I received the new Dwell magazine (Volume 9, issue 6, May 2009 “Beyond Green”) a couple of weeks ago. As I read the editor’s note about sustainability, I kept replacing the word sustainability with accessibility.
In Dwell Sam Grawe, editor-in-chief, states we as individuals need to make micro-decisions to improve sustainability and “government, corporations, and other institutions need to lay a framework that makes adopting those decisions easy.” (May 2009) The 508 law (Rehabilitation Act) was passed “to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.” (http://www.section508.gov/) Currently, the law applies only to federal agencies. Corporations and we as individuals are responsible for ensuring that this expands to other areas.
“… [D]esigners shrug off being labeled as ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ but still create buildings sustainable, green, high-tech structures. (Dwell May 2009) Often times when creating or redesigning a site, accessibility is called out as a separate step. If we incorporate accessibility as part of the process, one day we may see an increase of web designers who believe the same thing about accessibility. Designers will make web sites accessible without having to call out accessibility.
“…sustainability should always be part of the process… but it is truly successful when it’s not the only goal or end result…[y]ou can build the most “sustainable” eco-village in the world, but if no one wants to live there, what’s the point?” (Dwell May 2009) You can build the most accessible web site, but if no one wants to use it what is the point. It still has to appeal to the user and provide them with an experience that makes them want to return to the site.
So what small things can you do to improve accessibility without tearing down the building and starting all over?
- Ensure alt tags for images (use alt tag= “” when the image is purely decorative).
- Ensure all elements on the page can be accessed by only using the tab key on the keyboard.
- Ensure that if a link is read without the context around it that it clearly describes where it will take the user.
Tags: Accessibility