Visually Impaired commerce

[WebCraft]

I believe that there was a posted topic long ago that stated "Blind people surf the web everyday" As I discovered Visually Impaired surfers are a huge part of the exchange of money on the web.

We had built a complete shopping cart for a client that sells golf products, and to our surprise we got an email from the organization that caters to blind golfers.

They said that all of the web sites built, very few make it easy to order online. I was asking what made us any different? It was stated that the interpretation system reads off not only text but images as well.

When the golfers made the order, they understood the process because we placed powerful alt tags on each photo of the online golf store.

Point is : ALT Tags can make you money, so don't forget them!

[timcrafton]

Good point webcraft, in fact a goverment buyer of ours recently pointed out that our site did'nt meet certain accesibility standards, and reffered us to this webpage
:

http://www.nfb.org/tech/webacc.htm

[brian.mark]

If we make it easy for a visually impaired customer to purchase a random orbital sander, are we responsible if they have problems using it? What about a bandsaw? It probably doesn't make sense in all industries, but I agree that some people that should consider it really don't make websites that are accessible.

Brian.

[WebCraft]

Great insight tim! I have found a few other articles, with similar information, but what this one describes is how the simplicities of our development, just don't occur that much.

As far as the power tool thing... Let's leave that for them to decide.

[Kenai Alaska]

If we make it easy for a visually impaired customer to purchase a random orbital sander, are we responsible if they have problems using it? What about a bandsaw? It probably doesn't make sense in all industries, but I agree that some people that should consider it really don't make websites that are accessible.

Brian.

Hay Brian
Just cut the plugs off before you ship them.
Seriously though, consider that they may be purchasing the produce as a gift. Besides, you most likely sell items useful for everyone know matter what the individuals handicaps may be.

P.S.
Ship the plugs to the lawyers.

[TrafficProducer]

Visually Impaired and the Law.

In the United Kingdom, (and most parts of the European Union), we have to make a "Reasonable" allowances for Disabled People.

This includes Web sites; They too have to make some allowances for the Visually Impaired.

More information search http://www.bosslinks.com

"Reasonable" for the Visually Impaired could mean a Text only Page, so that Text to Speech Readers may be used to speak the Text for those users.

[lchrzan]

My organization did this website as a project for a customer.
http://www.braillepaper.com/
We referred to the standards listed at:
http://bobby.watchfire.com/
where you can also test a site's compliance to their standards.

One thing to note is that the visually impaired may have special browsers which may have synthesized speech screen readers or large text. See http://www.mardiros.net/visual-impaired.html for more info.

Of course, there are certainly many blind and visually impaired people looking for my customer's products, Braille Paper!