Metaweb

What is Website Accessibility?

Website Accessibility is often overlooked when building a website, yet it is not only valuable to the users of your website, it's actually a legal requirement. Failure to comply could result in litigation. There are standards in place to advise of your legal obligations. These standards are the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). There are two versions in place at this time - they are; WCAG 1.0 and WCAG 2.0.

Why should I care about Website Accessibility?

It may be helpful to think of Website Accessibility like this. Imagine you have just completed contruction on a fantastic new 50 storey building - everything is in place, the media and a large excited crowd has assembled for the grand opening. However, as an oversight you forgot to tell the builders that most of your customers are in wheelchairs. Now, the only way into your nice new building is by a grand staircase! Your customers take this to mean you don't care about them and they immediately leave, never to return. What's more, they spread the news to all their friends, family and colleagues. Your building is a flop! This story is of course fictional and seems bizarre because we would never discriminate against the disabled by not including them in our building designs - yet, that is exactly what most of us do when we build a new website. This is a sad but familiar story for the disabled community and there is legislation in place in Queensland to deal with this called the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (215kb - PDF) - so don't say you didn't know!

What are the penalties for ignoring Website Accessibility?

Whilst there are no automatic or standard prescribed penalties for non compliance with Website Accessibility Standards, there does exist a legal precedent in Australian law. So non compliance could technically be pursued in court by people who may argue they have been discriminated against.

How can you make sure your website meets WCAG?

The best way to approach this is to have a professional Website Accessibility Audit to clearly understand your current status and legal obligations. Once that is completed, it is a matter of following the recommendations in the report to the letter.

Metaweb can help you understand your legal obligations for WCAG 1.0 and WCAG 2.0 compliance and offers achievable, cost and time effective solutions. Contact Metaweb today for an obligation free consultation on your website's accessibility.