You and I, as parents, became concerned about what our kids could or could not view on the Web when this medium became popular. Additionally, what they did or didn't do on the Internet concerned us. Parents have learned how to cope with this issue, and software programs and Internet companies have helped make kid patrol easier. However, have you ever wondered about what a blind or physically disabled person could do or couldn't do on the Internet? The problem in this case is reversed - solutions were needed to help these individuals access the Web.

If you know someone who cannot access certain Web pages because they are blind, deaf, or disabled, you probably understand and appreciate many changes that have occurred within this industry within the past two years. In this case you're in luck, because other folks - including Web designers - lag behind your comprehension. But, the time is ripe to review this market, because accessibility standards have been established. Hardware and software programs have been developed to assist disabled users to view the Web as well.

My understanding about this movement comes from my part-time occupation as a Web designer. Trust me, then, when I say that accessibility issues have altered my world. Not only do I need to re-educate myself about code and design that makes the Web easier for disabled individuals to access, but I also need to change many previous Website designs. The latter job entails conversations with my clients to educate them about accessibility, and debates with these clients about what to keep and what to lose on their sites to meet accessibility standards.

Although the accessibility issue has been around since home computers were made available in 1989, the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) offered their first WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) for Web designers in 1999. Within the past five years, some design agencies, individual designers, and all companies that focus on accessibility have fought tooth and nail to make the Web accessible for all users. First, an understanding of the W3C and accessibility:

W3C History - Tim Berners-Lee is the director of the W3C, an international consortium that seeks to make the Web an integrative experience. Berners-Lee's name should be familiar if you know anything about computers, as he invented the World Wide Web (WWW) and created the first HTML (Hyper-Text Markup Language). HTML enables design through code, and it helps you view the page you see here today. The W3C seeks to develop Web standards and guidelines that would make the Web accessible to everyone who wants this experience.

The basis of accessibility is that every Web user should have access to online information and experiences. Some code used to create online information prohibits some users from full use of certain Web pages and content. Additionally, some hardware and software programs deny accessibility to some users. Accessibility practices aim to ensure that these users find the Web a valuable resource rather than a barrier.

One rare problem, for instance, involves users who experience photosensitive epilepsy. For these users, any flashes or flickers like blinking text could trigger a seizure. A major problem for blind users occurs with pop up ads and spam that arrives in their e-mail mailboxes (these problems also affect users who don't have physical problems!). Sites that continue the practice of spawning new windows through pop up ads or with links that open new windows may face charges that they disallow access to some users, thereby violating some users' rights.

How many users are affected by accessibility problems? The numbers are fuzzy, but a look at assistive technology at Answers.com may help you to understand how some accessibility problems are resolved. Additionally, a look at the number of companies that have designed new hardware and software to deal with accessibility issues may tell you that the number of disabled viewers may be higher than previously understood. A look at how governments currently deal with this issue also explains a few things.

For instance, while all but U.S. federal agencies can still bypass Web accessibility issues in this country, in October 2004 all points of the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) became British Law. When it is recognized that a U.S. site can be viewed by British users, does this mean that U.S. individuals or companies can be sued by a disabled British user? The answer is unknown at this point, but with W3C focus on international integration, who knows? If you type "Web accessibility lawsuit" into your search engine, you might be awed by the companies that have committed accessibility infractions.

So how does the accessibility issue fit into investment possibilities? When a Website is made accessible for disabled users, this practice is not just a moral or legal obligation, it's also good for business. The bottom line for some: Disabled users are possible customers. If a company turns away customers, does that spell good business? You decide.

Additionally, an arena to view for possible investments includes software and hardware companies that design tools for disabled Web users. Some hardware that helps people to access the Web include screen readers, refreshable Braille displays, and screen magnifiers. Other tools, like upgraded design software offers the disabled reader fresh opportunities to view and participate with Web site programs (like online bill payment programs).

If you type any of these keywords or phrases above into a search engine, you could discover page upon page of information about this industry. And, you don't need to understand Web design to know that some sites offer a good experience and that other sites are impossible to navigate and to use even for enabled viewers. If you remember that a Web site is part of a company's image, the way that you view the Web as it affects investment opportunities might change.

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin