Accessibility implies taking differences into account. Since not all websites take into account the needs of different user groups, not all computer users have equal opportunities to use online services.
However, even little things can go a long way in improving accessibility. The issue is more about changing people’s attitudes. As was the case with us, too. This is why we began our project by commissioning a study on improving website accessibility. The study can be found at: www.helsinginkaupunginmuseo.fi/pdf/accessiblilityraport.html
We have tried in various ways to improve the accessibility of this website.
The website has been designed to enable the visual impaired to use it with screen reader or magnification software, for example. Everyone uses the same pages. No separate ones especially for the visually impaired are required.
Style sheets have been employed to implement navigation. This greatly facilitates navigation that uses screen reader software.
No fast internet connections or the downloading of separate, additional software are required to use the website.
There are alternative texts for all pictures (so-called alt. texts), where the picture content is described verbally. This means visually impaired users receive the same information as sighted persons.
The texts in different languages are in their own language versions. Choice of language is made on the home page to ensure users don’t unwittingly end up in the foreign language section.
Because we recognise that not everyone has a fast internet connection, we have avoided the use of excess backdrop and colours to speed up downloading.