A great deal of information is available about accessibility. A quick overview of preconceived ideas still heard today.
- “People with visual or motor disabilities are unable to access website content”
- “Blind people cannot access managerial positions”
- “An accessible site is necessarily a dull and boring site”
- “Digital accessibility does not apply to graphic sites”
- “Digital accessibility is only of benefit to the disabled”
- “Google provides access to billions of pages, digital accessibility is of no interest”
- “Accessibility is expensive but it offers no return in terms of investment”
- “Digital accessibility does not apply to computer applications”
- “A website which is made accessible only serves to promote a company’s image”
- “An accessible site is not visible, therefore it is not profitable”
1. “People with visual or motor disabilities are unable to access website content”
Accessible solutions are designed to be used in all types of conditions, as much by the able-bodied as by the disabled. Digital accessibility is a condition for respecting people and taking them into consideration.
2. “Blind people cannot access managerial positions”
They may access these positions and even carry out work equivalent to that of able-bodied people. Sadly, many of them only obtain pre-baccalaureate qualifications. Our work involves changing these preconceived ideas.
3. “An accessible site is necessarily a dull and boring site”
That is quite wrong. An accessible site is just as good as an ordinary site, sometimes even better because it offers a clear, structured and navigable full keyboard code. Our site is accessible and keeps up with all the current trends, including tactile supports such as the iPad.
4. “Digital accessibility does not apply to graphic sites”
Digital accessibility draws its strengths from Flash, Flex, Rich Media, and other technologies. Accessibility does not imply obsolescence, but rather quintessence as a result of the very high quality offered by each meticulously designed solution.
5. “Digital accessibility is only of benefit to the disabled”
If a disabled person can use it so can an able-bodied person. Accessibility also reflects a notion of sharing and teamwork.
6. “Google provides access to billions of pages, digital accessibility is of no interest”
There is a great deal of confusion about the word “accessibility”. Is information accessible because it is published, or because there is an equipment and software infrastructure which guarantees it. Digital accessibility is defined, first of all, as access to content by any type of person: able-bodied, blind, mobility-impaired, etc.
7. “Accessibility is expensive but it offers no return in terms of investment”
The cost of an accessible site is relative to its user’s needs. Accessibility is a long-term investment because it offers a specific and adapted code guaranteeing natural referencing in search engines. It also guarantees a reduction in maintenance costs.
8. “Digital accessibility does not apply to computer applications”
Accessibility is not restricted to websites. Textual content files, such as PDF are also made accessible, as are applications such as interactive catalogue, e-book, flipbook. Accessibility follows the latest trends, without being left behind.
9. “A website which is made accessible only serves to promote a company’s image”
Above all, an accessible site is a support for personal and professional development which promotes the work of the disabled. The enhancement of a company’s image is only possible when it acts responsibly by implementing concrete actions.
10. “An accessible site is not visible, therefore it is not profitable”
Above all, an accessible site is a site with a code which conforms to WCAG 2.0. These guidelines provide a specific code structure offering natural referencing, legible navigation, and a reduction in maintenance costs. A sustainable product is necessarily profitable.
