Access for all

Sometimes we get stuck for words to describe how powerful the internet is. It has revolutionised our lives in many ways.

Think, though: what if you're blind? What if you can't use your fingers well? What if dyslexia makes it difficult to read from a computer screen? The connected world can become completely inaccessible.

Actually, it doesn't have to. IT can be a tool of liberation instead of widening the gap between the rich and poor. The key is how you use it.

Software is now available which will read out the text of websites and emails to users with sight impairments. Hardware also exists for people with motor impairments and other dysabilities (and no, that's not spelt wrong - it means "less able" rather than "unable" - a new word we like to use).

However, many websites are created with only sighted users in mind, (despite a huge and growing proportion of net users known to be partially sighted, according to the RNIB) and sometimes the software is unable to cope with them. Some sites provide a text only alternative, but to dysabled people this seems almost discriminatory, and loses everything that thoughtful design can bring to them. (If you've ever tried to use the text-only version of the BBC's online weather reports, you'll know about this.) Technologies supported by new browsers taking hold on the web can make life much easier; indeed, they are essential now, especially in the light of the Disabilities Act and related court cases around the world.

Taking the new Rechord site as a case study:

• The text can be enlarged for ease of reading in the browser without corrupting the layout. Additionally, links are easier to click on the larger they are.
• When using reader software, some pages are extremely irritating to use because the software will read out all the links in the menu on every single page, before going to the main content. The Rechord site is cleverly programmed to have the navigation appear at the bottom of the site code, rather than the top.
• Text describing each visual element is present in the code. This means that poorly sighted users do not miss out on anything.
• Careful use is made of colour and underline to avoid drawing dyslexic users' eyes around the page unneccesarily- usually links are present at the end of paragraphs.
  

Making websites accessible in this way also makes life easier for users without dysabilites. The pages are more likely to look good in new browsers which come out, including browsers for mobile phones and other new devices. They are more usable, flexible and generally more satisfying to use. Finally, (and most people's eyes light up at this point) the search engines tend to rank them higher.

If you create anything online, this is well worth bearing in mind.