Assessibility+for+Users+with+Disabilities

Web 2.0 Accessibility for Users with Disabilities by: David Stevens  Those that have varying types and levels of disabilities often find it difficult to experience the World Wide Web with the same ease of use as users who are not challenged with such limitations. The suggested standards of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have emerged in order to help level the playing field of web access for disabled users. The authors of the article “ Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0”, states that following these guidelines will also often make your Web content more usable to users in general. Still there are some concerns and resistance from some web developers. Should Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) be mandatory for all web developers? With the emergence of Web 2.0 products that are allowing all web users the freedom to create and publish content, should everyone who publishes content on the web be held to this standard? What are the enforcement mechanisms or who will enforce this standard? Instead of attempting to legislate an answer to the issue another approach should be employed. The educational arena is one of the largest users of the web and is intimately involved in the production of the next generation of web users. Addressing this issue with teachers and students at the classroom level could be the most effective means of teaching new web users the importance of building accessibility into the web. Along with teaching ethics and etiquette this approach can help to foster the next generation of web products that understands the importance of accessibility for users with disabilities and incorporates options for all. Reference: []