An Evaluation of Ontario-Based Website Accessibility - A Comparison with US Findings

Abstract

Website accessibility is becoming more important for persons with disabilities. Over 1 in 6 people worldwide, have some form of disability. (World Health Organization, 2016) Access to websites is seen as a fundamental aspect of a modern information society recognized by the United Nation Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (United Nations, 2006). Web accessibility studies aim to identify, discuss and ultimately reduce limitations for persons with disabilities. Despite decades of advocacy and a wealth of guidelines, testing studies suggest that most websites are still not accessible. This study evaluated and compared the accessibility of 50 of the most important websites in Ontario with those in the Baltimore area. Findings showed that the Ontario websites were less accessible than those in the Baltimore area study, despite longer exposure to the same accessibility rules. This suggests that there may be other factors that determine a website's level of accessibility. This paper discusses these potential explanations such as legislation, guidelines, implementation, awareness, and incentives for web developers.iii