by Kynn Bartlett IN THIS APPENDIX Accessibility Standards Accessibility Reference There is an implicit promise in the name of the World Wide Web the promise of an information network that can be used by everyone around the world. The Web succeeds at what it does because of its universality. A Web document is written in one or more Web languages designed to be cross-platform and interoperable with a wide variety of technologies. Clearly, the Web is designed to open to a broad range of users, and that's where things start to get tricky! The average Web user of moderate means in North America or Europe has a decently fast computer, a full-color monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, speakers, and a high-speed modem or a faster connection. But that's just the average user and people tend to be scattered all over the range of possibility, rarely conforming to the same capabilities. Welcome to designing on the Web! In this appendix, I'll explain what Web accessibility standards are, how they benefit both you and your users with disabilities, and how you can use Dreamweaver MX to ensure that everyone can use your site. |