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It’s available, but is it accessible?
The wrong side of the electronic divide
Most local authorities now have websites that anyone with an interest can use to access key information about their region and council activities. With a commitment to open government there is a wealth of information made available to the wider public audience, often in a very attractive format. Unfortunately much of this information is inaccessible to large sectors of society. For some, the problems are technological, the website expects the audience to have standard and near new technology. Perhaps the user's technology can't handle the programs required to access the files. Or the high-quality graphics look great on a modern computer (under two years old) linked to the web via broadband (such as jet stream) but take so long to download via modem that the user loses interest. For others, with physical or cognitive impairments, the sites are confusing and frustrating. 'Availability is having a toilet facility in my office building, having it accessible is when I don't need to get down a flight of stairs in my wheelchair to get to it.'
Since the introduction of Mandatory Requirements (CAB Min (03) 41/2B)
more and more government departments and councils have renewed their
commitment
to ensuring that those who could be most disadvantaged within society live
and work on a level playing field. Web site designers now need to consider
how the user accesses the information to ensure that the site is accessible.
Only when the information is accessible to all can we say we have made it
available.
Ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society have access to public information is particularly important for those who have a responsibility to ensure the well-being of the local community they serve.
The wrong side of the electronic divide
In the 2001 Census, one in five New Zealanders reported some level of impairment. This doesn’t count those whose ‘disability’ disappears with an aid (such as glasses) but who may still have trouble with a website.
- People with limited fine motor control might have trouble navigating a site with small hot spots or that disables keyboard navigation commands.
- People with vision or cognitive impairments may need to use screen readers to hear text read to them. If the site is not screen-reader compatible, if important information is conveyed only in graphics, or if the text is not placed in the correct reading sequence, these people will be shut out of the site.
- People with vision impairments may need to make text larger. Fixed text size shuts them out, as does insufficient contrast (particularly between text and its background), or fonts that display poorly on older monitors. Many younger people and most older people require glasses because of a degree of vision impairment.
- People without a colour monitor, or people who are colour blind, will be excluded from any information conveyed by colour changes.
- People with cognitive impairments, or for whom English is a second language, might have difficulties with complex sentence construction, large blocks of text, or ‘cluttered’ screens.
- People with hearing impairments may be unable to pick up auditory cues or spoken text.
- People who access websites with ‘high-end’ technology such as cellphone or palm computers will be frustrated by sites with fixed widths on text and graphics
A site may be technologically brilliant and sensory rich with graphics, video and audio clips but if one in five of your audience are unable to access it are you achieving your target? A site that is easy to use and appealing for people with disabilities is easy to use and appealing for all users.
Technology statistics and more information about accessibility
testing are available at:
www.accease.com
For the e-government guidelines, see:
www.e-government.govt.nz