Stanford Online Accessibility Program

Building a Case for Accessible Web Design

There are numerous reasons why creating Accessible online content is in your best interest. They include:

Technical reasons

• Reduce Site Development and Maintenance Time
• Enable Content for Different Configurations - write it once, use it many times
• Be Prepared for Advanced Web Technologies - future proof your site

Implementing Web accessibility solutions often results in improved technical performance. The importance of various technical benefits of Web accessibility is different for specific organizations and situations. For example, reducing server load might be most important to an organization with a large, mission-critical, high-traffic site; whereas another organization that focuses on cutting-edge technology might be more interested in interoperability and being prepared for advanced Web technologies.

Social reasons

• Positive Public Image - Web Accessibility is an Aspect of Social Responsibility
• Improved Usability - Web Accessibility Benefits People With and Without Disabilities
• Increased interaction between your site and end users

Public Social Responsibility, also called community citizenship, generally means conducting business ethically and operating an organization in such a way that treats internal and external stakeholders ethically, increases human development, and is good for society and the environment. Web accessibility can positively impact your employees, allumni and collaborators, students, suppliers & vendors, and others. Thus Web Accessibility can demonstrate your commitment to providing equal opportunities; conversely an inaccessible Web site can undermine your other PSR efforts.

Financial reasons

• Decreases the need for creating multiple versions of a site for different devices
• Improved Search Engine ranking - Increased Web Site use by reaching a wider audience
• B2B client requirements (i.e. Section 508 requirements)

Many organizations benefit financially when more people successfully use their Web site; for example, educational institutions can attract more students, commercial companies can increase sales, and in some instances compliance to web accessibility standards (such as Section 508) is a prerequisite to doing business, as is the case with the US Federal Government.

Accessible sites are generally more usable to everyone, including people with disabilities and people without disabilities. Increased usability means Web site users achieve their goals effectively, efficiently, and satisfactorily. When users have a positive experience with a Web site, they are more likely to use the site more thoroughly, return to the site more often, and to tell others about the site ("viral marketing"). Finally, accessibility techniques increase the findability of Web pages by exposing content to search engines, both internally (within a Web site) and externally (across the World Wide Web).

Legal reasons

• Web Accessibility is Essential for Equal Opportunity
• Proactive initiatives are defensive
• Legal liabilities generally un-tested - negative publicity

In the US and throughout much of the Industrialized world, governments, public & private institutions as well as industry are required to be aware of, and where applicable, comply with legislations as it pertains to their public presence. It is an organization's obligation to ensure that measures are in place to comply with acts of legislation pertaining to regulations, policy, programs, practices and services in regards to accomodations for people with disabilities. Usually web accessibility is included into disability legislation, which addresses the greater needs of disabled citizens. However, it is worth re-stating, Universal web accessibility provides for the needs of more than just the disabled community.

Relevant Legislation includes:

• ADA
• Section 508
• Section 504
• California Disabled Persons Act & California Unruh Civil Rights Act

While much of the law surrounding web accessibility is still un-tested in the courts, no organization would actually welcome the possibility of being a "test case" in any future legal challenge.

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