Myth #1: Accessible pages must be written in HTML 2.0 Authors can use HTML 2.0, HTML 3.0, HTML 3.2, HTML 4.0, and proprietary extensions and still maintain accessibility. The key is to use features so that they degrade gracefully in non-supporting browsers, and to avoid dependence on poorly supported features. In some cases, such as HTML tables, this can require some extra work and thought, but most new features in HTML 4.0 were designed with an eye on backwards compatibility.

Myth #2: Accessible pages must cater to the lowest common denominator

False.

On the Web, there is no lowest common denominator, since new features can often be used safely, even in non-supporting browsers. In fact, this myth is simply a generalized version of Myth #1.

Myth #3: Accessible pages have to be dull, text-only, archaic relics from the Ice Age

False.

Video, sound, images, and Java applets can all have alternative content provided to those who are unable or unwilling to experience these features. Authors can show off the Web's multimedia nature without sacrificing the accessibility of their pages. An accessible site can be as visually pleasing as a non-accessible one, if the Web developer is conscious of the requirements.

Myth #4: Everyone on the Web uses Internet Explorer, so I don't need to worry about other browsers

False.

Designing for a specific browser is a huge mistake. Pages "designed for" the popular browser of the day often only look good with certain versions of that browser, and only if the user leaves all preferences at their defaults. When the next version of the browser comes out, many authors who "designed for" the previous version must scramble to fix newly-found errors in their code.

Internet Explorer is currently the most popular browser on the Web, but there are a significant number of non-IE users. (If your logs don't show this, it may be because your site is inaccessible to other browsers.) Even if we were to ignore the existence of other browsers, the ability of IE users to disable background images and colors, text and link colors, Java, JavaScript, cookies, dynamic fonts, and style sheets requires pages that are not dependent on these features. As well, even IE users can change their window size, font size, and font face, thus giving them the ability to drastically affect the way a page looks. Colors, fonts, and margins can easily be specified in a Web page through style sheets, allowing those who want to see the style to do so, and those who prefer--or require--their own styles to still access the content.

Myth #5: My target audience uses a certain browser with a certain configuration, so I should design for that

False.

Even if you were able to determine that your target audience used a certain browser, the chances are slim that they would use that version of that browser

On the Web, you don't know what browser and configuration your "target audience" is using. You simply don't know whether a Lynx user is a homeless person browsing at the public library or a business executive browsing from her laptop in a hotel room. There is no relationship between an individual's preferred browser and his or her product tastes. exclusively and indefinitely in the future. Changes in the browser market can happen very quickly; designing a browser-independent site is a simple way to avoid getting burned by the market, ensuring that your site will still be accessible in the future.

Myth #6: It takes too much time and money to write accessible pages

False.

There can be small costs associated with providing alternate content (such as for Java applets), but, in general, accessible pages will

Accessibility comes built-in with HTML; it takes time and money to throw that accessibility away. While it may be costly to convert a poorly-authored site into an accessible site, there is virtually no extra cost to authoring an accessible site from scratch. pay for themselves through more satisfied users. As well, accessible pages will often be easier and cheaper to maintain, since they will usually feature valid, structure-based HTML, perhaps linked to an external style sheet that handles the presentation. Editing the "tag salad" common in poorly-accessible pages is truly a chore, increasing long-term costs of maintenance.

Myth #7: The Web is a graphical medium, so I shouldn't worry about text-only users or the blind

False.

As well, search engines are effectively blind. Surveys continually show that most users find pages through search engines, so the accessibility of pages to blind users like AltaVista and Infoseek is vital to a site's success.

Common estimates indicate that approximately 30% of all Web users do not load images. With a lack of bandwidth and per-minute telephone charges that are common in some areas of the world, many users have decided that decorative images aren't worth their valuable time. Pushing away these users is an unnecessary action that, from a business point of view, can only result in lost customers.

The Web is indeed a graphical medium, but it's also a textual and aural medium. Graphical pages can also be accessible textually and aurally, allowing all users to access information from any browsing environment. This means that you can access your favorite sites from your desktop at home, your palmtop at the beach, and your speech browser in the car. It also means that visually-impaired users do not have to be shut out from the Information Age.

Myth #8: People should view a Web site the way the designer intended

False.

Style sheets

are an excellent example of a feature that degrades gracefully. The proper use of style sheets can significantly enhance the presentation of a site while not deterring from the site's accessibility at all in non-supporting browsers.

The bottom line is that websites should be designed with users in mind. Internet users are as diverse as the sites available to them, and should have access to the sites they wish to view in the way they wish to view them. WSI, the world’s leading provider of Internet Solutions to small and medium sized businesses the world over, has over 1500 local consultants in 87 countries who are well-positioned to inform companies about how Web accessibility can benefit businesses. WSI Consultants can help dispel the myths of Web accessibility, and can provide leading-edge technologies to business owners.

For more information on the subject or to find out how to implement Web Accessibility for your e-Business, contact ***.

People cannot view a website the way the designer intended, unless the designer intended for the site to be viewed differently. With all the different browsers, window sizes, fonts, font sizes, resolutions, color depths, and other user preferences on the Web, it is simply impossible to have a document look the same to all users. they wish to view them. Some people may wish to view pages using the author's style sheet, but others may require their own presentation to be able to access the content. An author's choices are to design a site that a minority of Web users will be able to see as "intended," or to design a site that all will be able to access, with some seeing the author's suggested presentation.

About WSI:

As the world leader in providing profitable Internet solutions to SMEs, making information accessible for all via the Internet is an essential component of our offering.

WSI is committed to assisting customers to ensure their websites are accessible for people with disabilities by providing education, guidance, tools and techniques that comply with the worldwide W3C standards.

With the support and cooperation of customers, a franchise network, employees, suppliers and charitable organizations, WSI aims to help make child poverty history through its global outreach program.

For more information about WSI’s offerings, please visit our website at www.wsicorporate.com/contact.asp

Through its network of over 1500 offices in 87 countries, WSI delivers thousands of e-business solutions to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) annually. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, WSI provides affordable Internet related services and technologies that deliver maximum return on investment for businesses.