Accessible web design is universal web design. The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost.
Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities.
In keeping with this definition, it is important as you are developing web content to consider who will be accessing your information, and how they will be accessing it. Much of NC State's information and services are now available on-line. For this reason, it is increasingly important that the information and services be presented in ways that makes them accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities. These laws prevent NC State from building buildings with no wheelchair access, and similarly, they prevent NC State from building web sites that deny access to persons who access the web through screen readers, can not hear audio content, or are unable to use a mouse. More recently, Section 508 of the Rehabilitaiton Act Amendments of 1998 requires that Federal agencies ensure the accessibility of their electronic and information technology, including web-based intranet and internet information and applications.