Because I promised...
I'm glad that all of our assigned texts stress the importance of web accessibility and view it as a requirement of competent web design.
However, I am so ready to have the conversation move beyond screen readers.
I understand the focus on vision impairment because the Web is primarily a visual medium. But even within the community of people with visual impairments, screen readers are not the whole story. People with low or no vision may use magnifiers, software overrides for high contrast page displays, adaptive mouses, or braille keyboards. Web designers are not immune from the verbal laziness that accounts for many people using the term screen reader to encompass the entire concept of web accessibility.
Going beyond screen readers also means web design for people with disabilities other than visual impairment. This includes people who are hard-of-hearing or deaf, have physical impairments, cognitive impairments or differences, communication disabilities, epilepsy or other seizure disorders, or a combination of disabilities.
Traditionally, web designers have paid very little attention to the needs of users with cognitive disabilities. As a former special education instructor, I vividly remember the 30 minutes I spent on election day trying to explain to an 18-year-old student with cognitive disabilities that his participation in an online survey at www.vote.com was not the same thing as officially casting a ballot in the presidential election.
And for anyone who is reading this and thinking:
But how many different kinds of users are we supposed to be designing for?
Will accessible web design detract from the experience of users without disabilities?
My response is this:
Designing with accessibility in mind is creating good, universal design. Universal design is design that enhances the online experience of all users.
Improving a site's accessibility for individuals who are blind also improves its accessibility to individuals who access the web in environments that prohibit visual web surfing, such as in the car. Improving a site's accessibility for individuals who do not have use of their hands also improves its accessibility for individuals who must use their hands for other things while accessing the web. - Web Accessibility In Mind
Not yet convinced about the importance of web accessibility?
Try these simulations:
(Note: Requires Shockwave plug-in and is not configured for FireFox3.)
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