SAIF: Making Websites Accessible
What is accessibility?
In the context of the web, accessibility is about trying to ensure that the electronic information you produce is accessebile to the widest possible audience. The key to accessibility is to make the presentation of your content flexible, so that users can change it to suit their own needs.
For example, a person with dyslexia might find it useful to alter the font you have used, or change the background colours or the size of the text. It will be helpful to a person using a screen reader if your content is well structured and your links all make sense when read out of context; it will make it quicker and easier for them to access your content.
An accessible website will mean that people using assistive technologies will not be excluded from your content. For example, many people browse the web using screen readers, magnifying software, braille printers, keyboard only software, switches and other assistive devices.
It is also important to think about accessibility in the wider sense, i.e. your website should be quick to load, well organised, attractive, user-friendly and use clear language.
