The Best Web Accessibility Resource

Accessibility NZ will help you improve the level of accessibility of your website. We offer accessibility assessments (sometimes called accessibility audits), trainings and seminars about website accessibility and tutorials to get you on the way. We also blog about accessibility related issues.

What makes us stand out from the crowd?

Nicolas Steenhout is the principal for Accessibility NZ.

  • Nic has over a decade of experience in the field of web accessibility
  • Nic has worked on several large development projects (such as Mambo)
  • Nic has a personal experience with disabilities
  • Nic has business experience in "the real world"
  • Our services are affordable
  • Get more information about us

While we are based in New Zealand, most of our services are available to anyone in the world.

What Is Web Accessibility?

In general, the term "accessibility", when applied to websites means that a site can be navigated and the content accessed by people with disabilities.

But an accessible website benefits many more users than just people with disabilities. By implementing accessibility features to your website, you will also increase your chances with search engines (SEO benefits), allow users on alternative devices (such as cell phones and PDAs) to get to your content, and generally ensure your content is viewable by a larger number of people.

Why Is Accessibility Important?

There are commercial advantages: If people are unable to access your content, they are unlikely to purchase products or seek services from your company. There are legal obligations: In a growing number of countries, legislation has been passed saying that websites have to be accessible.

Recent Blog Posts

Opposing The Legalisation Of Physician Assisted Suicide

February 2nd, 2010

This afternoon, I learned that author Sir Terry Pratchett supports physician assisted suicide, and further, offers himself as a test case. Sir Pratchett has Alzheimer's. His entire life flows from his imagination and his ability to think. I can well understand his fear, and even terror at the idea of losing it. If he wants to kill himself, that is, as far as I'm concerned, his right. But it is not sufficient to make it legal for physicians to help with killing people.

Continue reading the complete Opposing The Legalisation Of Physician Assisted Suicide post

No Caption On Your Video? I Can't Get Your Content!

February 1st, 2010

Over the last several days, many people on Twitter posted links to what appear to be interesting videos. Unfortunately, none of these videos were captionned. I am "only" hard of hearing and mostly have no big issues functioning. But phone calls and online videos are two occurences of giving me a really hard time. Hard to subtitle or caption phone calls. Not so hard to caption videos - if the system you use allows it.

Continue reading the complete No Caption On Your Video? I Can't Get Your Content! post

They Did Not Think Of Every Details

January 31st, 2010

A brief discussion on Twitter prompted me to write this anecdote about wheelchair access. It is so pathetic one can only laugh. @ksuyin asked me about the reason for the wheelchair accessible aisle sign at Woolworths, as she couldn't see the difference between that and other aisles. Then @lindsa made a sarcastic comment which had me laughing hard. Finally @lumbarius told of his experience at a Backpacker's that "had wheelchair accessible toilet, but no access to preceding room".

Continue reading the complete They Did Not Think Of Every Details post