Going back in time, even just to the Victorian era, we would see an entirely different world for those living with a disability. There would not be ramps into buildings or off sidewalks, there would not be toilets designed specifically for them and easy to access. We would not see handrails. No, when designs were made, there was not any consideration for how a disabled person might find those designs. Well, things have moved on a lot from then and we live in a different world today. But this does not mean that it is now perfect for disabled ones. They still have struggled to try to access the same level of things as everyone else does. One example of this is online. This might come as a surprise but the internet can be a real cause of problems for some disabled people. To help with this, there are some, like accessiBe, who are changing things.
Why do we need accessibility on websites?
As I have said, it might come as a surprise that the internet is an issue for those who are disabled. In some ways, the internet has been a major advantage to disabled ones. There is so much more they can do and a lot of tasks have been made much easier for them which is all excellent news. But there are also problems. Just as we accept that a person with mobility needs may need the ramp to access the building, other disabilities may need assistance to access the internet. Sadly, this is not always happening and it has left those living with disabilities feel left out and that they are being discriminated against.
There are many reasons why a person may struggle to access a website, but this is why accessibility is such an important issue. There are approximately 61 million people in the United States alone and the number is on the rise. This is such a large number of people so think of how many can be helped by making websites accessible.
As mentioned at the beginning, things have moved on a lot in recent years and the world sees the need for change. This is why, just as the number of disabled people is on the increase, so is the number of accessible websites. With the help of available software, you can make a big difference without having to put much work in. I would call that a win-win.