THE WEB AND IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY (UNIVERSAL DESIGN)

The term "accessibility" refers to the possibility of benefitting from an environment, a good or a service. In the last few years, the concept of improved accessibility, universal design or design-for-all has been extended to the new barriers of communication on the Internet.

"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect". In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of WWW, had thought about a never ending Web.

It's only since a few years that Italian researchers have started to take this direction too. Universal Design's Internet sites are being developed and the criteria for building Web pages targeting the so called "normal" user are being left aside.

With the contribution of ASPHI, (Associazione per lo sviluppo di progetti informatici per gli handicappati/the Association for the Development of Information Technology Systems for the Disabled), RAI Social Action's site is carrying out activities for the research and the sharing of views on improved accessibility which take the different disability groups into account.

What the experts say

Guidelines and tools

Discussion Groups

Links