Accessible web design and development

I design and develop accessible web sites and applications using HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and MySQL and a few helpers like jQuery, jQuery UI, Mootools, Codeigniter, Drupal, Wordpress, Moodle and Clickcart Pro.

What is an accessible site?

At its most basic, it's one that sighted, partially sighted, blind and keyboard only users can access on a range of platforms - desktop or mobile.

Why accessibility and standards matter:

• Future-proofing. Standards-based, accessible sites are likely to perform as they should in newer browsers as they develop, and in the rapidly expanding range of mobile and hand-held devices. And If a site is built with web standards in mind, and the structure, presentation and behaviour of the site is properly organised, maintenance and upgrades are faster and cheaper.
• Market reach. If a site is not accessible on the widest range of devices or to someone who cannot see, or who is partially blind, colour blind, or has a cognitive or motor impairment, it is losing business.
• Search engine ranking. Standards based sites, properly built with meaningful mark-up, and content that is high up in the source order rank higher in searches. This is mainly because they satisfy search engine algorithms better than table based layouts. But it's also because they are typically faster. Not only does this affect users and conversions rates directly, but Google and other engines are increasingly using download speed as a ranking criterion.
• Inaccessible sites can potentially fall foul of the Disability Discrimination Act. and frustrate millions of users who might be most dependent on access to the web.

Recommended:

• Henny Swann on the 'Mobile Web'
• Museo
• Dan Cederholm's new book

Recent:

Countdown clock for the launch of P & O's new liner, the Azura. Built with Flash and AS2. Design by Stephen Upson

Working with RNIB and Content and Code to produce accessible markup and javascript for RNIB's new Sharepoint driven sites.