ADA Covers Websites According to Federal Judges

The trend of federal judges siding with plaintiffs in website accessibility cases continues, with recent rulings in California, Florida, New York and Vermont.  Federal judges have continued to deny motions by defendants to dismiss their case and have found that websites are subject to the ADA.  These recent cases continue to force business to seek out an automated ADA website compliance checker, like AuditGenie.com, to scan their site and make their websites accessible to disabled individuals.

Recent Cases

Florida - Grocer Winn Dixie was sued for having an inaccessible website, the federal judge found in favor of the plaintiff.  The court determined that the grocer violated Title III of the ADA, the judge ordered injunctive relieve, the plaintiff was awarded attorneys fees and costs.

New York - Five Guys' restaurant and retailer Blick.  Two separate federal judges denied motions to dismiss lawsuits against Five Guys' restaurant and the retailer Blick.  The lawsuits alleged that Five Guys' restaurant and  Blick violated the ADA and New York State and City, and civil rights laws.  Both judges determined that websites are subject to the ADA as brick and mortar business are.  The judges further determined that the court did not need to rely upon federal agency regulations to set the standard for a website to violate ADA.  

Vermont - Scribd.  The federal district court in Vermont denied Scribd's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.  The judge determined that a business who only conducts business on the internet is a place of public accommodation under Title III of the ADA.

California- Hobby Lobby.  The federal judge hearing the case denied Hobby Lobby's motion to dismiss the case.  The case is now proceeding to discovery.

Related Article: ADA Website Compliance Checker

Key Takeaways

• A business with a website does not have to have a physical location to be covered by ADA.
• Being in the process of correcting website accessibility errors does not alleviate wrongful behavior. 
• Any website owner should immediately begin taking proactive steps to correct website accessibility errors and use an ADA website compliance checker, like AuditGenie.com, to scan their site.
• Expect more demand letters and more lawsuits against business with a web presence.

Consider Web Accessibility When Choosing Web Developer

Creating web accessibility in your website can be easily achieved by hiring a reputable web developer. You'll experience confidence by knowing that your website will be designed correctly and allow disabled and non-disabled consumers to browse through your webpages, make selections and complete purchases with ease.

Why the Right Web Developer is Essential

Having a web developer that is experienced and capable of creating a website that is web accessible is vital to your online success. You could potentially face legal problems by not following WCAG 2.0 guidelines or Section 508 compliance; this can lead to unwanted stress and financial woes. The point of running a website is often to create a financial gain through sales of products or services. If your site lacks accessibility, you have the potential of generating less traffic resulting in fewer online sales, put you at risk of a lawsuit and thereby limiting the success of your business.

Complications with Inexperienced Web Designers

Having an inexperienced web designer can lead to multiple problems that may limit accessibility on your website.

1. Creating Poor Color Schemes
2. Website Mobility Limitations
3. Interface Difficulties

Color Schemes are often added to websites for visual enhancements by novice web developers. These sights are often section 508 non-compliant and can lead to avoidance by visually disabled users.

Mobility issues are a common problem with disabled users. Developing a website that is web accessible will have multiple command options, users should be able to alter between keyboard and mouse usage. Web designers that have inadequate experience often fail to implement dual options.

A Simplistic interface should be designed to improve website interactions with disabled users. New web designers lack the ability that experienced developers have when it comes to addressing web accessibility issues. Do your homework when looking for a web developer and consider using a validation tool to check for coding errors yourself. Check your developers work to ensure your money is well spent and not blindly trusting the coding on your site is properly done.

Importance of Skip Navigation

Overview:

An important feature when making a website accessible to disabled users is adding skip navigation.  Adding a skip to content link should be included prior to a website’s navigation tools. A single skip to content link is usually adequate for a website. Adding a skip feature allows users needing assistive screen readers to “skip” between headers and sub headers labeled H2, H3, H4.

Importance of Skip Navigation

Providing navigation links on a website, on the left hand side or atop the page, will benefit the overall usability and give proper assistance to individuals with mobility impairments. The skip feature, for example, will be highly useful for those that have difficulty operating a mouse or using a screen reader.

Conclusion:

Yet, visually impaired individuals that utilize screen readers may hear all the links at the start of each page, this can be time consuming and cause irritation. It is imperative to add a skip navigation strategy that allows a skip over a block of navigational links for screen readers.

It’s important for every website to have a web accessibility strategy. Implementing web accessibility features improve a sites usability and give access to the widest audience possible. Skip navigation is one of the many features that can improve user experience especially for impaired users.

Why Netflix has had to do more than Raise Prices! In 2014 Online Companies are Being Forced to have Accessible Websites ?

Recently the most popular online video company has been in the news about raising their prices for new members. This is understandable when many individuals are dropping their cable subscriptions to avoid high priced bills and filling their T.V. fix through paying a far less costly monthly Netflix subscription. However, what you might have missed is that Netflix is also making headlines in another way. On April 30, 2014 the FCC is forcing companies such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon to provide closed captioning or they will be charged with the same fines as a traditional broadcasting company.

This all started in 2010 when a lawsuit was filed against Netflix. The National Association of the Deaf, Western Massachusetts, and Lee Nettles filed the suit. They are alleging that Netflix discriminated against hearing-impaired individuals by forcing them to pay higher subscription prices to receive DVDs that provided the closed captioning their online videos failed to provide. Netflix pushed back on the lawsuit, but eventually the site was forced to offer captioning for every video offered on their site.

This was the first time in history a company that operates exclusively online has faced charges pertaining to digital accessibility. There is a shift happening to require websites to follow ADA standards. Just as physical stores must provide equal opportunity to disabled individuals, so do their online counterparts. Web accessibility is on the rise in 2014 and it’s time for companies to wake up and realize that accessibility is no longer an option, it is law. If companies choose not to address the accessibility of their website they could find themselves in the same boat as Netflix.

Netflix Settlement:

• Add captioning within 30 days of adding new content by 2014, in 2015 captions must done in 14 days’ time and by 2016 in 7 days’ time.
• Netflix can be used on more than 1,000 devices and for most captioning is available. Netflix has in a good faith promise, to make further efforts to make captioning work on all devices. Yet, they will not be held to make captioning work on 100% of devices.
• $755,000 to be paid to the plaintiffs’ lawyers. In addition $40,000 to go towards yearly accessibility implementation over 4 years’ time.

5 Reasons for the Developing Number of ADA Lawsuits Over Websites

Within the last a few years there has been a developing number of case suits being filed pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the inaccessibility of websites. A few recent cases include Miami University, H&R Block and Netflix. Disability advocates and aggressive lawyers searching for sizable settlements are bringing on these web accessibility lawsuits. Accessibility circumstances have formed into not only high priced situations but also, has produced a significant amount of unpleasant media attention. The truth business owners must accept about web accessibility, is understanding it is undoubtedly not going away and there's likely a mounting number of lawsuits about to develop in the upcoming future. Future, accessibility lawsuits will not only affect official or large companies but will potentially impact every business web page on the net.

Here are 5 reasons for the Increase in Lawsuits Over Web Accessibility:

1. Inaccessible websites are uncomplicated for plaintiffs to locate. Impaired internet users or someone utilizing assistive devices has the capability of navigating the web from the comfort of their residence and find inaccessible sites. This mirrors the act of driving by a actual physical store space and identifying there is no handicap parking space present or other essential accessibility features.
2. Web-page owners and operators do not pay invest enough interest in accessibility. They have dedicated the vast majority of their time into producing websites, which have a high quality physical appearance, and not on providing an equal user access.
3. The Department of Justice and other plaintiffs have triumphed more often than not in website accessibility lawsuits. Case suits are mounting and will continue until eventually the internet equally accessible to impaired users. 
4. There's a lack of industry regulations and specifications as well as many misguided website owners that have been mistakenly informed their website is compliant, where it is not.
5. Many web-page operators don't give American with Disabilities Act the consideration it needs. Business owners haven't realized how dangerous a lawsuit may be nor have owners considered how compliance is far less costly than dealing with the legal situation.

Help make the Web Accessible to Everyone Specifically what is web accessibility?

Web accessibility signifies that individuals with impairments have the capability to use a service or product as successfully as a person without disabilities. Very often equality calls for utilizing assistive devices, along with monitor magnifiers, screen readers, or captioning features. For developers and internet site owners this implies generating and keeping a web-page that adheres to exact guidelines. Guidelines that allow for uncomplicated usability and compatibility with assistive devices.

Why aid accessibility?

Accessibility is important for various factors; it may help to increase a web pages functionality for every client, search engine optimization (SEO) and it helps the culture of inclusion. Expanding accessibility online will help to enhance and better the existence of thousands of individuals with disabilities. Accessibility online would help to supply the same web privileges to impaired users that other users have always been accustomed to; from data and services to e-shopping and communication.

How to aid the cause?

Aid the culture of inclusion by taking the time to understand the significance of accessibility and by spreading the word about web accessibility. Moving forward, if a person has a website, or is aware of a site that is not accessible, inform the owner, or use a validation tool to scan and repair the website. Web accessibility is becoming a priority for anyone with an online presence. Business owners are beginning to recognize the worth of including all clients. Become a part of the solution and help to provide equality on the internet.

Techshare India, Showcased the Need for Web Accessibility World-Wide

Techshare India 2014 took place this past February in New Delhi, and held at the India Habitat Center. This was the fourth time this event was held, there were over 25 exhibitors, highlighting a variety of modern day technology services and products. Techshare has been described as the largest technology event that focuses on promoting web accessibility for people with impairments.

Three themes were focused on throughout Techshare Indi; innovate, adapt, and evolve. The themes were incorporated into the functions four verticals; education, employment, accessibility, and policies/ laws. There were 2,000 plus attendees at the event with greater than 50 speakers from around the world that presented on concerns pertaining to accessibility. Highlights from the event included key speeches from Ted Drake from Intuit, Kiran Kaja with Adobe, and J. Alan Chicken of W3C.

Research done by Gartner Global Advisory Firm suggests as much as 15 percent of the world’s population has disabilities. The range of disabilities and number of individuals with impairments is predicted to greatly increase in the near future, mainly due to the raise of the aging populace worldwide. With the growing disabled population, more events like Techshare are needed to increase awareness of web accessibility and support the culture of inclusion.

Techshare India 2014 represented the importance and need for improvements in web accessibility globally as well as India. The host site for Techshare indicates that it is now time for all areas including, but not limited to the government, corporate, educational facilities, and nonprofit organizations to contemplate the ways to meet the needs of all individuals with impairments and society, “needs to evolve to generate an inclusive surrounding.”

Disney Web Accessibility Lawsuit Teaches a Lesson

Early in 2013, an agreement was reached in the accessibility lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks. The lawsuit, Shields vs. Walt Disney Parks, asserted that Disney did not adjust to California and Federal legal guidelines and discriminating against seeing impaired individuals by denying adequate admission to theme parks and the Disney website. The result of the issue demanded in a lengthy list of improvements and payouts that Walt Disney must comply with in a one years time. Today, the one-year mark is quickly approaching and soon Walt Disney’s accessibility will be evaluated. Yet, the bigger question and lesson learned in this case is understanding the weight and significance of having an accessible website. Every website should now assess if their site is accessible, failing to do will eventually lead to legal problems. This article highlights the lawsuit and aims to shed light on the vital importance of web accessibility.

In 2010, a trio of blind patrons filed a lawsuit against beloved theme park, declaring the web site was not accessible to them and did not comply with the American with Disabilities Act. The website problems were surrounding the auto play of the audio and video clips. The media clips made it difficult for those using a keyboard to browse the site and made it incompatible with assistive devices, mainly screen readers. The online resources also utilized Flash content material and did not provide alt text for images, further complicated the website for blind users.

Alongside the web accessibility charges, came problems with the actual physical park. Statements were made that the theme park did not offer reasonable modifications for individuals with impairments; such as refusing to allow the use of guide dogs, supplying audio assistance, and inability to supply schedules, menus, maps, etc. in Braille. The blind visitors argued that Disney and their websites do give adequate attention to the needs of individuals with visual impairments. Disney denied the accusations and further stated the corporation does not owe individuals with impairments anything, claiming issues around blind visitors should be looked at on a situational basis.

The suit continued for multiple years and confronted several due processes, until an agreement was settled on in 2013. A decision was made to separate the suit into four subclasses infrastructure, service animals, communication and website. Each of these national subclasses included an extensive amount of improvements that Disney is obligated to comply to within one year.

Walt Disney Parks will likely stick to the deadline and make the appropriate improvements to their websites and theme park locations to accommodate visually impaired consumers and avoid further legal problems. The aim and lesson in this situation, is that every corporation, organization and company should be asking, “Can everyone access our website?” The Walt Disney web accessibility lawsuit sets an example of the growing number of lawsuits against websites. Web pages ought to be accessible to all clients; failure to place accessibility standards can result in a serious lawsuit.

Starbucks Website Accessibility Policies

Web accessibility lawsuits are becoming prominent across the nation and corporations are starting to notice. Accessibility, as it applies to the internet, is allowing access to information on the web to the largest number of people and is designed to help the disabled. For company owners that have a website, this means their site must comply with particular coding and design features that provides admission to all users. Failing to abide by standards can lead to serious legal problems. Accessibility has become a growing movement. With every movement there are always companies to take the first step to advance. When it comes to the accessibility of websites, Starbucks is one of those companies. Starbucks has taken an initiative to add web accessibility suggestions and policies on their website, something every company should be doing.

While Starbucks Corporation has taken revolutionary actions to incorporate online accessibility guidelines, unfortunately, they are familiar to accessibility lawsuits. The corporation has been confronted a by a class action lawsuit concerning their physical store’s counter height. Quite possibly these lawsuits that violated the Americans with Disabilities Act are what resulted in the need to manage other parts of accessibility, inclusive of their internet website.

Starbucks currently has a website specifically linked to ways the company is making an attempt to adjust to disability guidelines. The company provides a listing of characteristics they have used to help to supply admission to disabled individuals. Starbucks claims they have decided to boost diversity, accessibility, and inclusion in everything they do. Another notable feature Starbucks has included are Braille gift cards. Starbucks has found out that accessibility is not to be taken lightly and has made the right modifications to support the culture of inclusion.

Although the infamous coffee organization has had problems regarding their physical locations, it is evident Starbucks has decided to be dedicated to web accessibility. Starbucks has done what every company ought to by including policies to support access for disabled customers. There will be no regrets for allowing access to a website, but exclusion can cause serious consequence.

HTML Validation

HTML Validation
It is far less complicated to design and build a website incorporating accessibility, rather than implementing it once the coding is completed. This does not mean the coding cannot be fixed, but it is certainly something to keep in mind when updating or deciding to get a new website. After a website is completed, new content is added or simply performing routine website maintenance, it pays off to scan a site with an HTML validator. It is the most effective way to make certain critical elements are not overlooked.

What to Test For
HTML Validation will check for WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), a set of guidelines put together by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). The aim of the WCAG is to provide a standard for the web in order to generate content that meets the needs of the largest number of individuals internationally. The term content pertains to information such as text, images, sounds and coding that determines presentation. The current acceptable guidelines to meet are the WCAG 2.0. 2.0 is made up of 12 guidelines that are assembled under four concepts: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.  WCAG 2.0 can be tested with an HTML validator including three levels of testable success criteria, A, AA, AAA.

A second area that is vital to test for is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Rehabilitation Act requires websites that receive any federal funding to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. There are 16 standards to follow under the Federal Government’s Section 508. Any website receiving money from the government or would like to in the future, should test their site for 508 compliance.

Available Tools:
There are several HTML validation tools and software available on the internet, at both free and paid options. While free tools are nice to check a single page or area of a website, their testing capabilities will be limited and will only test one page at a time. If you are looking to test an entire website and receive the most accurate assessment, there are excellent tools available at a small cost. It is best to look for a tool that checks for WCAG, Section 508 compliance as well as broken links and coding errors. It is important the tool offer a GUI (Graphic User Interface) report that will display exact location of error visually.

Businesses should learn from the Target Accessibility Lawsuit

The 2006 class action lawsuit against Target was a crucial case for web accessibility. Target’s internet site was determined inaccessible to visually impaired users and accessibility lawsuit concluded in 2008 for $6 million. The settlement compelled Target to alter their business's methods and their website is now accessible to blind. Other stores and companies using the internet for business should learn from Target’s misfortune, take web accessibility seriously and immediately take necessary actions to guarantee their web site is accessible.

Previously, courts ruled the ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) only applies to actual physical spaces. The Target lawsuit was the first time a federal district judge deemed the law is applicable to websites if they are a path to a physical locations. Target was believed to posses a connection between their actual physical retail store and online store. The internet retail store was considered by the court as not being equally available to visually impaired individuals. Target was held accountable, forced to apply changes to their website and pay a hefty settlement.

Accessibility Lawsuit overview:

• Claims Target’s website was inaccessible to blind users.                    
• Target’s website was allegedly not accessible to those who use assistive technology to navigate the companies website.                                                        
• Blind plaintiffs wanted web accessibility changes that would allow blind patrons to purchase items, use gift cards, Target store locations, and perform other actions available to non-impaired consumers.

(Hunton and Williams, Accessibility Lawsuits)

Currently, Target is no longer regarded as have an inaccessible website and is now respected for being a gold member certified website of the National Federation for the Blind. Visually impaired patrons can more effectively connect to Target.com and have the opportunity to acquire the same supplies and services as a sighted individuals.

There are various explanations for why businesses choose to ignore web accessibility: the company is unaware it is inaccessible, current lack of penalties, or they are not familiar with available validation tools to assess accessibility guidelines. In 2014 the government is planning to update and apply web accessibility guidelines and standards. Business and website owners shouldn't ignore the lessons learned in this case and quickly take a proactive attitude toward website compliance. It is better to be on the right side of accessibility than to be dealing with an accessibility lawsuit.

Vimeo’s HTML5 Update Enhances Accessibility and More

Vimeo has recently presented a series of upgrades to their video player platform, along with incorporating in-player transaction support for Vimeo subscribers which allows any professional member to market their work and do it using the means they like, on the net or own their company site. Included in the upgrade is a faster and more accessible service. The update is done around HTML5 technology offering a more responsive design for computers, phones and tablets.

Vimeo's chief technology officer, Andrew Pile explains that Vimeo is an exceptional platform that takes pride in the expertise of creators worldwide. Using Vimeo will ensure content is shown at the very best quality possible. A significant amount of work went into generating the latest version of our player. Pile states that Vimeo is excited to take a top slot in support of open web standards by using HTML5. Other changes Vimeo has applied, includes the introduction of speedier playback, along with reduced loading time, plus the opportunity to make purchases directly from a members.

Vimeo has also enhanced their web accessibility, making the platform easier to use with assistive technology. This will likely be a big progress for individuals utilizing keyboard and display screen readers, as well as those who utilize captions and subtitles. Video creators can now add their very own translations subtitles and captions to their videos, helping to increase viewership across the globe. While web accessibility changes to the Vimeo platform can still use enhancements, the much needed improvements will be appreciated by many impaired users.

Vimeo has attracted clients through the years due to their quality customer care. It is a significant reason video makers have chosen this platform. With the current HTML5 in place that provides increased web accessibility, better voice over and sharing compatibility, it looks as if the popular platform will continue to remain a preferred consumer product.

Web Accessibility Lawsuit Against Louisiana Tech

In the summer of 2013, the Justice Department informed that it had came to a settlement in the case against Louisiana Tech University to address statements that the university was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agreement will mend claims the educational organization did not follow the American with Disabilities Act by using learning tools on the internet that were not accessible for a university student that was visually impaired. The student’s inability to acquire learning materials went well into the school quarter, he became so far behind that he was forced to withdraw. The agreement also mends another area in which the blind pupil was not offered adequate materials for discussions or preparation materials for exams.

Beneath the agreement, the university will now enforce several disability policies, including requirements to offer course materials, online resources and learning tools that are usable for disabled individuals, in addition to complying with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG) Level AA specifications. It will also be ensured present websites and all resources created after the year 2010 follow web accessibility guidelines. The agreement also declared the university will educate its professors and faculty members on the ADA requirements. The blind student received a reward for damages collecting a sum of over $20,000.a

Modern technology, including online educational tools, are changing the methods individuals attain information, it is essential that people that have disabilities are not discriminated against or excluded from current learning trends, described Eve L. Hill, the Assistant Legal Professional General for Civil Rights Division. Stephanie A. Finley, a lawyer for the Western District of Louisiana further commented that this is an positive development by the university. The moderations show the dedication to creating certainty that each individual, inclusive of individuals with disabilities, will have an equal learning experience at the University.

The American with Disabilities Act, in this case beneath Title II, gives safety for the disabled from receiving unequal treatment in programs, services or activities of local government and state establishments. Title II expects that state and government bodies offer the disabled an equal chance to be be a part of or receive the same advantages from services and aids as able bodied individuals.

Louisiana Tech University is not the first or only educational establishment that has been a part of web accessibility lawsuits, but what this university has done, is move forward and made the required changes to support the disabled community. The lawsuit against the school showcases how the web does not provide equal access to the disabled users and furthermore, exemplifies the necessity for every learning institution to have usable materials for disabled students in the classroom and online.

Why Have An Accessible Website ?

Why have a Usable Website for Disabled Individuals?
There are plenty of factors to take into consideration working to ensure an internet site is offered to persons with disabilities. There are the obvious legal and moral factors involved in having a compliant internet website. Additional factors may include website ranking on Google, and delivering a website that is responsive and works with all tools that connect to the web. Arguably the most important factor that provides inspiration for business owners to focus on web accessibility and have an error free website ought to be business. In a review performed by the National Federation for the Blind, there are actually over 6 million adults that indicated having a vision deficit.  When business owners are constantly trying to find new consumers and increase sales, it is not wise to have a website that is inaccessible to even 5% of the population.  

The way to create a website accessible?
The most effective place to begin is becoming aware of web accessibility and understand how to have a website that is compliant. The next step is to test the website for accessibility errors by utilizing validation tools. Validation tools can scan an entire site for not only accessibility issues, but for coding and broken hyperlinks. Once the website has been examined, work with a trustworthy web developer to input changes.

Whether the drive is legal, ethical, or sales focused, it is time to ensure all websites are offered to everyone and inclusive of impaired individuals. Do not bar a website from potential customers any longer, use website validation tool and make necessary web accessibility changes.

Significance of Validating a Website

Validation Tools
Building and hosting your website does not simply serve the purpose. You must make sure that your website conforms to certain specifications laid down by various organizations. These specifications ensure that your website pages are interpreted in a proper manner by search engines as well as users. There are a number of validation application available online, which can be used to validate your site.

Why Validate?
Let us have a look in detail, why it’s important to validate a site when a website still looks perfect in a browser. Websites should conform to the specifications mentioned by the organizations such as W3C for the reasons mentioned below. Validation tools are developed to test if your website conforms to these rules.

Accessibility: These specifications ensure that your site is not only accessible to normal people but also to the physically disabled. In fact, this requirement is not only served as a moral in many countries but also a legal requirement. Therefore, your website should adhere to the W3C Web Accessibility Guidelines or US Section 508 standards.

Search engines: In order to have a site visited more frequently, the website should be properly indexed by search engines. These search engines automatically avoid indexing pages or part of your website if they encounter invalid pages. So it is highly essential for anyone to have their site conformed to these standards for your search engines to properly rank your site.

Visitors: Websites are built and hosted with prime objective of getting users to view it. Therefore in order to have increasingly more users visit a site, one must take care to provide relevant information without broken links.

Maintenance:  These rules can enable a site to be easily maintained and upgraded to fit to the latest trends and developments.

CMS and Tools: The content management systems and authorized tools available today enable anyone with little or no technical knowledge to develop and maintain their own websites. But most of the pages developed through this technique fail to obey the above regulations. Hence it becomes inevitably important to validate a website if you are using these techniques.

What do the tools actually do?
Validation tools are designed to test if a site conforms the aforementioned regulations. They can validate an entire websites code from a missed html tag to spelling mistakes in blogs. A site can be checked by simply entering the site’s page URL. The website can also be validated by uploading r files and directly inputting a chunk of code into a validation tool. The tool can check the HTML, CSS, XHTML, MathML, SMIL etc. of a website. Validator tools do not only validate but also suggest the steps to be taken in order to improve the performance of a website.

Web Accessibility and Skip Navigation

Overview:
An important feature when making a website accessible to disabled users is adding skip navigation.  Adding a skip to content link should be included prior to a website’s navigation tools. A single skip to content link is usually adequate for a website. Adding a skip feature allows users needing assistive screen readers to “skip” between headers and sub headers labeled H2, H3, H4.

Importance of Skip Navigation:
Providing navigation links on a website, on the left hand side or atop the page, will benefit the overall usability and give proper assistance to individuals with mobility impairments. The skip feature, for example, will be highly useful for those that have difficulty operating a mouse or using a screen reader.

Conclusion:
Yet, visually impaired individuals that utilize screen readers may hear all the links at the start of each page, this can be time consuming and cause irritation. It is imperative to add a skip navigation strategy that allows a skip over a block of navigational links for screen readers.

It’s important for every website to have a web accessibility strategy. Implementing web accessibility features improve a sites usability and give access to the widest audience possible. Skip navigation is one of the many features that

Blind Student files lawsuit against Miami University

A blind university student, Aleeha Dudley, with the help of the National Federation of the Blind, has filed an accessibility lawsuit against Miami University. Ms. Dudley was a remarkable student enrolled in the zoology program and had thoughts of one day becoming a veterinarian, but her aspirations were crushed when course materials for her program were inaccessible. The accessibility lawsuit declares that the University violated the ADA (American with Disabilities Act) as well as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by intentionally not providing necessary materials for the impaired student that would ensure she could meet degree requirements. Miami University fell short in delivering supplies, such as college books and course work that were accessible to those with visual impairments. If the university had appropriately supplied the materials, Ms. Dudley could have had the opportunity to maintain her grades and position in her program. Ms. Dudley has fallen behind within the zoology program not as a result of her abilities but, unfortunately, because of the university's inability to provide for its impaired students.

The Disability Rights Ohio Advocacy Group and the NFB are representing Aleeha Dudley’s in the accessibility lawsuit. Evidently, Ms. Dudley’s situation is not the first or even the only visually impaired student to be discriminated against at Miami University. Other blind students have found similar frustrations and unnecessary challenges to effectively accesses course supplies and data. A university has a tremendous opportunity to insure a bright future for those with disabilities, but as Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the NFB, said in a statement regarding this circumstance, the university has failed to acknowledge its moral and legal obligations They failed to provide accessible equipment for Ms. Dudley’s education. The NFB is taking a stand and claims they will not allow the inequalities happening to Ms. Dudley and or to other visually impaired students in America. The NFB will fervently pursue this lawsuit and is encouraging other educational facilities and educational institutions to take the necessary measure to ensure accessibility for their students.

The university student has described her experience at the institution as being a nightmare. Ms. Dudley is now behind her in her degree and may have no hope of fulfilling her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Ms. Dudley explains her actions in filing the accessibility lawsuit stating she is taking on this case not just for herself, but to help pave the path so that other blind students looking to attend Miami University will not experience the same challenges and anguish she had to endure.

5 Reasons to have an accessible web page in 2014

Opening the New Year brings resolutions, ambitions, a rejuvenated sense of hope as well as yearning to make transformations for the better. New Year’s resolutions cover a broad scope ranging from diet and exercise to global impacting decisions. Regardless of resolutions are in 2014, there is certainly one improvement business owners can make that will have a profound influence, by setting a new year’s resolution to make their website accessible. Having an accessible site will enhance the everyday life of impaired internet users in addition to generating more business for your website. Become a part of the movement to bring web accessibility into 2014.

Reasons to focus on making your website accessible in 2014:

1. Enhance the everyday Lives of Impaired Individuals:
Ensuring a internet website is accessible would permit disabled individuals to have a chance to access the same information, goods, services or products as other individuals.

2. New Buyers:
Enabling online impaired internet users the ability to access a business website will open corporations to new consumers.

3. Enhanced Web-page Usability:
Focusing on web accessibility will not simply help disabled users navigate a website significantly better, but in addition will help the entire performance of a site.

4. Enhance Search Engine Optimization and Internet browser Capabilities:
Search engine optimization, internet browser capabilities, as well as accessibility are all connected. The adjustments applied to further improve web accessibility also will allow web crawls to locate a website more easily. The easier it is for web crawlers to find and browse site the greater a businesses online visibility will be.

5. Maximize Earnings:
By improving a company's consumer reach as well as enhancing seo, can attract new customers and bring in more sales.

Isn't it time for the internet to become equally accessible for all consumers?  Businesses should take action, support web accessibility and make a new year’s resolution to have website accessible in 2014.

Miami University Faces Accessibility Lawsuit

A visually impaired university attendee, Aleeha Dudley, with the help of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), has filed an accessibility lawsuit opposing Miami University. Ms. Dudley was a remarkable pupil enrolled the school’s zoology program and had ideas of one day becoming a veterinarian, but her aspirations were ruined when course work for her program were incomprehensible for her as a blind student. The accessibility lawsuit declares that the University violated the ADA (American with Disabilities Act) in addition to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by intentionally not providing necessary supplies for the impaired attendee that would allow her to meet stage necessary requirements. Miami University fell short in delivering items, such as schoolbooks and course materials that could be used by those with visual impairments. If the university had appropriately offered the supplies, Ms. Dudley could have had the opportunity to maintain her grades and sustain her position in the zoology program. Ms. Dudley has fallen behind within her program, not as a result of her abilities but, alas, because of the university's inability to adapt and supply for their impairment students.

The Disability Rights Ohio Advocacy Group and the NFB will be representing the blind student in the accessibility lawsuit. Evidently, Ms. Dudley’s situation is not the first or even the sole visually impaired individual to be discriminated against at Miami University. Other blind students have faced similar discouragements and pointless challenges to efficiently accesses course work and supplies. A university has an incredible chance to insure a brilliant future for those with impairments, but as Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the NFB, said in an announcement regarding this circumstance, the university did not acknowledge its moral and lawful obligations, they failed to supply accessible material for Ms. Dudley’s education. The NFB is taking a stand and claims they will not allow the inequalities happening to Ms. Dudley and or to any other visually impaired students in America. The NFB may fervently pursue this lawsuit and is encouraging other university facilities and educational facilities to take the mandatory measures to ensure accessibility for their students.

The university attendee has described her experience at the school as being a nightmare. Ms. Dudley is now behind her in her degree and may have no chance of fulfilling her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Ms. Dudley explains her actions in submitting the accessibility lawsuit stating she is taking this case on not just for herself, but to support a path for other visually impaired students looking to attend Miami University, so they will not have to experience the same dismal challenges and anguish she had to undergo.

5 great reasons to focus on web accessibility in 2014

Opening the New Year brings resolutions, ambitions, a rejuvenated desire to make changes for the better. New Year’s resolutions cover a broad area ranging from creating food regimens and working out to world influencing decisions. In spite of the resolutions in store for 2014, there's certainly one area business can improve which can have a profound outcome, by setting a new year’s resolution to make the company website easily accessible. Having an easily accessible web site is going to improve the everyday life of individuals with impairments moreover it will generate more visits for to the company's internet site. Become a part of the movement to have online accessibility in 2014.

5 great reasons to focus on web accessibility in 2014:

1. Improve the Everyday Life of Impaired Individuals:
Ensuring a internet website is accessible would permit disabled individuals to have an opportunity to access identical facts, goods or services as other individuals.

2. New Consumers:
Increasing web accessibility will give the opportunity to allow impaired users to visit and navigate a website and may open companies to new clients.

3. Enhanced Usability of a Web-page:
Focusing on web accessibility will not simply help impaired clients navigate a website better, but moreover will help to facilitate the overall performance of a site.

4. Boost Search Engine Optimization and Internet browser Compatibility:
SEO, internet browser capabilities, in addition to accessibility are all attached. The adjustments utilized to further boost web accessibility also may allow website crawlers to locate an internet site more easily. The easier it is for internet crawlers to locate and navigate a website the more an organization will be visible online.

5. Maximize Earnings:
By improving a company's consumer reach as well as improving SEO, will help to acquire new customers and bring in additional sales.

Isn't it time for the web to become similarly accessible for every online client? Businesses ought to take action, support web accessibility and make a new year’s goal to have internet website that is accessible in 2014.