Accessibility

A Message From George Maschmeyer, Founder Of Fast Lion Design

Accessibility refers to making a website accessible to all websurfers, including the visually impaired and handicapped. Many visually impaired and handicapped persons use screen-reading software, which reads text aloud. For these people text is experienced through their ears rather than their eyes, or through a combination of both.

Although I don’t use screen-reading software, I have learned to make websites accessible for one simple reason: because it’s the right thing to do. We web designers shouldn't need a law to tell us to get serious about accessibility.

Currently, the only accessibility law that exists in the United States requires websites created for the federal government to be accessible. But I think it is inevitable that a law will be passed requiring all websites to follow accessibility guidelines. Why wait, I figure. Better to act now.

With this in mind I have been making a good faith effort to follow accessibility guidelines for the websites I have created the past two years. As a result, I include these features on every web page:

• Standards-compliant code that separates structure from presentation;
• “Skip to content” link at the top of every page (only screen-reading software can see this link);
• Well-structured document with proper headings to organize text;
• Alt and title tags to give text descriptions of images;
• Resizable fonts for people who have trouble reading close up and simply want to increase the size of the words on the screen.

Accessibility of web pages is a growing and changing field. I’m sure there are areas in which I can improve, such as including access codes in links. But I want you to know I am doing my best to learn and apply this important aspect of design.

Feel free to email me with your comments or suggestions. I will listen and respond ASAP. Email me at:

Thanks again for stopping by Fast Lion Design.

George