Web Accessibility Services
Virginia Web Accessibility Services:
Public & Private Sector
Nick Stone is one of three Virginia members of an international guild of accessible web designers and developers, aptly named the Guild Of Accessible Web Designers or GAWDS. Web accessibility is our passion. We provide web accessibility consulting services and accessible web coding throughout the United States but our client base is primarily the private sector in Central and Northern Virginia, where we serve commercial businesses and not-for-profit organizations. We are expanding to serve the Virginia public sector as well, with an emphasis on accessible coding for Virginia municipal government websites.
Business Liability & Web Accessibility
Commercial businesses can be found liable for failure to provide accessible web content to handicapped visitors. A large class action law suit was brought against Target Corporation recently for failing to make their web site accessible to handicapped customers. Businesses are advised to seek legal counsel regarding potential liability.
In addition to reducing or eliminating legal liability, businesses also benefit financially by ensuring their web sites are handicap accessible. The Census Bureau estimates nearly 1 out of 5 non-institutionalized U.S. citizens is disabled. Many of these potential customers suffer from disabilities that can affect their ability to access information on the Internet. Why limit access to your company's services and products? By ensuring a company site meets the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), businesses can extend their online market reach dramatically.
Not-For-Profit Organizations — Accessibility Considerations
Not-for-profit organizations may not have the same legal exposure that businesses have, but again it is prudent to consult legal counsel. Nonprofit organizations often have other incentives to make their web sites handicap accessible, including compassionate motives, the ability to help more people and the leverage to reach more potential donors.
Virginia Government Sites — Web Accessibility Services
By law, The Commonwealth of Virginia web site system must be accessible to handicapped visitors. County and other municipal sites must answer to the Justice Department for failure to comply with federal guidelines including Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans With Disabilities (ADA) guidelines for web accessibility.
Central And Northern Virginia Web Accessibility Services
Charlottesville SEO Web Development is expanding to provide web accessibility services to Northern Virginia and Central Virginia businesses, organizations and agencies. Please contact Nick Stone in Charlottesville or Alexandria, VA for more information.
