ZyWeb, becomes More Accessible to Disabled Users

ZyWeb, a leading online web site builder, has become Accessible to disabled users. Not only does ZyWeb produce 'accessible' web pages but it also enables disabled users to create their own websites.

The ZyWeb User Interface has been extensively updated to make it as accessible as possible, whilst not compromising or cluttering the easy user interface currently enjoyed by non-disabled users.

In addition to the provision of carefully worded textual descriptions for all images, especially buttons, the internal HTML language used to build the User Interface now includes a range of special features which make ZyWeb much more accessible when using assisting software such as the JAWS screen reader employed by visually impaired users.

“As the ZyWeb User interface has over 3500 images and hundreds of input fields and other features requiring detailed attention this has been a considerable task but the effort has been more than worthwhile with many thousands of disabled users now able to build and publish their own web sites with ZyWeb.” Says Nova Fisher, Chairman of ZyNet.

“Accessibility is an on-going commitment for the ZyWeb development team and we are not stopping here. There is always something that can be done to make any system more accessible and we will be ensuring that all future developments of ZyWeb, whether specifically targeted in this area or not, will improve accessibility. We will continue our work with organisations representing different groups of disabled users to maximise the effectiveness of our developments in this area and we will continue to include tools such as JAWS in our in-house test programmes.”

Improvements in accessibility bring benefits for all. The careful review of the already intuitive, user interface means not only that it is more accessible for disabled users but also that usability is better for everyone.

The ZyWeb team have consulted with various specialist groups to develop ZyWeb in line with the new WAI guidelines to comply with the recent Disabled Discrimination Act which became law on 1st October 2004.

ZyWeb provides a range of professionally designed, fully customisable templates, graphic headings and buttons that enable a web page to be created easily within minutes. No web design or technical skills are needed. There is a built-in photo editor, photo frames and even an automatic photo album generator with thumbnail size images that open to a full size when the visitor selects them. ZyWeb users can also trade online using the e-commerce facility. It even includes the web hosting.

All ZyWeb users, whether disabled or not, can now be assured that the sites they create can be as accessible as it is possible for them to be. ZyWeb is available for as little as: