Think Your Company Web Site Is Accessible? Think Again
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- Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:28:27 -0500
EarthTimes.org
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Think Your Company Web Site Is Accessible? Think Again
By Press Release
CARLSBAD, CA -- 11/13/07 -- Accessing Web sites, specifically by persons who
are blind or visually impaired, has recently been a subject of rising interest
-- especially to Garry Grant, President and CEO of Search Engine Optimization
Inc., a professional search engine marketing firm. Grant's daughter, Amber, 18,
has been blind since birth.
Visually impaired individuals, like Amber, are able to use the Internet to
manage money, shop and perform a variety of other tasks by installing "screen
reader" software on their computers that searches for codes embedded on Web
sites. These codes enable text and graphics to be read or described audibly.
The software also lets the blind navigate sites by using keystrokes instead of
a mouse. However, not all Web sites are optimally designed for use by Internet
consumers who have visual impairments.
In a quest to make Web sites more accessible to the visually impaired, SEO
Inc.'s Grant, along with the National Federation of the Blind and other
advocacy organizations, is encouraging retailers to make the necessary changes
that will allow users with "screen reader software" and other technology to
navigate and listen to the text throughout their Web sites.
"I just don't think the awareness and knowledge to become Section 508 compliant
or to have a site that is at least navigable for adaptive technologies is quite
clear," says Grant, whose SEO Inc. professional search engine marketing firm
assists businesses in making their sites more visible in the major search
properties, as well as making their Web sites more accessible to the visually
impaired. Making a Web site more accessible, he notes, can include tagging
images with word descriptions, allowing the software to "read" those images
aloud. There also are many other factors often overlooked -- those that
actually help the adaptive technologies work correctly.
"It's a win-win situation for companies to make these changes... and by doing
so, they not only broaden their visibility online, but they open themselves up
to a completely new user demographic, ultimately, allowing for easier
navigation and the ability to make purchases."
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires stores, restaurants and
other businesses to provide access to people with mental and physical
disabilities. Since the Internet emerged, several lawsuits have focused on what
Web site owners should be required to do to make their pages accessible to the
disabled. Perhaps one of the most prominent in recent years is the legal action
initiated against Target Corp. by the National Federation of the Blind and a
consumer group, which charge that the big retailer violates federal and
California laws in failing to make its Web site user-friendly to visually
impaired consumers. Last month, U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel granted
class-action status to the lawsuit, alleging that Target Corp. is in violation
of California law and the ADA because screen-reading software doesn't work on
parts of its Web site, essentially making it unusable for blind people.
While the case against Target may be months away from being settled, it is
already beginning to raise awareness globally about the work and rewards of
accommodating the needs of online shoppers with disabilities, explains Grant.
Robert Stigile, President, NFB, California, supports Grant's efforts. "The
recent decision on the Target lawsuit is a major break in the case, for it
tells Target that they will indeed need to change their Web site so that blind
Americans will be able to shop there," says Stigile.
When this suit is over, he adds, all companies will eventually need to change
their Web sites so that they are accessible to the visually impaired. "After
all, blind Americans are people who want to shop online... they want to
purchase items just like sighted people do, and should be able to," says
Stigile.
According to Grant, business owners need to understand that taking the proper
steps to make their Web sites accessible to the blind and visually impaired
does not always entail a huge price tag. "It's more a matter of some thought
behind it, and a little bit of hard work."
For more information about SEO Inc. call toll-free at (877) 736-0006 or visit
www.seoinc.com.
About Search Engine Optimization Inc.:
Search Engine Optimization Inc. is an integrated search engine marketing
company that specializes in achieving high rankings for their clients on the
Internet's major search engines. SEO Inc. creates highly targeted optimization
campaigns geared towards unique online business objectives. Leveraging more
than 40 years of combined Internet marketing experience, SEO Inc.'s certified
search engine specialists have developed and honed a suite of highly effective,
proprietary optimization and marketing methodologies that have placed more than
700 leading corporations in the top rankings of world's leading search engines.
http://www.seoinc.com/
Posted : Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:00:33 GMT
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,221937.shtml
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