> I've been reading the Target thread and keep wondering about the many > references to the "cost of accessibility" with a focus on supplying alt > attributes.
I've often had the cost argument from people who really don't understand accessibility; or from people who have already built something and just don't feel like retrofitting accessibility features. To look at it another way, as you've observed it's really very easy to build a system with accesible features. But it's rarely so easy to retrofit after build. So you get resistance; and people play whatever card they can. In business, few arguments are accepted as readily as "it'll cost money". > If Target doesn't "get" how their methods are costing them sales, negatively > impacting their brand, and increasing their web support costs; then should > they be legislated into more profitable methods? IMHO legislation shouldn't really be worried whether Target can turn a profit; but your argument might be a good way to win them over to accessibility. Building an accessible site often means it's also much easier to also build in efficient code, good SEO practice and so forth. There are plenty of good business reasons to do it and they probably make better arguments than the moral highground (which frankly doesn't work). I think legislation should force companies to do the Right Thing, in this case make an accessible website. Because it can have a cost, companies have to be forced. As people have said, the automotive industry is forced to meet emissions standards because it's in the planet's best interests; but companies won't do it without being forced. I believe web accessibility is in society's best interests. Companies should be forced to do it, just as they are forced (at least in .au) to provide physical accessibilty for their buildings. IMHO. cheers, Ben -- --- <http://weblog.200ok.com.au/> --- The future has arrived; it's just not --- evenly distributed. - William Gibson ******************************************************************* List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *******************************************************************
