Some are – and its getting better but most designers would admit that it would be fair to say that this is often more luck than judgement.

Making a website is accessible is HARD WORK.  You have to leave behind all the ‘old’ ( old on the internet equals about 5 years!) ways of writing websites and embrace a whole new ethos, design view and even the actual coding language.

An analogy might be if you imagine that web designers were trained to speak French because everyone spoke French. Now they being told by legislation and by web standards that they really need to start speaking Spanish AS WELL as French.  Many designers  argue they have never needed to speak Spanish before, they aren’t really sure WHY they have to learn Spanish now – other than they are being told that it’s ‘ a good thing…’  Many don’t feel their clients need them to speak Spanish as their clients only speak French. Many think that speaking Spanish will result in a poorer quality product as they think French sound nicer and is quicker easier to learn…

(this is an analogy btw -  no slander on French or Spanish languages are intended!!)

This analogy a little simplistic but hopefully illustrates  the problem.  Most websites launched right now, TODAY will be inaccessible; both in terms of being ‘disability unfriendly’ and in that the code language they are being written in (and the way its used) means it will simply stop working in the next year or two as the new browsers and technologies are released.  Each one of those poor clients who are excitedly launching their new site TODAY will be paying out again with 24 months.  An easy illustration of this point is the ‘backwards compatible’  button that has now been added to the new version of the browser Internet Explorer. It has been added because so many websites simply do not work this new version.

What a waste – and how tragic in these tight ‘credit crunch’ days where every penny needs to be spent wisely.

The problem is compounded by the fact that many courses in our colleges and universities are still teaching outdated design techniques which quite simple result in inaccessible sites.  Traditional HTML is easy to learn you can take a course at any institution,  online or even by a “website in a box” .  The key point is that much of ‘old style’  web designs basic elements that are still used as standard by so many new websites such as table-based layouts with fixed widths, using headings and inline code for visual styles all make those websites (and all community, open source blogs and social networking sites) sadly VERY inaccessible.

The good news is that many designers ARE  starting to realise how important  web standards are. Sadly  but often mistake these standards as guaranteeing disabled accessibility (lots more about this problem if you search on the this website). Sadly, they don’t.  In fact sometimes, WC3 they directly contradict the needs of disabled people which is why they have been trying to make new ones for nearly ten years now.

The simple fact is this. As a business or an individual it is a fair guess that you want the following;

• A clear website with a design that is compatible with your business, branding or identity;
• A website that works on any platform or software that a potential client or viewer might be using;
• A website that lasts for a significant amount of time, offering both a sound business investment and value for money;
• A website that will be found using the main search engines WITHOUT having to pay for advertising slots and help market your business or ideas to a wider and new audience
• A website that can grow with your business  or ideas and that that draws clients  and viewers in plus aiding their experience with your company or profile, increasing their enjoyment and providing customer satisfaction.