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Gregory
is a high school student who is nonverbal because of Moya Moya syndrome. Assistive
technology allows him to communicate with his peers and work in the school store.Web Accessibility
An accessible Web site allows all people, including those with disabilities, to actively use the Internet. While approximately one in five persons in the United States has a disability, Web accessibility also supports many other people including older users, those with low English proficiency and literacy skills, new and infrequent Web users, those using older technologies to access the Internet, and those who use emerging and new technologies. Accessible Web sites are more efficient, delivering pages with greater speed that are more easily maintained, effectively indexed, and quickly found by search engines, saving both costs and design time.
ALLTech offers a variety of Web accessibility services:
- Audit
- Design and development
- Maintenance
- Accessible multimedia development
- Consultation
- Training
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Benefits of Web Accessibility
Accessible technology is widely used by people of all abilities, often for easier, more convenient, and more comfortable use. Accessible Internet technology opens up Web-based information and services to nearly everyone. By ensuring that a Web site is accessible to people with disabilities, businesses and organizations can make it a more effective, satisfying, and valuable resource for all consumers.
Individuals with disabilities, comprising nearly one-fifth of the American population, is an untapped market worth over $220 billion in collective spending power. Further enlarging this potential market are families, friends, communities, employers, and service providers of persons with disabilities. Like other niche markets, the disability community responds positively to companies whose marketing approaches are sensitive to their needs and interests.
- Web accessibility reduces legal liability and can meet the equal opportunity policies that prohibit discrimination in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, and other employment practices on the basis of age, national origin, and disability status.
- Web accessibility makes your site easier to find: Many accessibility provisions promote search engine optimization.
- Web accessibility benefits an increasingly older population that has age-related disabilities. More than 25% of individuals who are between 50 and 64 years old make online purchases. This is the highest concentration of any age group. The fastest growing segment is that of individuals who are 65 years of age and older.
- Web accessibility benefits new and infrequent Web users, those who use older technologies, and those who have limited English proficiency, low reading levels, and temporary impairments.
- Web accessibility conserves resources and saves money, reducing the unnecessary duplication of products and services, such as large print and Braille.
- Corporate social responsibility enhances brand image and reputation, thereby increasing sales, customer loyalty, and your ability to attract and retain employees.
- Accessible online shopping is important to people who cannot drive, who have difficulty walking, or who have difficulty carrying packages.
- Web accessibility benefits consumers who use emerging technologies, such as advanced voice recognition systems and speech synthesis programs, as well as handheld computers and cell phones.
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