Awareness about web accessibility continues to grow slowly but surely. Although it is not difficult to find information about the importance of web accessibility, misunderstanding or misrepresentation of disseminated information remains a problem. Misconceptions about the concept of "web accessibility", which can be defined as the availability of websites to everyone, including the disabled and the elderly, are widespread.

Accessibility is only for the Visually Impaired

Although web accessibility aims to help visually impaired people find what they want on the web and make maximum use of the information on the web, it should be noted that the scope of web accessibility is wider.

Web accessibility is about building websites that anyone can use, regardless of users' operating systems, browsers or barriers. Web accessibility; It is an indication that different people's different wishes and choices are respected. Highly accessible websites maximize the number of visitors and can be easily used by everyone.

Accessible Websites Are Boring

The myth that websites designed to be accessible are boring and even ugly is quite common. The ugliness and boredom overlooked in these assumptions is that they are not limited to accessible websites. Accessibility has nothing to do with the design or boringness of websites.

The view that all colors and graphics will be removed from accessible websites does not reflect accuracy; How to use colors, how to improve content visuals and how to make graphics functional are the basic bases. Rather than whether a website is ugly or not, one needs to think about the importance of its content.

Accessibility is Expensive and Difficult

Making a large and comprehensive website that is not accessible can be an expensive and time-consuming process. However, if you know how accessibility works, the possible costs can be easily reduced as the process can be changed from the very beginning. Considering changes in browser technology and legislation, accessible site builders may also eliminate the need to build their sites from scratch in the future. In other words, it can be easily deduced that those who build accessible sites will make a profit in the long term.

Only Text Version Is Sufficient

Some website managers can provide their needs by presenting the content on the websites rather than making the websites accessible. they think. We can explain that this view is not as logical as it might seem:

  • Text versions of websites cannot reflect the information and functionality of the actual website.
  • Presenting the contents of the website on a different interface creates problems for search engines.
  • Text versions; causes binary between website users.
  • No guarantee can be given that the text versions will be available.

Customization and Read Aloud Feature Makes Websites Accessible

To provide website visitors with customization options, such as selecting text and background colors, font and size; does not always create the desired effect. Customization options, which are limited in usefulness, do not contribute much to the accessibility of websites.

For example, increasing the font size is a change that can be made even if the relevant feature is not available on the website, and even browsers allow users to make such simple customizations. Although the ability to listen to the content on the website audio remains a very old technology, it is not yet sufficient to add accessibility to websites.