Web Accessibility for Beginners

Until I began reading through the resources given by Brad on web accessibility, I had no idea such a concept even existed, let alone the fact that there was an entire initiative devoted to it. A little further research into the notion and this is what I managed to dig up:

Web accessibility basically refers to the ways in which people with disabilities can access the Internet[1]. Most web sites and web software have “accessibility barriers”[2], which prevent people with disabilities from accessing them. As a result, web accessibility guidelines and initiatives have been implemented in an attempt to provide disabled people with tools that will help them to “perceive, navigate, and interact with the Web.”[3]

It is important to note that the term “disability” not only refers to physical disabilities such as blindness or deafness, but also refers to people who are unable to access the web as a result of the physical environment in which they are situated. The latter particularly concerns the majority of people living in African countries, where high poverty levels have led to slow and expensive Internet connections.

So, now that we have an understanding of what web accessibility is, of what concern is it to me as a journalist?

The Internet has often been described as the democratic medium, allegedly providing information to all people and giving citizens a space to voice their concerns. There are certain groups of people, however, who have been marginalised as a result of their physical disabilities or their lack of socio-economic resources[4].

Journalists are not only responsible for the gathering and producing of news and information, but are also responsible for the dissemination of that news and information to all citizens. New media journalists are therefore faced with the challenge of providing information to all people in society by utilising a medium that has succeeded in excluding a large number of people.

By marginalising certain groups of people, information access technologies provide certain citizens with the information and, therefore, the power to make decisions regarding the societies in which they live. Similarly, in providing only a certain number of citizens with a digital platform by which to voice their concerns and opinions, the issues and concerns of marginalised groups remain unheard. As a result, new media journalists have a responsibility to utilise web accessibility tools and methods in an attempt to ensure that disabled people get equal access to essential information as well as equal access to the digital platform by which to voice their own concerns.

In South Africa, the biggest accessibility barrier is slow Internet connections due to high poverty levels. South African new media journalists, therefore, have a responsibility to ensure that their multimedia material and web pages are accessible to the greatest number of people quickly and cost-effectively. By utilising web accessibility tools, journalists can attempt to curb the marginality of certain groups of people.



[1] Henry, S. 2007. “Web Accessibility Initiative”. Web Accessibility Initiative. Retrieved 3 March, 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.w3.org/WAI/
[2] See above
[3] See above
[4] Spence, C. 2006. “Information and Communications Technology: Challenges” National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. Retrieved 3 March, 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ndi.org/globalp/ict/programs/challenges.asp