Accessibility - why & what for?

Paterico, as well as recognising the importance of web standards, values the ideal that the internet should be available to everyone. This means building websites that do not rely on being seen by someone using a mouse, instead making sure they can be accessed by a variety of methods using more than one sense. All sites are built with the intention that they can be used by screen readers (and other assistive technology) from a variety of browsing devices.

Paterico.com conforms to the W3C's W3C-WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0.

When designing or undertaking a review of an existing website, Paterico will look at many factors and features that affect the accessibility of a website. This includes but is not limited to:

• Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element
• Ensure that foreground and background colour combinations provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone having colour deficits or when viewed on a black and white screen
• Ensure that pages are usable when scripts, applets, or other programmatic objects are turned off or not supported. If this is not possible, provide equivalent information on an alternative accessible page
• Until user agents allow users to freeze moving content, avoid movement in pages
• Until user agents allow users to turn off spawned windows, do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and do not change the current window without informing the user
• Divide large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate
• Clearly identify the target of each link
• Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content

How does this translate to the design of this website, or any of the others that Paterico has had a hand in designing?

The Colour Scheme

Colour contrast between the foreground text and background colour is always more than is specified by the W3C here, so as to keep text as legible as possible.

Use of Style Sheets

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are used to describe the layout, graphics and colours of a site. Java is used as sparingly as possible and Flash is avoided completely. If any of these are ignored by a browser, the website will still present information to a browser.

Image Use and Description

Any foreground images are given an alternative description that will aid users of screen readers and tell them what is in the picture. This is equally important for users of regular browsers; those who have slow connections of images turned off will be able to read a description of the image.

In summary, Paterico is all about making websites that work well and work well for everyone.