Established: April 2007

Accessibility Accessibility SpecialistSpecialistWhy we specialised in Accessibility for internet design

1. One in five people in the UK has an impairment.2. Over half of these people have more than one impairment 3. UK has an aging population, and people over 55 tend to have higher levels of impairment, and multiple impairments4. More people are surviving accident and injury5. More impaired people are better educated and are living in the community. 6. When a person is more significantly impaired, the more important the Internet is to their independence, their access to information and entertainment, and their general quality of life. 7. Accessibility promotes inclusion.8. Accessibility means good business practice.9. Search Engine crawlers and Bots favour websites that are accessible.

People affected are those:1. With impairments for instance, those with impaired vision, limited fine motor control including arthritis, stroke victims, cognitive impairments including dyslexia and anyone who does not speak English as their first language. 2. With slower Internet connections 3. With non-standard Text-readers or dated equipment or older operating systems. 4. Who don't have their own computer - they may use one in a library or workplace. 5. Who use new technologies such as palm pilots or cell phones to access the Internet.

Who is affected?Who is affected?

Facts & FiguresFacts & Figures1. 8.6 million people aged over sixteen in the UK are declared disabled equating to 15% of the population2. Only 8% of impaired people in the UK use a wheelchair.3. 20% of the UK population is known to be Dyslexic.4. 1 in 12 people are colour blind in the UK.5. 11% of the UK adult population speak English as a second language.6. 12% of all sales both online and through shops in the UK are by impaired people.

What is accessibility?What is accessibility?Just because your website is available this does not mean it is accessible.Accessible information can be understood by people with impairments, and is presented in a structure and format that makes it meaningful. An accessible website is one that is designed to be easy and satisfying to use.

Making your website accessible will benefit your organisation or business. An accessible website: is good business, it is easier and more satisfying to use for everyone and provides better service.1. Is easier to manage2. Gives more information options3. Is good publicity, increases the sites reach, an accessible site generally ranks higher with search engines.4. Is significantly faster to download.5. It will work with both new and older browsing technologies.6. It will avoid Human Rights complaints and possible prosecution.

An accessible website will save you money and make you money.

Why should you bother?Why should you bother?

Accessibility doesnAccessibility doesn’’t mean t mean boring!boring!

We believe firmly that accessible does not have to be boring. An accessible website can include colour, elegant design, flash, e-commerce and other elements associated with other website designs. Many websites today ignore accessibility, this is often not the fault of the business owner but a failure of their web designer, but as the owner of a business you are required to comply with the law.1. It is a requirement under the DDA1999 (Disability Discrimination Act)2. DTI are becoming more proactive in the prosecution of companies who fail to adhere to the DDA.3. DDA states that “The Act makes it unlawful for a service provider to discriminate against a disabled person by refusing to provide any service which it provides to members of the public”.4. “For people with visual impairments or hearing disabilities, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include... accessible websites”.

What makes a website What makes a website Accessible?Accessible?

To make a website accessible it needs to be designed in such a way that it is accessible from the start. You have to consider content, structure and design. Also a properly designed accessible website should cost about the same to produce as a standard website.

Content needs to be clearer, easy to understand, and geared to your target audience. Format needs to be appropriate, for instance, you must include text equivalents for non-text items such as images and flash. Design needs to be consistent and clear for example the navigation should be in the same position on every page. Preferably, keep the content of a page within one window and have footer navigation.Design elements such as colour need to be used with care. Don't use colour as the only way of expressing information – use images to convey meaning as well.Allow text enlargement, and keyboard and voice navigation.

Eve Designs Eve Designs LimitedLimited

13 Cross StreetRyde

Isle of WightPO33 2AD

Tel: 01983 811652E-mail: info@evedesignsltd.co.ukWeb: www.evedesignsltd.co.uk