Accessibility
So imagine that you own a shop with a couple of steps leading to the front door and you see someone struggling to climb the steps. You'd help them, wouldn't you? Maybe even install a handrail at a later date if more people had the same problem. It's the right thing to do after all.
So if you're prepared to help someone get into your shop, why don't you do the same for your website?
Web Accessibility
Accessibility on the web means that anyone browsing your site regardless of the technology they use or their disability, can enjoy the same experience as every other user.
In fact, there are some very good reasons for making your site more accessible:
It's the law
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) fully came into force in October 2004 and requires all publicly available websites to comply with the guidelines laiddown by the World Wide Web Consortium. Essentially it makes it unlawful for a provider of a service to discriminate against a disabled person. Examples of the services this applies to includes "access to and use of means of communications" and "access to and use of information services". Both of these apply to the design and function of a website. Where reasonable adjustments are not made and therefore the site fails to comply with the legal requirements for website accessibility, a claim can be made against the website owner.
It's the right thing to do
Secondly, as with helping the person up the steps, it's the right thing to do. Businesses are often slated for having a distinct lack of ethics and morals so wouldn't it be nice if your business could do something positive?
It makes good business sense
In the RNIB's report on making internet shopping accessible to blind and partially sighted people called "Get the Message Online", they estimate that there are 8.5 million disabled people in the UK not to mention their friends and relatives. Do you want to turn a potential customer base of that size away? Think of the positive publicity that would be generated (or the negative for your competitors if they don't comply).
Whichever of the 3 resons above motivate you the most, you can see that there is a strong case for ensuring that your site is accessible.
What next?
Ensuring that your site is accessible isn't complicated. It's as simple as picking up the phone and calling us on 0845 1668317.