The Business case for web accessibility

Why is it important to have a website that is accessible to people with disabilities?

• There are over 1.5 million blind and visually impaired computer users who want to do business with you online
• People with disabilities represent $1 trillion in aggregate income
• That translates to $220 billion in discretionary spending that businesses are leaving on the table because consumers cannot access their online channels!

What does having an accessible website mean?

• That your website or web application can be used by the largest possible number of people, including the rapidly growing over 50 population, low vision users and non-sighted users
• People with disabilities who use assistive technologies such as screen readers to navigate the web can use your website

What are the legal implications of not being accessible?

• Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the accessibility of commercial web sites. Recent rulings upheld that a retailer can be held liable if its online channel is inaccessible to users with disabilities
• According to Forrester Research: «Businesses with a substantial online presence should expect to have their web accessibility compliance called into question within the next one to two years.» (February 7, 2007)

Perficient can help ensure your site is accessible by not only adhering to Section 508 standards and the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), but by also ensuring users of screen readers such as JAWS can complete key tasks on your site.

In this session of Perficient Perspectives, Gina Bhawalkar, Lead User Experience Consultant & Accessibility Specialist at Perficient, will:

• Discuss why it’s important to make your site accessible to the 750 million people worldwide with disabilities, as well as to the growing aged population experiencing normal vision loss
• Provide a brief overview of existing accessibility legislation and guidelines
• Outline the many auxiliary benefits of making your solutions accessible
• Discuss the potential legal repercussions of failing to provide an accessible website

The session will conclude with an overview of the steps you can start taking today to address accessibility within your organization.

Register