user needs, to access the |
| partial or poor sight need to be able to enlarge the | | | | web. We argue the need for a new approach to |
| text on web page using a screen magnifier. | | | | address accessibility issues, and include it in each and |
| B- Mobility Issues: | | | | every web project life cycle.We recognize that the |
| A web user may have mobility problems as a result | | | | vast majority of disabled users face challenges when |
| of an accident or disease such as:(loss of limb, Injury, | | | | accessing the web. Why is this? Is it the lack of |
| or aging process). The technologies used by users | | | | technical solutions to meet their needs - absolutely |
| with mobility problems are: | | | | not! You will hear today that there are new |
| - Sticky Keys: For users with one finger typing. | | | | technological solutions to address even most |
| - Filter Keys: Ignores repeated strokes for people | | | | extreme form of disability. Is it cost? |
| with hand tremors. | | | | Again it is not! Some technical solutions, cost nothing |
| - Mouse Keys: Permits moving pointer with numeric | | | | at all, and already exist in software. So, What then? |
| keypad. | | | | Is it that web applications are being developed that |
| - Serial Key: Permits access to alternatives for mouse | | | | present challenges to accessible design? Is it lack of |
| and keyboard functions such as Foot Mouse. | | | | knowledge and skills to meet their needs? |
| - Eye gaze: A video camera that racks eye | | | | There does seem a general lack of awareness of |
| movement as the user look at an on screen | | | | web accessibility issues. Web Designers and |
| keyboard. It is customizable as how long a key must | | | | Developers, need to have a better approach to |
| be looked at to be recorded. When system has | | | | tackle the problem in each phase of the web |
| identified the key looked at the symbol appears and | | | | development process. For example, during the |
| the user look at next key. | | | | requirement analysis phase a web developer must |
| C- Hearing Issues: | | | | define the target audience of the site, and should |
| A web user may be deaf or experiencing problems | | | | take into account people with a combination of |
| with hearing due to the natural aging process. To | | | | disabilities. In addition to this, during prototyping phase |
| assist those users the audio or video need to be | | | | a web designer must have the knowledge to |
| translated to the ASL (American Sign Language) | | | | accommodate end users with special needs, and also |
| language of the deaf, in which certain signs represent | | | | the skills to meet their expectations. |
| words. | | | | Moreover, testing the web site using different |
| (2) Design for Accessibility | | | | technologies is critical for a successful web site, to |
| In the above section, the paper provided readers | | | | ensure it meets the accessibility standards and user |
| with a general knowledge about disability issues, | | | | requirements [4]. Therefore, in each phase of the |
| disabled users, and the existing assistive technologies. | | | | web development process, accessibility plays an |
| This section is intended for web designers and | | | | important role. Accessibility and Usability should be |
| developers, because it provides them with tips and | | | | completely embedded in web design and |
| guidelines on ways to design a good and accessible | | | | development cycles from beginning to end. |
| website. There are two main aspects to take into | | | | The future looks bright for web accessibility. It |
| account: | | | | promises to educate web designers and developers |
| I- Look and Feel | | | | about accessibility issues, through training courses |
| Web designers need to present a user friendly | | | | offered at universities. |
| interface that addresses specific ability needs. The | | | | Conclusion: |
| designer should be able to describe ways disabled | | | | The Internet offers independence and freedom. But, |
| users interact with a website, and how they move | | | | this independence and freedom is limited to certain |
| through the pages and how they achieve their goals. | | | | users. Many websites are not created with |
| Below, are helpful tips that designers need to | | | | accessibility issues in mind. Whether it is the Web |
| consider when designing an accessible website. | | | | Designer lack of knowledge or ignorance, they |
| - Web Designers & Developers; should follow the | | | | exclude a segment of users that in many ways |
| four principles of visual organization in the process of | | | | benefit from the internet [5]. |
| designing a website which are: Proximity, Alignment, | | | | In short, designing accessible websites does not |
| Consistency, and Contrast. | | | | require an enormous effort or time. It simply, requires |
| - Web Designers & Developers; must avoid using | | | | commitment, and accountability, to achieve a |
| HTML tables to control the layout, instead use style | | | | universal goal. |
| sheets. | | | | Reference: |
| - Web Designers & Developers; should use legible | | | | [1] Duckworth D. (2003).Web Accessibility in Australia. |
| fonts, and font size to allow disabled users to easily | | | | Retrieved June 18, 2005, from |
| change them from the browser interface. | | | | [2] Conference (2003). IT - The Universal Enabler, |
| - Avoid poor color contrast in your design, and do | | | | London. Retrieved May 28, 2005 from |
| not use color for meaningful description. | | | | [3]Web Accessibility Survey (2003). |