How Disabled Users Access The Internet

In 1995 a new era of accessibility for disabled people began. The Disability Discrimination Act was passed, stating that:

"It is unlawful for a service provider to discriminate against a disabled person by refusing to provide any service which it provides to members of the public."

A website is regarded as a service and the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) and DRC (Disability Rights Commission) have been quick to apply pressure on to organisations to push this law into practice. Indeed, the DRC has now published its formal investigation into 1000 websites (http://www.drc-gb.org/publicationsandreports/2.pdf).

So, how do disabled people access the Internet? There are a number of different ways depending on their particular disability:

Blind users

Internet users who have no sight at all utilize a screen reader, which reads the content of the web page, or rather the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) code of the page, back to them. These machines sift through the HTML code and the technology deciphers what needs to be read aloud and what should be ignored. IBM's screen reader can be downloaded for a free 30-day trial at http://www-3.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/hpr.html. Once you have downloaded it, go to your website, turn your monitor off, and try to navigate your website.

Partial/poor sight

To take full advantage of the Internet, users with partial or poor sight need to be able to enlarge the text on web pages. To verify that your website allows them to achieve this on Internet Explorer, go to View > Font size > Largest. If your site is accessible to this group of users then the size of the text throughout the page will increase. Users with poor vision can also use a screen magnifier. You can download a free screen magnifier at http://www.magnifiers.org/links/Download_Software/Screen_Magnifiers/ and see for yourself.

Colour blindness

It is estimated that one in 12 men and one in 200 women have some form of colour blindness (http://www.iee.org/Policy/Areas/Health/cvdintro.cfm). You can check how Internet users with different strains of colour blindness are viewing your website at http://www.tesspub.com/colours.html.

Deaf users

Deaf users are able to access the Internet in much the same way as able-bodied people with one key exception ? audio content. If it is a key function of your website for people to be able to hear a message, then be sure to provide written transcripts.

Keyboard/voice only users

Some of your site users do not have access to a mouse when browsing the Internet. Try putting yourself in their position by navigating your website using only tab, shift-tab, and the return keys.

Other users

Other people who may access your website that have disadvantages include:

  • Epileptic users who must always be careful to avoid seeing flickering between 2 and 55 Hz

  • Web users from outside your industry who may not understand industry jargon or acronyms

  • Web users whose first language is not English and who may not be able to comprehend complicated language

    To really put yourself in the position of one of these web users try out the DRC's inaccessible website demonstration at www.drc-gb.org/open4all/newsroom/website6.asp.

    About The Author

    This article was written by Trenton Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility - so crazy that he went and started his own web usability and accessibility consultancy (Webcredible - http://www.webcredible.co.uk) to help make the Internet a better place for everyone.

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Get Your Business on the Web

    I can't think of any business alive today that couldn't... Read More

    PIM Team Case Study: Creating Text Effects With PHP and GD

    See how you can create graphic effects on text with... Read More

    4 Steps to Selling More With Your Web Site

    Most web sites are more like stage sets than real... Read More

    Web Site Development Process - The Life-cycle Steps

    A system development process can follow a number of standard... Read More

    How To Keep Your Website Sticky

    Developing a website with content that entices visitors to return... Read More

    Now You Have a Web Site - Have You Ever Heard of Accessibility?

    An accessible Web site is easily approached, easily understood, and... Read More

    Live Support from Your Website? Can You Do It for Free?

    I'm a freelance programmer and somehow I managed to get... Read More

    Streamline your Business Website with a Content Management System

    I talk with so many people who have small businesses... Read More

    FREE Amber Alert Tickers for Your Website

    Project Safekids provides webmasters a valuable tool which could save... Read More

    Improving Usability for Screen Reader Users

    Simply ensuring your website is accessible to screen reader users... Read More

    How to Get Your Website In Front of Thousands of Customers At No Cost To You!

    Dan Kennedy once said that if you can't make money... Read More

    How to Promote Your Law Firm Website On the Internet for Maximum Profit

    Making maximum profit from your law firm website is important,... Read More

    A Website Is Not Enough

    Your ObjectiveYour small business needs an appealing and professional website... Read More

    From Concept to Website

    You've decided to create a website to market your products... Read More

    Make Your Own Website - General Website Design Tips

    Wow, we`ve already taken a domain and chosen a web... Read More

    4 Rock Solid Reasons For Building Your Own Website

    What is the point of having a website, you may... Read More

    Unlocking the Power of Your Website!

    Why do some web sites reap huge benefits while others... Read More

    Improve Conversion Rates ? Effective Content

    Your site is fast and getting traffic, but conversion rates... Read More

    Let Your Customers Redesign Your Website!

    When you purchase a new item from a Yahoo! Store,... Read More

    Traffic for Webmasters

    "If you build it, they will come"; is an age... Read More

    Building a Web Store on Shoestring Budget in less than Four Hours

    Starting a business online is no longer as difficult as... Read More

    Why You Need a Website

    You hear a great deal about the Internet these days... Read More

    The Two Most Common Mistakes That Scare Away Web Visitors

    Can you imagine the hypocrisy of spending thousands of dollars,... Read More

    Developing A Login System With PHP And MySQL

    Most interactive websites nowadays would require a user to log... Read More

    Ecommerce for Beginners

    Like most average persons, I wanted some extra money to... Read More

    Writing Effective ALT Text For Images

    Anyone who knows anything about web accessibility knows that images... Read More

    5 Sure Fire Ways To Send Visitors Away For Good

    So your traffic is going through the roof yeah? It's... Read More

    How to Listen on the Web

    When building a relationship, listening is more important than talking.A... Read More

    Running An Effective Website

    Running an effective website is a continuous process. I have... Read More

    Dreamweaver 8 Preview

    August 8 2005, Macromedia announced a release of Studio 8.... Read More

    Does Your Business Really Need A Website?

    Website, website, website, everyone says you need one. But do... Read More

    How To Evaluate Your Web Sites Performance

    Setting up a website is the very first step of... Read More

    Establishing Your Web Presence

    Part of the success of most home-based businesses is their... Read More