With the help of synthesised speech and braille display technology, even completely blind people can use the Web. People with disabilities have as much of a right to be able to access websites as anyone else, but many designers fail to recognise this. The Web is an information medium, but too many web designers still think of it as a purely visual medium, and are unaware even that visually impaired people can access the web. However the needs of people with poor sight vary considerably, depending on how their eye condition affects their vision.
Some people require large text, while others can read only smaller letters.
Most need a highly contrasting colour scheme, and some have very specific needs, for example yellow text on a black background. To cater for everyone, websites should be flexible in design, enabling individual users to use their own browser to adjust the text and colour settings to suit their own particular needs and circumstances. People with very little or no vision, on the other hand, read web pages with the help of access technology installed on their computer. Synthesised speech software can read the content of web pages aloud through a speaker, while braille software can output the same content to a retractable braille display so that the web page can be read by touch. Good design is essential for people accessing the web in these ways - poor design can render a site completely inaccessible.