Introduction to Web Accessibility
Article Contents
Introduction
Most of us can hardly conceive of life without the internet. Some have argued that no other single invention has been more revolutionary since Gutenberg’s printing press in the 1400s. The world can be “at your fingertips” at the click of a mouse—if you can use a mouse… and see the screen… and hear the audio.
The Web Offers Unprecedented Opportunities
The internet is one of the best things that has ever happened to people with disabilities. Recall the pre-internet days: How could blind people read printed newspapers? They could travel to a library for an audio tape or bulky Braille version, or they could ask someone to read to them at home. This made blind people dependent upon others, but it was all we could do.
Today we can do better. Screen reader software is designed to read online content aloud. Blind people no longer need to rely on others to read to them. They simply open a browser and interact with content independently, on their schedule, and as soon as the content is published.
People with motor [...]