Just as curbcuts enable persons using wheelchairs to navigate a city, electronic curbcuts enable persons with hearing, visual and learning disabilities to navigate your web page. For example, a person with a hearing disability cannot hear a video clip if it is not captioned. Similarly, a person with visual and learning disabilities cannot navigate a web page incompatible with text browsers and screen readers.
Graphics are inaccessible to text browsers and screen readers which audibly read web site text.
For this reason it can be incredibly frustrating to know there is an image or a link but not to be able to obtain any information on what it is. It is like trying to use Netscape with your monitor off and the mouse unplugged. See how far you will get. Specifically, Universal Design calls for the development of information systems flexible enough to accommodate the needs and preferences of the broadest range of computer and telecommunications users, regardless of age or disability. Certain features of Universal Design are evolving in the internet community to ensure electronic curbcuts.