The Cost of Web Accessibility

Creating an accessible web site doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money. If you can’t make you web site completely accessible right now, even minor changes make it much easier for everyone to use. For example:

Use ALT-text to describe images to help people who have a vision impairment or those who are using a text-only browser
Make sure hypertext links makes sense when read out of context (for example, “click here” has no meaning and should be avoided)
Use the same layout on every page – navigation should be consistent and located in the same place
Break up long blocks of text using headings and lists
Avoid using frames. If you do use frames, give them meaningful titles that help orient users
Use plenty of contrast between text and background colors, and avoid “busy” backgrounds that interfere with text readability
Don’t use color alone to convey information – for example, don’t ask users to click on the blue button

Still on the fence about this whole accessibility issue? The following SitePoint.com articles offer some pretty convincing arguments for web site accessibility …
How to Sell Accessibility
An Introduction to Accessible Web Design