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The problem with inaccessible websites

Many companies are starting to realise that having a website is not enough. A flashy, sophisticated website may look fabulous, but if a large percentage of potential customers can't use the site- it becomes redundant. There is no such thing as a normal user! Disability affects a large portion of society- just look at the facts:

• Research by the RNIB has shown that over 10% of the UK has some sort of disability;
• 37 million people in the EU have a disability.

These facts alone mean that not everyone accesses the web in the same way. And that's not all!

Accessibility ensures that your website is accessible to people who have problems with real world accessibility:

• Users may be live in an isolated area and a website maybe one of the few means by which they can receive goods and services;
• They may be older people and / or new website users;
• They may have old pcs or browsers or old software;
• They may use old equipment;
• They may have a temporary impairment.

There is a common misconception that accessibility doesn't need to be addressed on a website as it covers a small and insignificant number of web users. This is a complete fallacy.

The purpose of a website is to make that company's products and services available to as large a market as possible. The Internet enables the less mobile to purchase good and services with as little discomfort as possible. If a website cannot be accessed by everyone- then the only one happy is your competition!

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