YouTip

# Web Quality - Accessibility (WAI) * * * A website that can be used by people with disabilities can be called a user-friendly (accessible) website. People with disabilities refer to users who have disabilities or poor health. * * * ## Web Accessibility Initiative - WAI WAI (launched by W3C in 1997) is a set of guidelines for web developers, creators, and designers - on how to make content more accessible for people with disabilities. The goal of these guidelines is accessibility, but they also help make web content available to more browsers (voice browsers, mobile phones, handheld devices), and users working in difficult environments (non-handheld, bright light, darkness, low vision, noise, etc.). * * * ## Is WAI Important for Your Website? Yes. Every day, millions of people with disabilities browse the internet, and even more people are using poor browser devices or working in difficult environments. If your website lacks adjustable font sizes, graphics with text descriptions, and easy navigation, those people won't be able to access your information. In fact: Your website is depriving these people of their rights. Reasons to enhance website accessibility: * Can improve website reputation and image * Can increase user satisfaction * Can increase the number of visitors * Can increase visitor time spent on the site * Can increase the number of repeat visitors * Can also increase usability for people without disabilities * Can increase usability for visitors who have graphics disabled * Can increase usability for people using older devices * Can make your website serve the fastest growing population: the elderly * * * ## Use Adjustable Font Sizes Please use relative font sizes so that users can use the browser menu to change the default font size. Can you read? Can you read? Can you read? Can you read?  You can select "View - Text Size" in your browser menu to change the font size. * * * ## Use the "alt" Attribute The alt attribute allows you to provide corresponding text for images (and other elements). Example: Sometimes browsers cannot display images. The specific reasons include: * User has disabled image display * Browser is a mini browser that doesn't support graphics * Browser is a voice browser (for blind and visually impaired users) If you use the alt attribute, the browser can at least display or read a description of the image.