I believe it fundamental that every website should be accessible to the widest possible user base: everyone with internet access. While some sites are unavoidably visual, auditory, or high-bandwidth in their very natures, whenever possible, I strive to make websites that are accessible to blind and deaf users, as well as those without the latest and greatest technology. Below, I outline the many efforts I have made to ensure that this site can be widely used:
The content of this site is fundamentally unchanged by the addition of style (color, images, typography, advanced layout), and aesthetic interactivity (animation, etc.). This means that users who cannot access these “enhancements” still get everything they need.
I make every effort to ensure that every page on this site validates as XHTML 1.0 Strict and that every stylesheet validates as compliant CSS 3.0. Now and then, there are certain bits of code that I intentionally employ but that might prevent this site from passing validation 100%. Generally, these bits of code are used only to make up for failures of certain web browsers to support the full gamut of web standards.
I also aim to make sure all pages on this site are Section 508 approved, complying with the U.S. Federal Government Section 508 Guidelines, and WAI verified.
I use Color Oracle to test this and all other pages I create to ensure that they lose no functionality when viewed by color-blind users. Color Oracle allows me to simulate the experience of viewing this site with three types of color-blindness: Deuteranopia, Protanopia,and Tritanopia. I am pleased to say that the various sections of pages within this site remain distinguishable from each other and that links remain conspicuous in all three cases.
Personally, I recommend that everyone use the latest version of a standards-compliant browser—I like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome for Windows; Safari (or Firefox) for Mac. Nonetheless, I have done my best to make this site (and all others I’ve built) beautiful and usable on all browsers. Failing that, my good friend progressive enhancement should guarantee that even those users viewing this site on unfavorable browsers (ahem, IE, especially anything before version 7) still get the basics at the least. That’s all I can promise you, IE5 users.
Coming soon!