This thesis is dedicated to accessibility laws, voluntary guidelines, and professional regulations and how they interact with web designers. So the research question asks: How do web accessibility laws and professional codes of ethics affect the web designer's profession and working life? To answer this question, the first part outlines the extent to which web design is a profession and how it has evolved. In the second part, the concept of accessibility, disability, and approaches to accessible design are discussed, then the legal regulations and professional ethics are considered, and finally accessible design in practice. In the end, a conclusion is drawn to summarise the findings and provide an outlook.
The World Health Organization estimates that about 6 to 10 out of every 100 people live with a disability. It is estimated that a total of 135 million people in the European Region have a disability. This number could increase in the coming years as the population ages (WHO Regional Office for Europe). All of these people will most likely face significant barriers when it comes to information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as poorly designed websites where graphics cannot be read by screen readers or information that can only be accessed with a mouse instead of also with a keyboard. This is fatal at a time when information and communication technologies are becoming increasingly important in our everyday lives. A so-called "digital divide" between people with access to information and those without, could emerge due to rapid technological progress. This potential development makes accessibility such an important issue so that people with disabilities also have full and equal access to information. Accessibility is not just about information. It's about enabling people with disabilities to live empowered lives and participate in the online environment where engagement and participation in contemporary politics, culture, and media take place. In that regard, a change has been taking place since the last decades, and disability is more and more recognised as an important part of society, of the public and private sphere, and daily life.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The development of web design and it’s status as profession
3. Disability and the concept of accessibility
4. Legal obligations about web accessibility: EU-directive
5. Professional ethics about accessibility
6. Accessible design in practice
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Topics
This essay explores how web accessibility laws and professional codes of ethics influence the daily work and professional identity of web designers, highlighting the tension between socioeconomic interests and the mandate for inclusive digital design.
- Evolution of web design as a distinct profession.
- Social and conceptual definitions of disability and accessibility.
- Impact of legal frameworks, specifically the EU Digital Accessibility Directive.
- Role of voluntary professional standards and ethical guidelines like WCAG.
- Practical challenges in implementing accessible design in competitive corporate environments.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
The World Health Organization estimates that about 6 to 10 out of every 100 people live with a disability. It is estimated that a total of 135 million people in the European Region have a disability. This number could increase in the coming years as the population ages (WHO Regional Office for Europe). All of these people will most likely face significant barriers when it comes to information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as poorly designed websites where graphics cannot be read by screen readers or information that can only be accessed with a mouse instead of also with a keyboard (Moberly, 2004, cited in Varney, 2013, pp. 1–2). This is fatal at a time when information and communication technologies are becoming increasingly important in our everyday lives. A so-called "digital divide" between people with access to information and those without (Dobransky & Hargittai, 2006, pp. 313), could emerge due to rapid technological progress.
This potential development makes accessibility such an important issue so that people with disabilities also have full and equal access to information (Varney, 2013, pp. 261). Accessibility is not just about information. It's about enabling people with disabilities to live empowered lives and participate in the online environment where engagement and participation in contemporary politics, culture, and media take place (Varney, 2013, pp. 1–2; Ellis et al., 2015, pp. 9). In that regard, a change has been taking place since the last decades, and disability is more and more recognised as an important part of society, of the public and private sphere, and daily life. Some of these signs can also be found in the legal sphere: For example, the adoption of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Arnardóttir & Quinn, 2009, cited in Ellis et al., 2015, pp. 8) and various laws and regulations by governments (Francis & Silver, 2000, cited in Ellis et al., 2015, pp. 8).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the significance of the digital divide and the research objective to investigate the impact of ethical and legal codes on the web design profession.
2. The development of web design and it’s status as profession: Discusses the evolution of web design, analyzing its characteristics against established sociological definitions of a profession.
3. Disability and the concept of accessibility: Explores the social construction of disability and the overarching principles of universal design as a proactive approach to accessibility.
4. Legal obligations about web accessibility: EU-directive: Examines international and regional legal frameworks, with a focus on how the EU Digital Accessibility Directive aims to normalize accessible public sector content.
5. Professional ethics about accessibility: Analyzes the history of web standards and the "standards crowd," illustrating how voluntary ethics often drive accessibility implementation.
6. Accessible design in practice: Identifies industry-specific barriers to accessibility, such as development schedules, corporate culture, and the prioritization of commercial interests over inclusivity.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the necessity of reconciling the "tension between social and economic value" and calls for more practical training and AI-assisted evaluation tools.
Keywords
Web Accessibility, Web Design, Professional Ethics, EU Digital Accessibility Directive, WCAG, Universal Design, Digital Divide, Information and Communication Technologies, Corporate Culture, Disability Studies, Web Standards, User Experience, Inclusivity, Social Justice, Regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this essay?
The essay examines the interplay between legal regulations and professional ethics in shaping the work and identity of web designers within the context of digital accessibility.
What primary issues are addressed in the work?
The work investigates the digital divide, the evolution of web design as a field, the role of international directives, and the practical challenges designers face when implementing accessible features.
What is the central research question?
The research asks how web accessibility laws and professional codes of ethics affect the web designer's profession and their day-to-day working life.
Which scientific methods were used to conduct this research?
The paper performs a qualitative review and analysis of existing literature, dissertation research, and international policy documents to evaluate the state of web accessibility.
What topics determine the content of the main chapters?
The main chapters transition from defining the profession of web design to explaining the social construction of disability, the legal and ethical frameworks involved, and the practical obstacles in current professional practice.
Which terms best characterize this study?
Key terms include web accessibility, professionalization, universal design, standard-setting, and socioeconomic tensions within digital media production.
How does the author view the effectiveness of current accessibility laws?
The author concludes that while laws heighten awareness, they are often insufficient on their own to guarantee implementation without accompanying practical training and supportive corporate cultures.
What potential does artificial intelligence hold according to this study?
The author suggests that AI-driven evaluation tools could play a vital role in checking legal compliance automatically, thereby reducing the workload for designers and facilitating broader adoption of accessibility standards.
- Quote paper
- Nerea Eschle (Author), 2021, Law and ethics for web designers. The legal and ethical regulation concerning Web Accessibility, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1280442
