Web Design Forums

dtrenz · 09-09-2006, 22:08

maybe this will be what drives the major push for web standards and accessibility?

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?s...24204&from=rss

Greg · 10-09-2006, 02:59

This is so stupid. Why don't they sue car manufacturers for not making blind-accessible cars? This is ridiculous, and I hope it doesn't set off more dumb lawsuits like this.

Greg · 10-09-2006, 13:01

Sure, it's better for business to be able to serve a few extra customers, but it shouldn't be a law. Here's a better analogy: Why not sue design companies for making movie posters without brail captions? Poor blind people can't read movie posters, sue everyone!

You see, it's just absurd. I don't mean to be incensitive, but if you're blind, you just have to accept the fact that there are some things you're going to have to miss out on.

This reminds me of the stupid woman who sued Starbucks (or could've been McDonald's, I forgot) because they didn't put a warning on their coffee cup that the coffee is hot, and she ended up spilling it on herself and got burned.

weldo · 10-09-2006, 13:34

accessibility does not just refer to the visually impaired.

so many people forget that the bottom line is about ensuring the message, or process can be accessed and used by all user groups. Its about removing obstacles that may exist.

BIG, SCALABLE TEXT does not neccessarrily make a site more accessible.

(i haven't read that slashdot article yet, by the way)

pgo · 10-09-2006, 16:32

Should Target be required to provide wheelchair-accessible stores?

If you think so, then the argument falls apart. "Protecting the minority from the tyranny of the majority" and all that.

It's really not too hard to make an accessible website if you build it the right way from the start.

Transmogrify · 10-09-2006, 19:07

I'd be interested to know how accessible some of the sites I've built are. I'd like to think "mostly accessible", but having not spoken to anyone with those requirements, I'm not sure how far I've gone with accessibility and if I need to go further with it. I'd wager I probably do and I don't believe I'm the only one. Does anyone know of any groups or organisations or whoever that can assist with this kind of thing? Building truly accessible sites would be a great selling point for my work.

pgo · 10-09-2006, 19:40

Check out sites like www.accessify.com and books like "Building Accessible Websites" (which has a good reputation and a goatse-esque cover to boot).

I don't go to much more effort on most sites than trying to make sure all inline images have alt tags, use semantic HTML, tabindex if tab order doesn't make logical sense, accesskeys sometimes. Avoid obtrusive JavaScript, etc.

RichieH · 29-09-2006, 08:26

I only did my first "accessible" website about a year ago, and it was a struggle at first, but after doing a couple, it's easy to pick up and now I find I build websites to be accessible without even trying. Overall, it is worth the effort, not just to get up to standard, but also for the more respect you'll garner for doing it.

mike_m · 29-09-2006, 08:42

I can see both sides of the arguement. It's like banning smoking in pubs - I agree that people shouldn't have to breath other's smoke, but really, it should be up to the landlord as to what kind of place he runs. A free market means choice.

samuelcotterall · 06-10-2006, 15:11

I'm with Weldo.

Accessibility and usability should be ensured on every website, law or no law. It's just laziness or ignorance. It's not very hard to develop a website that can be "viewed" (for lack of a better word) on any browser, or screen-reader, any platform.

Making a good looking website does not make a good web designer, making a website that meets a specification does. That specification is to be accessible by anyone. When a company hires you to develop an e-commerce site they expect 100% of web users to be able to access it. If you base your thinking on the fact that you can afford for 2% of web users to miss out, then you might as well disregard screen resolution, connection speed, and web standards all together.

After all, it's good practice and it does improve your search ranking. Just do it.

09-09-2006, 22:08	#1 (permalink)
dtrenz blam blam Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ann arbor, mi usa Posts: 527	Accessibillity now required by law for e-commerce sites? maybe this will be what drives the major push for web standards and accessibility? http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?s...24204&from=rss

10-09-2006, 13:34	#4 (permalink)
weldo now with added beard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liverpool Posts: 5,432	accessibility does not just refer to the visually impaired. so many people forget that the bottom line is about ensuring the message, or process can be accessed and used by all user groups. Its about removing obstacles that may exist. BIG, SCALABLE TEXT does not neccessarrily make a site more accessible. (i haven't read that slashdot article yet, by the way) __________________ fuck signatures

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10-09-2006, 02:59	#2 (permalink)
Greg Jew of N.Y.C. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 32	This is so stupid. Why don't they sue car manufacturers for not making blind-accessible cars? This is ridiculous, and I hope it doesn't set off more dumb lawsuits like this.

10-09-2006, 13:01	#3 (permalink)
Greg Jew of N.Y.C. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 32	Sure, it's better for business to be able to serve a few extra customers, but it shouldn't be a law. Here's a better analogy: Why not sue design companies for making movie posters without brail captions? Poor blind people can't read movie posters, sue everyone! You see, it's just absurd. I don't mean to be incensitive, but if you're blind, you just have to accept the fact that there are some things you're going to have to miss out on. This reminds me of the stupid woman who sued Starbucks (or could've been McDonald's, I forgot) because they didn't put a warning on their coffee cup that the coffee is hot, and she ended up spilling it on herself and got burned.

10-09-2006, 16:32	#5 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Should Target be required to provide wheelchair-accessible stores? If you think so, then the argument falls apart. "Protecting the minority from the tyranny of the majority" and all that. It's really not too hard to make an accessible website if you build it the right way from the start.

10-09-2006, 19:07	#6 (permalink)
Transmogrify Rough Creep Arse™ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,888	I'd be interested to know how accessible some of the sites I've built are. I'd like to think "mostly accessible", but having not spoken to anyone with those requirements, I'm not sure how far I've gone with accessibility and if I need to go further with it. I'd wager I probably do and I don't believe I'm the only one. Does anyone know of any groups or organisations or whoever that can assist with this kind of thing? Building truly accessible sites would be a great selling point for my work.

10-09-2006, 19:40	#7 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Check out sites like www.accessify.com and books like "Building Accessible Websites" (which has a good reputation and a goatse-esque cover to boot). I don't go to much more effort on most sites than trying to make sure all inline images have alt tags, use semantic HTML, tabindex if tab order doesn't make logical sense, accesskeys sometimes. Avoid obtrusive JavaScript, etc.

29-09-2006, 08:26	#8 (permalink)
RichieH Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2	I only did my first "accessible" website about a year ago, and it was a struggle at first, but after doing a couple, it's easy to pick up and now I find I build websites to be accessible without even trying. Overall, it is worth the effort, not just to get up to standard, but also for the more respect you'll garner for doing it.

29-09-2006, 08:42	#9 (permalink)
mike_m Work faster microphone .. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,709	I can see both sides of the arguement. It's like banning smoking in pubs - I agree that people shouldn't have to breath other's smoke, but really, it should be up to the landlord as to what kind of place he runs. A free market means choice.

06-10-2006, 15:11	#10 (permalink)
samuelcotterall Interactionist Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 180	I'm with Weldo. Accessibility and usability should be ensured on every website, law or no law. It's just laziness or ignorance. It's not very hard to develop a website that can be "viewed" (for lack of a better word) on any browser, or screen-reader, any platform. Making a good looking website does not make a good web designer, making a website that meets a specification does. That specification is to be accessible by anyone. When a company hires you to develop an e-commerce site they expect 100% of web users to be able to access it. If you base your thinking on the fact that you can afford for 2% of web users to miss out, then you might as well disregard screen resolution, connection speed, and web standards all together. After all, it's good practice and it does improve your search ranking. Just do it.

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