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What is accessibility? There are two concerns related to accessibility: 1. how electronic information is approached by users with disabilities. The challenge for users with some impairment is to recognize the tools which offer the easiest access to web-based and electronic information. The challenge for web developers is related to elimination of hurdles that stop accessibility tools from working efficiently. In numerous instances, such challenges are comparatively easier to meet because of the simplicity of the problem, but often the solutions demand some extra input and consideration. This part of the Adobe Accessibility Quick Start Guide deals with the topics mentioned below: There are many types of disabilities and it is not very easy to classify them. It is essential, however, to have an idea of the range of the problem. The U.S. Census Bureau in its 1997 report has classified 19.6% of the U.S. population suffering from some kind of impairment. This group of the population includes people with cognitive, motor, visual and hearing disabilities. Each class of impairment comprises of a very wide array of conditions. Consider visual disability for an example which can further be classified into limited vision, color-blindness and blindness. The classification of impairments may also include impermanent or short-term disabilities. A user with two broken fingers might find it difficult to use mouse but has to access the web to carry out his routine job responsibilities. The statistics of people with impairments can be inaccurate and misguiding. A majority of old people have some impairment of some sort. So the population with impairments increases as they grow in age (see Table 1). 20% of U.S. population has a disability and it is an accepted fact that 75% of the people aging more than eighty years have disabilities. Thus accessibility is about providing people with solutions to access the web despite of their disabilities. Accessibility helps people have some independence which age has tried to take away making things difficult for them. The statistics of people with impairments can be inaccurate and misguiding. A majority of old people have some impairment of some sort. So the population with impairments increases as they grow in age (see Table 1). 20% of U.S. population has a disability and it is an accepted fact that 75% of the people aging more than eighty years have disabilities. Thus accessibility is about providing people with solutions to access the web despite of their disabilities. Accessibility helps people have some independence which age has tried to take away making things difficult for them.
Resource: U.S. Census Bureau: Americans with Disabilities |
