Web Site Accessibility At Institutions Of Higher Education: An Introduction To Accessibility Awareness

Abstract

The proliferation of information in electronic format does not guarantee its accessibility. The fact that many Web sites are not accessible to large segments of the disabled community has created a digital divide. Web accessibility is especially important in University communities, since the Internet and the digitization of information have changed the ways education is delivered. Over 9 percent of entering freshmen reported disabilities in 1998. There have been significant developments in the field of accessible design, legislation and institutional effort to remove inaccessibility of Web sites. But this research reveals that by far the majority of people surveyed in a representative University community are unaware of these developments, although they are positive that removing any inaccessibility will be a wise and mutually beneficial step. As aging of America continues, the number of people with disabilities is expected to increase.