Want Your Share of $175 Billion?

Successful companies know how to tap into a market of 54 million people controlling over $175 billion in discretionary income -- without buying additional advertising. At the same time, these companies access qualified job applicants and avoid costly lawsuits.

ATLANTA, February 12, 2003 -- Successful companies know how to tap into a market of 54 million people controlling over $175 billion in discretionary income -- without buying additional advertising. At the same time, these companies access qualified job applicants and avoid costly lawsuits.

How? By better servicing those who are already visiting their sites.

User Insight recently conducted a survey of over 100 large companies websites. Less than 5% of these websites were accessible to disabled visitors.

When a website is not accessible, a company is in essence turning away valuable customers that buy at twice the rate of other online consumers. In addition, people with disabilities do not have the same equal access to job information and online applications. Finally, a company opens itself up to potentially costly lawsuits.

It is very frustrating for visually impaired users when they are not allowed equal access to services or information," says Vincent Martin, Adaptive Technology Instructor at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta. Many companies are moving to only posting jobs and taking job applications online. If visually impaired users cant find the employment section of the site, they cannot apply for a job."

Even those few companies that seem to follow some type of guidelines for website accessibility appear not to understand how to correctly implement the guidelines," John M. Morgan, Ph.D., founder and President of User Insight stated. For example, many companies have implemented ALT text for graphics, a good first step in making a website accessible, but the text is either wrong or unnecessary."

Vincent Martin continues, A good hint for companies in developing accessible websites is to pretend that you must use the keyboard to navigate the site."

User Insight has compiled a list of the top 5 tips a company can use to make any website more accessible. To request a copy, send an e-mail to accessibility@userinsight.com.

About User Insight

Through state of the art testing protocols, user-centered design, usability best practices and proven methodologies, User Insight (www.userinsight.com) gets to the core of what makes or breaks a product in the marketplace - The User. Companies avoid costly mistakes by testing with intended users early and often. Additionally, User Insight assists companies in assuring compliance within Section 508 guidelines for disability access.

About Center for the Visually Impaired

The mission of the Center for the Visually Impaired (www.cviatlanta.org) is to offer comprehensive services to promote independence with dignity and the preservation of self worth for individuals of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. The Center for the Visually impaired is Georgias largest comprehensive, fully accredited, private facility providing rehabilitation services for all ages who are blind or visually impaired.