The User Experience Blog for Website Architecture Planning

These days, almost everyone is online. We don’t just browse for information, watch YouTube videos, play BuzzFeed quizzes, and interact on social media either. Today, almost everything can be done online, including buying and selling commerce.

Ecommerce isn’t anything new, of course. It’s been around since 1991, when the internet was made available for commercial use. But what has certainly changed is the sheer number of ecommerce sites available.

Just as almost everyone is buying online, the vast majority of internet users are also selling online. While many make use of sites such as Gumtree, an increasing number of people are starting up their own ecommerce sites. One of the obvious reasons is that with an online store, you simply don’t have all of the overhead expenses of a brick and mortar shop.

In recent years, there have been a number of lawsuits and court cases regarding web accessibility. While physical venues have clearly defined regulations to adhere by, there has been no such official guides for websites. Seven years ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) began laying down the foundations for just such a document, a process which was expected to come to fruition in 2018.

However, thanks to a January 30th Executive Order signed by President Trump, it is highly unlikely that the DOJ’s adoption of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) will still be able to take place. In the meantime, accessibility lawsuits are expected to increase in number as website owners have a lack of official, governmental regulation on recommended practices.

Which is why we’ve decided to research what the best accessibility practices are, and provide you with the guidance being withheld from you.

Web users are a very diverse group of people. The internet spans the globe and allows people across ages and nations to communicate and interact. Each user brings unique perspectives, histories and opinions to the worldwide forum. There are, however, some differences between the users. These differences are not limited to just location or language differences. Some web users have lives that are complicated with lifelong disabilities. These extra challenges do not stop them from getting the benefits of being connected to the digital world.

Accessibility is necessary and can be added to web functionality by means of tools, additional software or even special training. Having a disability might be an obstacle, but there are still plenty of ways to navigate the web.

In the Middle Ages, persons with disabilities were considered “cursed” and often shunned or even put to death. Today, however, we have come to understand the medical causes for disabilities that arise from complications in the birthing process or due to genetic abnormalities. Modern man is, on the whole, better educated on disabilities, and therefore less prejudiced against those who have them—for whatever reason.

As awareness has increased, so too have efforts been made to better accommodate persons with physical or mental disabilities, including difficulties with speech and/or learning. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title III thereof, strictly prohibits any discrimination made on the basis of a disability.

Originally, the ADA focused on physical venues, particularly areas of public accommodation. These are spaces and businesses that are generally open to the public, and fall into one of 12 categories as described in the ADA. Examples include schools, day care facilities, recreation venues, movie theaters, restaurants, and doctors’ offices. Under the legislation, new buildings are required to comply with the standards set in the ADA, as are those that are being renovated. This extends to areas that exist as commercial facilities as well.

Copying another person’s work is not only morally wrong but can ruin your reputation. There are many tools on the internet that can be used to catch plagiarism before it is published. If you are a web designer who would like to make sure you are not overstepping your boundaries or a publisher that would like to check in on your clients’ work, these tools can be extremely helpful in detecting plagiarism. Many professors and students from high schools and college use these online plagiarism tools in order to check their work. There are so many articles out there these days, and it is important to make sure your work or the work of your students is original.

Professors, editors, students, and people from many other professions rely on these tools in order to make sure they are producing original work that will not violate plagiarism. Plagiarism may not always be committed on purpose. It is possible that it happens accidentally due to the fact that there is so much text on the internet with social media and blogging.

The tools are not only helpful—they are easy to use, and the best part is they are free. It is worth it to take the time before submitting your work. While they don’t take a lot of time to use, it is an extra step to remember before completing an assignment. It is a step that might save you hassle in the long run.