*my thoughts after creating this video and being involved on a project dealing with this subject*
Funny how the view of our every day life is so limited. We, the average person, wake up, stretch, get up and most likely walk to the bathroom. We drink our coffees and or eat our breakfasts and maybe while we’re at it, we go online. We check our favorite websites, get our news and socialize all in bit time. For the average user, there is “us” and them. Them is someone like, let us say Uncle Henry. Uncle Henry thinks the internet is a waste of time and refuses to go on the grid. Uncle Henrys are the ones that alway call “us” up for some type of technological help, something like as easy as downloading photo'e from a camera. Uncle Henrys perhaps also believe that we haven’t landed on the moon, although they know we have a Space Station.
What we don’t realize is that we are somewhat like Uncle Henrys in that we are ignorant about how there are internet users who have difficulties accessing information due to disabilities. We don’t think about how the blind, deaf, amputees and others navigate the web. The internet is not created equal for people with disabilities. They have to deal with too much clutter on web sites that limit their use and learning. We think we are aware and in touch through the easiness of technology however we are so much like Uncle Henrys regarding the web and people with disabilities.
With the creation of the Web, doors were opened for people and their world was widen. However some users have difficulties accessing the full range of information the web has to offer because of poor Web design. When Web designers create sites they have the “average person” in mind and don’t consider users with disabilities. The Americans Disability Act of 1990/ 2010 amendments require that U.S. programs and services be accessible to individuals with disabilities. The ADA accessibility requirements apply to Internet resources. “Section 504 requires any entity receiving federal financial assistance to ensure program accessibility, while Section 508 guarantees access to electronic and information technology procured by Federal agencies.”
The internet is now mainstream and many companies are becoming an internet based only businesses which brings into concern the law and how these businesses affect people with disabilities. In National Association of the Deaf vs. Netflix, Netflix was sued for failure to provide closed captions for their video streaming. Netflix argued that its site is not a “place of public accommodation,” however the Federal District Court in Massachusetts responded that the ADA does apply to a web-site only businesses. Subsequently, though in Cullen vs Netflix The U.S. District Court in California ruled in favor of Netflix. They found that an “actual physical place” was a requirment and that a video streaming website was not subject to the ADA because it holds no physical space.
The law becomes a bit blurry when dealing with either The Federal Courts and U.S District courts however in cases dealing with Web accessibilities courts will look at cases arguing S504 and the ADA. Websites are under legal obligation to provide equal access to information held in their sites. however, a commercial business can successfully argue that changing their sites would cause an “undue burden” for them, meaning costly. If web masters took disabled users into consideration when first creating their sites they would save a lot of money and time.
Too much clutter such as extra links, non-contrasting background color, and inconsistent layouts make it difficult for disabled users. Costs for making web sites accessible vary and companies usually have to be sued for making the change. There are companies such as Google, Ebay and Twitter that are accessible, as well as companies in the financial sector. However sub-sites on mobile devices such as Facebook are easier to navigate than say Facebook on a computer because they are not as cluttered.
As much as there are issues with the internet and disabled users, the internet has provided them with a wealth of information geared towards their personal needs and at faster speed.
mindful designing (by Monk M)
