The World Wide Web is the great equalizer. Or is it? More than a decade after the introduction of the Web, access is still limited for millions of people with disabilities.

People with disabilities can and do surf the web, often with the use of adaptive technology that compensates for particular disabilities. But for web sites to be reasonably accessible, web hosts and site designers have to take certain care in the way they create and support web pages.

Joe Clark, author of “Understanding Web Accessibility” puts it this way:
“All of the features of the World Wide Web that make it appealing to non disabled persons (like an infinite body of information, unfiltered opinions, self service shopping and much more) also make the web appealing to people with disabilities.” But in many cases we are putting up barriers that prevent people with disabilities from enjoying the information and services that the web can provide.

According to a 2006 study conducted by the United Nations Department of Economic And Social affairs, three out of 100 of the top leading websites for travel, finance, media, government and retail shopping around the world are failing to meet the needs of disabled people. Site owners who are failing to make their sites accessible are losing a significant portion of their intended audience.

“Persons with disabilities shop, travel and need information just like everyone else,” noted Thomas Schindlmayr, a policy specialist with the UN. “Allowing them to exercise their human rights and play their full part in the economic, social and political lives of their societies just makes good sense all around.”

Under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines which were used during the UN study, websites must allow users to easily adjust text size, navigate through the site, differentiate between colors, allow keyboard shortcuts and offer an alternative to JavaScript.  According to Schindlmayr, people who are blind, have low vision or cannot use a computer mouse are often unable to effectively surf for or use websites. “We’re not even close to reaching the Internet’s full potential for use by persons with disabilities.”

Fortunately, the UN study found that a quarter of the websites investigated could be brought into line with international standards quickly and with minor expense. Canadian web designer David MacDonald said that anybody who is building for the Web can easily grasp the concepts that support accessibility. “The biggest problem for web developers is getting their head around the idea that they want to do it. You should do it because it’s the right thing to do and you will definitely increase your client base.”

According to one estimate, there are about 40 million disabled people in North America. That number includes people with relatively minor disabilities, such as senior citizens who need large print, and the color blind, who cannot interpret web pages that use color cues to convey meaning.

Parameters such as color and font size can be set in a computer’s browser, giving users some freedom to tailor their screens to fit their needs. Marc Grossman, a representative for the American Foundation for the Blind, says commercial websites that allow adjustments to the way pages are displayed are easier for the disabled to navigate.

“But companies, because they are trying to represent a brand or a marketing campaign, do not necessarily want to allow the user to change what is on the screen,” said Grossman. He adds that branding is irrelevant to someone with low vision. “If they can’t use your website, they are going to use your competitor’s website.”

Take a look at your site and imagine how it might be perceived by a person with disabilities. Talk to your web host about how to make your site totally accessible. Consider the words of web guru Tom Berner Lee: “The power of the web is its universality. Access by everyone, regardless of disability, is an essential aspect.”