Although Search Engine Optimization and Accessibility have different goals, they share a lot of the similarities in achieving those goals.
What is Web Accessibility
Web accessibility means that websites, images, and files are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. More specifically, people can:
- Perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web
- Contribute to the Web
Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the Web, including:
- Visual
- Auditory
- Cognitive
- Neurological
- Physical
- Speech
Web accessibility also benefits people without disabilities, for example:
- People using mobile phones, smart watches, smart TVs, and other devices with small screens, different input modes, etc.
- Older people with changing abilities due to ageing
- People with “temporary disabilities” such as a broken arm or lost glasses
- People with “situational limitations” such as in bright sunlight or in an environment where they cannot listen to audio
- People using a slow Internet connection, or who have limited or expensive bandwidth
Making the Web Accessible
Web accessibility depends on several components working together, including web technologies, web browsers and other “user agents”, authoring tools, and websites.
The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops technical specifications, guidelines, techniques, and supporting resources that describe accessibility solutions. These are considered international standards for web accessibility; for example, WCAG 2.0 is also an ISO standard: ISO/IEC 40500.