Online accessibility: the key to universal access

June 2008
By Stéphanie Levasseur
Senior usability and accessibility expert, Bell

Usability versus accessibility

An interface that has been adapted to the needs and expectations of its users, in addition to being easy to use, can qualify as ergonomically sound. To earn the label of  "accessible", the interface must offer an equivalent level of service to all users, regardless of their hardware, software, network infrastructure, location, and particularly mental or physical disabilities, including people with a mobility or visual impairment.

New technologies and accessibility

The advancement of new technology has turned what was only a dream twenty years ago into reality. Technologies such as screen readers and software enabling a user's eye movement to control the cursor on a screen are now available on the market and used by people with some form of disability. In addition to a variety of adapted peripheral equipment (keyboard, mouse, etc.), many different types of software, such as screen readers, screen enlargers, and Braille readers are now available to people with one or more disabilities.

Persons with a disability

It is difficult to estimate the exact ratio of Canadians with a disability. This is because, among other things, certain disabilities are temporary (e.g., limited hand mobility following an operation), and some people have multiple disabilities.

Using Québec as an example, in 2007, according to the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec, more than 700,000 people were living with a disability. This figure represents a little more than 10 percent of the Québec population. The 55-or-older age group, however, is the category with the highest number of persons with a disability. People in this age group represent nearly 65 percent of the total number of people with a disability in Québec and are more often living with severe or multiple disabilities.

Note: A person can have more than one disability.
Source: Office des personnes handicapées du Québec

An aging population

By 2031, the proportion of Canadians aged 65 and older is expected to reach 22 percent. In 2006, this figure was 13 percent. The baby boom generation (those born in the two decades following the Second World War) will have the most profound impact on the nation's demographics in the next 25 years. By 2026, one out of every five people will be aged 65 or older, which represents 8 million seniors worldwide. By 2016 at the latest, Canada will have far more seniors than children aged 14 and younger as a result of a low national population growth rate (average annual percentage between 1996 and 2000 was 0.9%).

Source: Statistics Canada, Study on participation and activity limitations (2001)

Accessibility around the world

Several years ago, laws were passed in certain countries to counter discrimination and ensure people with disabilities obtained equal opportunities. Such laws touched on employment and access to governmental services, public equipment, business facilities, and transportation. However, laws about offering accessible Web content have only come about in recent years.

The W3C standard

In May 1999, the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) developed version 1.0 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which encompasses all of the necessary rules to make a Web site accessible to all. Version 2.0 of the WCAG is expected to become the new official standard some time in 2008.

In the United States

In 1990, the Americans enacted a law entitled Americans with Disabilities Act. It wasn't until December 2000, however, that the U.S. government published Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 16 that required all Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. This included computers, software, telecommunications products, video and multimedia products, and, of course, Web sites. Section 508 is quite specific and requires that all Priority 1 guidelines be followed as well as five other guidelines from Priority levels 2 and 3.

In Canada

In May 2000, the federal government of Canada passed a bill to implement its own accessibility standard. The Common Look and Feel for the Internet standard is in its second version and is primarily based on the official version of the WCAG.

In Ontario

In 2001, the government of Ontario passed a law entitled Ontarians With Disabilities Act, which states the following in section 6: "The Government of Ontario shall provide its internet sites in a format that is accessible to persons with disabilities, unless it is not technically feasible to do so."

In Québec

The government of Québec is in the process of developing its own mandatory Web site accessibility standards, which is currently being validated by the departments and agencies and should be adopted by the Treasury Board during the winter of 2008-2009.

Are Canadian Web sites accessible?

An evaluation of 200 Web sites carried out in 2007 showed that very few Canadian Web sites are accessible. Only 15 percent of all the Web sites evaluated offer an acceptable level of accessibility (good, very good, or excellent). The majority of these sites are federal government Web sites that are required to adhere to a Web accessibility law. In contrast, mainstream Web sites rely more and more on multimedia content and do not provide accessible content, such as audio descriptions like television does.

Why is it important to have an accessible Web site?

• Ethical: to offer all citizens universal access to all types of content at all times
• Legal: to avoid judicial proceedings
• Economic: to expand its customer base
• Site maintenance: to facilitate the addition and modification of content
• Indexing: to improve search engine indexing

Bell's accessibility offer

Experts from the Web Solutions teams at Bell are there every step of the way to help organizations make sure their Web sites follow accessibility guidelines.

To discuss your needs, contact us, and a Bell representative will respond to you shortly.