"Web Accessibility": Internet in a New "Light"


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Rasid, surfing a website using assistive technologyA ray of hope for the blind
Ten-year-old Hamad used to wonder what the internet was and if he would ever be able to experience this place so many people talked about. Born visually impaired, the World Wide Web seemed to him, as distant, unseen and unexplainable as colors. He dreamed of understanding this new world. With the help of his instructors at the Al Noor Institute in Doha, Hamad's dream is now a reality.

At the Al Noor Institute for the Blind, a dedicated team of professionals, many of whom are visually impaired themselves, are helping more than 300 visually impaired students learn how to be independent and successful in their lives. Using computers and accessing the internet, something so many people take for granted, is now possible for many of these students thanks to new technologies and improvements in web sites.

When you enter the impressive computer lab at Al Noor institute, most will find it just like any other computer lab. "You don't really need special equipment for the visually impaired to use a computer or access the internet," explains Sherif Hassan, a computer instructor at Al Noor. "Rather it is the software that makes the difference."

There are two primary software applications that can be used for the visually impaired. The first and the most common, is a screen reader software which reads aloud all the text that is displayed on a website. The other is a Braille reader keyboard that follows the text on a page and raises pegs through holes in the keyboard, allowing the user to read the text in standard Braille format. Hassan says he prefers the Braille reader because it allows the visually impaired to experience a website in a more similar manner as a normal visitor.

While the software has made the internet far more accessible, it still has limits based primarily on the design and structure of the websites the visually impaired are visiting. Referred to as 'Web accessibility,' it means that any person who has a physical disability can access, understand and easily navigate and interact with a website. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has developed a series of accessibility standards for websites and encourages Web developers to apply them when designing sites.

The W3C initiative sets three levels of accessibility for any website, ranging from level A to level AAA, with W3C recommending that all sites meet level A standards at a minimum. Recently, ictQATAR upgraded its website, www.ictQATAR.qa, to comply with a level AA, recognizing that all people have the right to equal access to technology, disregarding their impairments.

The most crucial and problematic element to meet W3C standards is the navigation of the site, according to Hassan. Visually impaired users do not use the mouse to navigate a web page, but rather use the 'tab' key to scroll through the page. Web pages need to be coded in such a way that allows the 'tab' function to work.

Another primary element of accessibility is to provide alternative descriptions for images or videos available on the site. For videos posted on the website, scripts should be provided so that screen readers can read aloud what is happening. The design of the page also remains crucial, as the W3C guidelines explain, where web developers need to ensure line-by-line reading is possible on the pages of the website they are designing. Graphics and flashing effects need to be minimized; especially those that contain links embedded within the flash itself, which are not easily detected by the screen or Braille reader.

Hassan believes the Arab world has a long way to go in the area of web accessibility. He sees many challenges in improving web accessibility. Insufficient awareness exists among Arab web developers and users about the concept. Financial constraints are also present. Braille readers are very expensive and Arab-speaking screen readers are still limited. The complexity of the Arab language, with its many pronunciation signs that can totally change the meaning of each word, makes it more difficult to develop effective screen reader in Arabic as opposed to English.

"We can overcome these logistical challenges, but first and most importantly we must change the mindset of people in this region. The blind and visually impaired may not be able to see, but they can certainly be integral and engaged members of society. These new technologies are helping make that possible", Hassan added.

In addition to its revamped website, ictQATAR is launching a series of activities that will focus on the role of technology in helping people with disabilities and serving as an equalizer in society. On December 3, 2008, ictQATAR organized the "Assistive Technology" forum which focused on the visually impaired users and the assistive technologies developed to make the web more accessible to them. Expect more events in the coming months.

- By: Mina Nagy







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