We are accessible...

Since the Web 2.0 has become a reality, the concept of the accessible website has justifiably become a major topic. Who actually defines how a website is to look on screen for those who visit the website? You will answer spontaneously "the person operating the page, the owner of the website of course".

This is where opinions differ. Whilst the content and the appearance of a document are inseparably linked in the case of the printed media, the situation is a different one on the web. The web provides the option of consistently separating the layout and the content of a website. Tools, so-called CMS (Content Management Systems) amongst others, have been created in order to implement this.

Considerations go still further. Not all of us have the same Internet access, the same computer and the same software. Not all of us are equally able to assimilate information from the Internet. One just needs to think of the visually impaired or blind who find it disproportionately more difficult to utilise the diverse options offered by the web.

New technologies make it possible to serve the needs of even these user groups and offer them access to information on the Internet. Admittedly, the effort and expense involved in elaborating an accessible (barrier-free) website is a great deal more than simply entirely dispensing with these aspects. In addition, it is frequently difficult for the designer if he has to offer up his lovingly elaborated layout to other criteria. However, there is process of rethinking occurring in many web agencies. An accessible website can also look good. In addition, it opens up a far larger visitor potential than a conventional website.

On the basis of these considerations, we have decided to take the step of elaborating an accessible website. We have attached particular importance to the following criteria.

• Dispensing with tabular layouts so that even Screen Readers for the blind are able to cope with the contents of our website
• Adequate contrasts in colours to facilitate access by the visually impaired
• The option of increasing the size of lettering and the texts, even if this may be to the detriment of a universal design
• The option of navigating through our website with the Tab and Enter keys so that even those unable to operate a mouse can use our website. This effect is particularly striking with the Firefox browser from Mozilla.

One criterion or the other for a perfectly accessible, barrier-free website may probably not yet be entirely fulfilled. However, we hope that this will be the case only in unimportant areas and we, of course, are continuing our work on achieving this aim.And so let us return to the question we asked at the start "Who actually determines how a website looks on screen for the visitor to the website"? We are now looking at the whole thing with eyes different from those a few years ago. It is solely the visitor to the website, and thus you as well, that determines how a website looks on screen (or on the output device). We determine the content. The content should, clearly and unfalsified, convey our message to you. Wherever possible, we wish to leave you alone to determine how our message is presented for you graphically. Increase the size of texts, deactivate images, reduce the size of the browser window. This will not change the content of our website.

I would be very pleased to receive your feedback on this topic. Thank you for your attention.

Wilfried Strecke
CEO tele.sjb.partners AG