What does accessibility/web accessibility mean?

Web accessibility, also known as “web accessibility,” refers to the design and development of websites and digital content in a way that ensures that people with different abilities, including physical, visual, auditory, and cognitive disabilities, can easily use them. The primary goal of web accessibility is to ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities or limitations, can access and use web content and services effectively.

The main principles and aspects of web accessibility are:

1. Perceptibility (Perceivable): Web content must be designed in such a way that it can be viewed by all users. This means that text alternatives for images, subtitles for multimedia content, and scalable text should be provided without loss of content or functionality.
2. Operable: Websites and applications must be accessible to people with disabilities. This means that users who rely on keyboard navigation or voice commands must be able to use the website effectively.
3. Comprehensible: The content and navigation should be presented in a clear and understandable way. This includes providing consistent and predictable user interfaces and ensuring that information is understandable even for users with cognitive disabilities.
4. Robustness: Web content should be robust and compatible with various user agents, including assistive technologies. This ensures that the user experience remains consistent, regardless of the browsers or tools used.

In order to ensure web accessibility, various guidelines and standards have been developed, with the “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines” (WCAG) being the best-known and most widely used guidelines. WCAG defines specific success criteria and techniques to make web content more accessible. These guidelines are often divided into three levels of compliance: A, AA, and AAA, with AA being the most commonly sought after level.

Web accessibility is not only a moral and ethical obligation, but also required by law in many countries. For example, in the USA, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act require web content and services to be accessible to people with disabilities.

By implementing best practices for web accessibility, website operators and developers ensure that their digital content can be used by everyone, improving inclusivity and usability for people with disabilities and promoting equal and accessible online access.