Accessibility isn t necessarily difficult. Mostly, being accessible requires attention to detail. For instance, it helps to arrange related elements of a Web page in an orderly cluster. The main problem is that few people realize how inaccessible their sites are. Kevin Phillips didn t stumble across the issue until he was surfing for special hardware for his severely disabled son.
Advice is just a click away.
WebAIM.org , started by an embarrassed Rowland, provides information about how to build Internet access ramps. Of course, not even the most diligent Web designer will get everything right. When Sachin Pavithran, who can t see, tried to shop at a dot-com, he went to one that was helpfully outfitted with tags. Even greater obstacles may loom as technology advances. Cellular phones and personal digital assistants are hard enough for people without disabilities to navigate, and they are going to play an increasingly important role in use of the Internet.