Web accessibility is the practice you adopt in making websites usable so that people with all abilities and disabilities could use it. When sites are designed, developed and edited correctly, all users will have equal access to the information and functionality. When you design a site such that, the text and images are large or enlargeable, it will be easier for users with poor sight to understand the content. When links are underlined or differentiated, as well as colored, it will ensure that the color blind users notice them.

When clickable links and areas are large enough, this helps users who are not able to control a mouse with precision. When you code pages in such a way that users can navigate using the keyboard alone, or just a single switch access device alone, this would help users who cannot use a mouse or handle a standard keyboard. In the case of videos, if it is closed captions or if a sign language version is available, then the deaf users can understand the video that is being played.

When flashing effects are made optional or completely avoided, users prone to seizures that are caused by these effects will not be put at risk. And when content is being written in plain language and are illustrated with instructional animations and diagrams, users with learning difficulties are able to understand the contents better. When sites are built and maintained correctly, all of these users could be accommodated while not causing an impact on the usability of the site in the case of non-disabled users.

Many accessibility features could be easily implemented if they are planned initially during the Web site development or redesign. Fixing inaccessible Web sites would require significant effort; especially in the case of sites that were not originally “coded” properly using standard XHTML markup, and when it comes to sites with certain types of content like multimedia.

Much of the focus made on Web accessibility has been the responsibility of Web developers. However, Web software has also got a vital role in Web accessibility. Software needs to help developers in producing and evaluating the accessible Web sites, and thus be usable by people with disabilities. Developing guidelines and techniques that would describe accessibility solutions for Web developers and Web software is one of the roles of Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). These WAI guidelines are considered as the international standard for Web accessibility.

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