Accessibility
What is Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility means access to the Web by everyone, regardless of disability.
Web accessibility includes:
* Web sites and applications
* that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with;
* Web browsers and media players
* that can be used effectively by people with disabilities, and
* that work well with assistive technologies that some people with disabilities use to access the Web;
* Web authoring tools, and evolving Web technologies
* that support production of accessible Web content and Web sites, and
* that can be used effectively by people with disabilities.
Why is Web Accessibility an issue?
There are several reasons why Web accessibility is important:
use of the Web is spreading rapidly into all areas of society;
there are barriers on the Web for many types of disabilities;
millions of people have disabilities that affect access to the Web;
some Web sites are required to be accessible;
Web accessibility also has carry-over benefits for other users.
Who defines Web Accessibility and its use?
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) does in coordination with other organisations around the world. It pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development.
How does this affect Blue Water Road and why does Blue Water Road need to comply with this guideline?
Blue Water Road believes that everybody should have a fair and equal access to the information presented within our portal. This is why we have adopted the W3C guideline as part of our Web compliance procedures.
The purpose of presenting this guideline within our portal is to demonstrate the levels to which we comply as well as areas where we do not. In certain circumstances it may be that a certain aspect is not applicable to us in which case it is duly noted in the schedule.
Where it is indicated that we do not meet a specific criteria of the guideline we will endeavour to advise you of what actions are pending to meet it in the future and our timescales for doing so. On this basis the document will be continually updated until such a time that we compliant whereupon the document will only then reflect modifications to the guidelines and our adherence where required.
Blue Water Road reserves its rights to modify its approach to the guidelines if required to ensure that the portal remains functional. Where this is the case Blue Water Road will seek alternative advice and actions to satisfy the guidelines.
What is Blue Water Road's current status in respect of Web Accessibility?
Blue Water Road is compliant to Level 1 in any case and to Level 2 where automation and code allows as identified in the schedule below.
What are W3C's priorities?
There are 3 priority checkpoints. Each checkpoint has a priority level assigned by the W3C working group based on the checkpoints impact on accessibility
[Priority 1]
A Web content developer MUST satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it impossible to access information in the document.
Satisfying this checkpoint is a basic requirement for some groups to be able to use Web documents.
[Priority 2]
A Web content developer SHOULD satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it difficult to access information in the document.
Satisfying this checkpoint will remove significant barriers to accessing Web documents.
[Priority 3]
A Web content developer MAY address this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it somewhat difficult to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint will improve access to Web documents.
Some checkpoints specify a priority level that may change under certain (indicated) conditions.
For more information regarding the guidelines and their relevance please click here: W3C Guidelines
A breakdown of Blue Water Road's current status in relation to the guidelines is as indicated below.
