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.

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

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.

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.

Netflix Web Accessibility Lawsuit; First Online Company to Face Charges

The Netflix lawsuit filed in 2010, was a pivotal web accessibility lawsuit. This case was the first time a company that operated solely online was considered a place of public accommodation and required to provide reasonable access for disabled individuals. The lawsuit is clearly shows that the internet is a public space and all it’s information and resources should have reasonable accommodations for disabled users. Now, businesses that operate at physical store locations or online need to be concerned with web accessibility.

Netflix, an online video store, has agreed to offer closed captioning for all videos available on their website. The National Association for the Deaf (NAD) filled the class action lawsuit back in 2010, stating that the video site was a public space that was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The popular video company put a significant amount of effort trying to dismiss the case on the grounds that ADA does not apply to Netflix because it was replaced by new laws from the FCC to provide rules for captioning online. The Netflix argument did not go through when a Massachusetts Federal judge ruled that the FCC was meant to work with ADA laws and not to replace them.  After a two year battle the class action lawsuit ended with the video service making an agreement to add captioning to all of it’s content by 2014, as well as implement other accessibility changes.

Netflix has Agreed To:

• Adding caption content within 30 days of posting by 2014, by 2015 must be added within 14 days and by 2016 within 7 days.
• Netflix offers video service on over 1,000 devices and captioning is available on many of those devices, but not all. In the future Netflix has made a promise to make significant efforts to work on all devices. However they are not required to work on 100% of all devices.
• $755,000 was awarded to the plaintiffs’ lawyers and $40,000 to go the official order of implementation over the upcoming 4 years.

Learning about #A11y

Internet accessibility is developing into a subject the internet community is conversing about, and for important reasons. Possessing an internet site that permits access to new customers, even those with disabilities, is vital for increasing business, and defends from legal actions due to discrimination. The topic of web accessibility has advanced from something technical that only internet developers, national and government internet websites, or major corporations, have paid attention to. Now, it is having a large impact on the entire internet community. Articles and blog post are sent out daily on the topic and anyone can follow the conversation live on social websites using the #a11y.

The word accessibility is 13 letters long, in an internet world that typically only allows 140 characters. A11y was created to condense the length of a word. The shortened word A11y, a numeronym, is the characters ‘A’ and ‘Y’ with the number 11, representing the characters between the beginning and last letter. A11y is utilized to imply the subject of accessibility or to switch with the word when used in a sentence. Here are a couple of samples:

Use #A11y in a sentence:
Help to increase awareness of web #A11y and support the disabled community.

Place the pound symbol at the back of your post to imply the subject:
Websites must provide equal access to all users. #A11y

Gain knowledge of what A11y means, and becomes part of the discussion to support web accessibility. Website accessibility is continuing to gain importance and weight, as it affects the existence of individuals with disabilities and impacts the visibility of company owned web pages across the globe.

Web Accessibility to be Refreshed in 2014

Moving into 2014, web accessibility is expected to make serious advances and movement throughout the year. Changes are anticipated in everything from finalizing accessibility plans, refreshing current policies, to increased accessibility overall.

The Section 508 that is known today will be refreshed in the upcoming twelve months, the update will call for government establishments to be compliant at level AA of the WCAG 2.0.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was amended in 1998 creating Section 508.  The amendment was created to require government organizations to provide access to all digital information, but with rapid advances in technology the amendment has been unable to cover all areas of accessibility. The coming refresh will attempt to address the uncovered accessibility areas.

The update advances from level A to AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG 2.0 represents the most recent set of suggestions put out by the W3C, the guidelines are composed of specifications to ensure digital technology is usable for disabled individuals. The specifications encompass three degrees of testable guidelines: A, AA and AAA. The levels become more difficult to adjust to as each particular level because the levels build on one another.

Level A: first criteria
Level AA: required to comply with A and AA
Level AAA: required comply with A, AA and AAA

Predicted to be revealed later in the year is the refresh to Section 508, an extension to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that specifies obligatory necessities to obtain web accessibility guidelines. Indicators imply that upgrades are thought to be approved in March preceding any legislative alterations in a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). Current discussion signifies that preliminary expected conformance date of any proposed changes will be no earlier than 2016 to provide time to put into place new standards.

Structured Negotiations and Website Accessibility

Lawsuits pertaining to web accessibility have currently been in the news, and becoming more relevant to all business owners. Businesses are progressively understanding the risks and danger associated with having an inaccessible website.  Having products, services, and even information that are not accessible to people having impairments can put a business at serious risk for legal action. Many legal proceedings seek substantial payouts for inaccessible websites but, for most accessibility cases making a website usable to individuals with disabilities is more important than receiving a large settlement. To achieve the goal of accessibility some businesses are fortunate to be approached with improving their website through a less damaging approach, through structured negotiations.

What are Structured Negotiations?
Structured negotiations take a cooperative approach to repair website disputes rather than to seek monetary benefits. This technique allows businesses to avoid legal action, while advocates receive an accessible website. Negotiations are made between the advocate party and company, once an agreement is made, a legally binding contract will be created and signed by both parties. This method is increasingly utilized for advocacy groups with a positive outcome. More websites are becoming accessible and helping to generate awareness for web accessibility.

Positive Outcomes for Accessibility
Negotiations have provided remarkable positive aspects for the rights of the impaired. Through these types of discussions there are now; audio pedestrian indicators, voice ATMs, and many establishments that supply POS (point of sale) instruments in their stores. Internet accessibility has become a priority for disability advocates. Many modifications have been made for businesses of all sizes to acquire accessibility and have become devoted to preserving an easily accessible website. A few major organizations that have been involved in accessibility negotiations are; CVS, 7-Eleven, Wells Fargo and the non-profit American Cancer Society.

The danger of a lawsuit continues to be a serious issue and businesses can face serious penalties for not having an accessible website but, negotiations can provide a more amicable solution. The collective approach can assist to implement necessary improvements that are far less costly than a lawsuit. Businesses ought to be aware of all risks linked to having a website that is not usable to individuals with disabilities. If web accessibility enhancements are implemented now, perhaps businesses can evade ever being approached with a lawsuit or negotiations altogether.