Quantifying the Cost of Web Accessibility Barriers for Blind Users

Abstract

When a website is not accessible for users with disabilities, there is a cost imposed on that user. This study quantifies the time disparity experienced by blind users when they encounter web accessibility barriers. The resulting data illustrates a significant reason why web accessibility is imperative, by highlighting and measuring the cost of inaccessibility through the lens of the inequity that accessibility barriers place on the time of users with disabilities in both personal and business settings. This data is needed for policymakers who are creating new regulations or statutes, as well as for informing future technical standards for web accessibility.