What is Accessibility?

Accessibility focuses on the issues of supplying disabled users of the Internet equal access and ability to view all information on the World Wide Web.

With this in mind accessibility revolves around several issues but none more important than how disabled users of the Internet access Web sites and how Web managers and designers make possible Web sites that allow individuals with disabilities equal access and ability to view all segments of web pages.

For more information on accessibility visit:
http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility

Why is this important?

Web accessibility is not only important because it allows all users of the Internet to view the Web pages equally but also because it has been mandated for many institutions across the United States.

By creating handicap accessible Web sites FHSU will enhance not only opportunities for disabled users but all viewers. Accessibility does this by making Web sites easier to read and comprehend by enhancing the simplicity of navigation among many other results.

Defining a disabled Audience

In the case of FHSU and nationwide Web site accessibility, it is difficult to decipher specific disabled audiences. Our goal is to identify a broad audience of disabled users and make developments based on these types of users.

"A 1997 report by the U.S. Census Bureau categorizes 19.6 percent of the United States population as having some sort of disability. Within that group are individuals with visual impairments, hearing impairments, cognitive impairments, and motor impairments. Each category includes a much wider range of conditions. For example, visual impairments include limited vision, color blindness, and blindness. Disability categories can also include temporary disabilities; for example, someone with a broken wrist may have difficulty using a mouse but still needs access to the web to meet day-to-day job requirements."

Excerpt from Macromedia Web Accessibility Site: By realizing the broad audience of disabled users and making changes to make Web pages more accessible FHSU will open up a whole new audience and allow all Internet users to learn information about FHSU.

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