What is Accessibility?

Put quite simply by Brewer:
Web accessibility means access to the Web by everyone, regardless of disability. (Brewer J. W3C online 2003)

A broader understanding

An accessible site is one that accommodates all types of users and the devices they choose to view the content with.

Designing for accessibility therefore means accepting that, for online information, there is:

• No standardised user (or typical user)
• No standardised device for viewing/using the information.

An Accessible site does not exclude anybody due to:

• their own abilities or environment, or,
• the method they choose to access the web

Accessibility is....

Ensuring disabled people can access information and this maybe a legal requirement (not directly legislated in Australia at present but may be covered by Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Acts in Federally and State jurisdictions). It is also about ensuring that the wide variety of users and devices can all gain access to information, thereby maximising the potential audience and letting users experience the pages the way they choose to. (Watchfire online 2003)

Accessible sites prioritise content, structure and ease of navigation over other aspects of design, however they need not be visually unattractive, nor are they prevented from utilising the latest web technologies. (Brewer J. W3C online 2003)