Types of Disability Affecting Web Users

There are many forms of disability, the majority of which are frequently forgotten about by Web developers. A selection are presented below along with information about their needs on the Web.

Visual

Blind people can use a variety of software to read a website, such as “screen readers” (software that reads out loud the screen contents) and braille output devices. Websites have to be constructed very carefully to take these devices into account and allow the user to maximise their browsing experience.

Partially-sighted users or those simply with poor vision may use their browser or screen settings to enlarge the website content.

Colour blindness affects people in many different ways. It is important to cater for these users when selecting the colour scheme of a website. Furthermore, colour should not be used to convey information which isn't conveyed by other means.

Auditory

If you provide audio content on your website, the information must also be conveyed by other means, such as a transcript. This isn't a problem for the vast majority of websites, but is an issue that must be taken into account. This will also benefit people without a soundcard in their computer or who access the website through a low-bandwidth connection (such as a mobile phone or dial-up).

Mobility

If a user has restricted mobility, it may prevent the use of standard input devices (such as a mouse or keyboard) or cause problems if the website requires a high level of manual dexterity (such as clicking on a small area, or maneuvering with precision to avoid a pop-up menu disappearing). It is quite common for people to temporarily fall into this category, for example if they sprain their wrist, so this group of users may be considerably larger than it would otherwise appear.

Clearly, if a website is constructed with this group of users in mind, it will have positive implications for all users.

Cognitive

Many users in this category may not usually be considered disabled, such as people who have poor computer skills, literacy problems or whose first language isn't the same as the website. For these users it is important to make the website as user-friendly as possible and to use simple language.

Users with dyslexia may find it helpful to alter the colours or text size. Other considerations include font type (serif or sans-serif), size, spacing and proportions. Using fully justified text should also be avoided as it can cause each line to have different word spacings. Narrower column widths can also help dyslexics.

Mentally impaired users may suffer many or all of the above cognitive problems.