{"id":818,"date":"2019-01-11T16:15:18","date_gmt":"2019-01-11T16:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/wafd\/?post_type=chapter&p=818"},"modified":"2019-11-11T16:33:12","modified_gmt":"2019-11-11T16:33:12","slug":"why-learn-about-accessible-web-development","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wafd\/chapter\/why-learn-about-accessible-web-development\/","title":{"raw":"Why Learn About Accessible Web Development","rendered":"Why Learn About Accessible Web Development"},"content":{"raw":"
Key Point:<\/strong> Those who have taken our other courses, or read our other books, will have read through this content already. Read again or skim for a refresher.<\/div>\r\n

Curb Cuts<\/h2>\r\nCurb cuts are a great example of universal design. Originally, curb cuts were added to sidewalks to accommodate those in wheelchairs, so they could access the road from the sidewalk and vice versa. However, curb cuts are helpful for many people \u2014 not just those in wheelchairs\u00a0\u2014 including a\u00a0person pushing a baby stroller,\u00a0a cyclist,\u00a0or an elderly person using a walker. The addition of a smooth gradient ramp allows anyone, who may have difficulty stepping or who may be pushing something, to smoothly enter the sidewalk via a ramp, rather than having to climb a curb. Although curb cuts were initially designed to help those in wheelchairs,\u00a0they have come to benefit many more people.\r\n\r\nFrom a web accessibility perspective, most of the accessibility features you might add to a website will have that so-called \u201ccurb cut effect.\u201d For example, the text description one might include with an image to make the image\u2019s meaning accessible to a person who is blind also makes it possible for search engines to index the image and make it searchable. It allows a person on a slow Internet connection to turn images off and still get the same information. Or, it allows a person using a text-based browser (on a cell phone, for instance) to access the same information as those using a typical visual browser. Virtually every such feature that might be put in place in web content to accommodate people with disabilities will improve access and usability for everyone else.\r\n
Key Point:<\/strong> Think of accommodations to improve web accessibility for people with disabilities as \u201ccurb cuts.\u201d These accommodations will very likely improve usability for everyone<\/em>.<\/div>\r\n

The Business Case for Web Accessibility<\/h2>\r\nVideo: The Business Case for Accessibility<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(3:29)\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jZySw1HSR0Y[\/embed]\r\n\r\nKarl Groves wrote an interesting series of articles in 2011 and 2012 that looked at the reality of business arguments for web accessibility. He points out that any argument needs to answer affirmatively at least one of the following questions:\r\n
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  1. Will it make us money?<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Will it save us money?<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Will it reduce risk?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nHe outlines a range of potential arguments for accessibility:\r\n